1 Corinthians, 12

1. Now concerning spiritual [gifts], brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

1. With respect to spiritual gifts, I will remind you of the following.

2. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.

2. When you were still pagans, you went to your dumb idols as people possessed.

3. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and [that] no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

3. I tell you that nobody inspired by the Spirit of God may say, "A curse on Jesus," as no one can say, "Jesus is the Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.

4. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

4. There is diversity of gifts, but the Spirit is the same.

5. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

5. There is diversity of ministries, but the Lord is the same.

6. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

6. There is diversity of works, but the same God works in all.

7. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

7. The Spirit reveals his presence in each one with a gift which is also a service.

8. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

8. One is to speak with wisdom, through the Spirit. Another teaches according to the same Spirit.

9. To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

9. To another is given faith, in which the Spirit acts; to another the gift of healing, and it is the same Spirit.

10. To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another [divers] kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

10. Another works miracles, another is a prophet, another recognizes what comes from the good or evil spirit; another speaks in tongues, and still another interprets what has been said in tongues.

11. But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

11. And all of this is the work of the one and only Spirit, who gives to each one as he so desires.

12. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also [is] Christ.

12. As the body is one, having many members, and all the members, while being many, form one body, so it is with Christ.

13. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether [we be] Jews or Gentiles, whether [we be] bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

13. All of us, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, have been baptized in one Spirit to form one body and all of us have been given to drink from the one Spirit.

14. For the body is not one member, but many.

14. The body has not just one member, but many.

15. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

15. If the foot should say, "I do not belong to the body for I am not a hand," it would be wrong: it is part of the body!

16. And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

16. Even though the ear says, "I do not belong to the body for I am not an eye," it is part of the body.

17. If the whole body [were] an eye, where [were] the hearing? If the whole [were] hearing, where [were] the smelling?

17. If all the body were eye, how would we hear? And if all the body were ear, how would we smell?

18. But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

18. God has arranged all the members, placing each part of the body as he pleased.

19. And if they were all one member, where [were] the body?

19. If all were the same part where would the body be?

20. But now [are they] many members, yet but one body.

20. But there are many members and one body.

21. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

21. The eye cannot tell the hand, "I do not need you," nor the head tell the feet, "I do not need you."

22. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:

22. Still more, the parts of our body that we most need are those that seem to be the weakest;

23. And those [members] of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely [parts] have more abundant comeliness.

23. the parts that we consider lower are treated with much care,

24. For our comely [parts] have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that [part] which lacked:

24. and we cover them with more modesty because they are less presentable, whereas the others do not need such attention.

25. That there should be no schism in the body; but [that] the members should have the same care one for another.

25. God himself arranged the body in this way, giving more honor to those parts that need it, so that the body may not be divided, but rather each member may care for the others.

26. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

26. When one suffers, all of them suffer, and when one receives honor, all rejoice together.

27. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

27. Now, you are the body of Christ and each of you individually is a member of it.

28. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

28. So God has appointed us in the Church. First apostles, second prophets, third teachers. Then come miracles, then the gift of healing, material help, administration in the Church and the gift of tongues.

29. [Are] all apostles? [are] all prophets? [are] all teachers? [are] all workers of miracles?

29. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Can all perform miracles,

30. Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

30. or cure the sick, or speak in tongues, or explain what was said in tongues?

31. But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

31. Be that as it may, set your hearts on the most precious gifts, and I will show you a much better way.