Lawsuits Before Unbelievers.^* 1How can any one of you with a case against another dare to bring it to the unjust for judgment instead of to the holy ones? 2^* Do you not know that the holy ones will judge the world? If the world is to be judged by you, are you unqualified for the lowest law courts?^a 3Do you not know that we will judge angels? Then why not everyday matters? 4If, therefore, you have courts for everyday matters, do you seat as judges people of no standing in the church? 5I say this to shame you. Can it be that there is not one among you wise enough to be able to settle a case between brothers? 6But rather brother goes to court against brother, and that before unbelievers?

7Now indeed [then] it is, in any case, a failure on your part that you have lawsuits against one another. Why not rather put up with injustice? Why not rather let yourselves be cheated?^b 8Instead, you inflict injustice and cheat, and this to brothers.