But by the graceof GodI amwhatI am,and His gracetowardme did not provevain;but I laboredeven morethan allof them, yetnot I, but the graceof Godwith me.
"For it is not you who speak,but [it is] the Spiritof your Fatherwho speaksin you.
"Immediatelythe one who had receivedthe fivetalentswentand tradedwith them, and gainedfivemoretalents.
I saythen,Godhas not rejectedHis people,has He? May it neverbe! For I tooaman Israelite,a descendantof Abraham,of the tribeof Benjamin.
For throughthe gracegivento me I sayto everyoneamongyou not to think more highlyof himself thanhe oughtto think;but to thinksoas to have sound judgment,as Godhas allottedto eacha measureof faith.
Whetherthen[it was] I orthey, sowe preachand soyou believed.
by whichalsoyou are saved,ifyou hold fastthe wordwhichI preachedto you, unlessyou believedin vain.
Accordingto the graceof Godwhich was givento me, likea wisemaster builderI laida foundation,and anotheris buildingon it. But each manmust be carefulhowhe buildson it.
I planted,Apolloswatered,but Godwas causing the growth.
For whoregards you as superior?Whatdo you havethat you did not receive?And ifyou did receiveit, whydo you boastas ifyou had not receivedit?
I have becomefoolish;you yourselvescompelledme. ActuallyI shouldhave been commendedby you, for in norespectwas I inferiorto the most eminentapostles,eventhoughI ama nobody.
Not that we are adequatein ourselvesto consideranythingas [coming] from ourselves,but our adequacyis from God,
And working together[with Him], we alsourgeyou not to receivethe graceof Godin vain--
(for He who effectuallyworkedfor Peterin [his] apostleshipto the circumcisedeffectually workedfor me alsoto the Gentiles),
for it is Godwho is at workin you, bothto willand to workfor [His] good pleasure.
I can doall thingsthroughHim who strengthensme.
But we requestof you, brethren,that you appreciatethosewho diligently laboramongyou, and have charge overyou in the Lordand give you instruction,
For it is for thiswe laborand strive,becausewe have fixed our hopeon the livingGod,whois the Saviorof allmen,especiallyof believers.
