1 Corinthians 12

1 Now concerning spirituall giftes, brethren, I would not haue you ignorant.

In the next place, friends, I do not want you to be ignorant about spiritual gifts.

2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, and were caried away vnto the dumme Idoles, as ye were led.

You know that there was a time when you were Gentiles, going astray after idols that could not speak, just as you happened to be led.

3 Wherefore, I declare vnto you, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Iesus execrable: also no man can say that Iesus is the Lord, but by the holy Ghost.

Therefore I tell you plainly that no one who speaks under the influence of the Spirit of God says “JESUS IS ACCURSED,” and that no one can say “JESUS IS LORD,” except under the influence of the Holy Spirit.

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

Gifts differ, but the Spirit is the same;

5 And there are diuersities of administrations, but the same Lord,

ways of serving differ, yet the Master is the same;

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

results differ, yet the God who brings about every result is in every case the same.

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is giuen to euery man, to profite withall.

To each of us there is given spiritual illumination for the general good.

8 For to one is giuen by the Spirit the word of wisdome: and to an other the word of knowledge, by the same Spirit:

To one is given the power to speak with wisdom through the Spirit; to another the power to speak with knowledge, due to the same Spirit;

9 And to another is giuen faith by the same Spirit: and to another the giftes of healing, by the same Spirit:

to another faith by the same Spirit; to another power to cure diseases by the one Spirit; to another supernatural powers;

10 And to another the operations of great workes: and to another, prophecie: and to another, the discerning of spirits: and to another, diuersities of tongues: and to another, the interpretation of tongues.

to another the gift of preaching; to another the gift of distinguishing between true and false inspiration; to another varieties of the gift of “tongues”; to another the power to interpret “tongues.”

11 And all these thinges worketh one and the selfe same Spirit, distributing to euery man seuerally as he will.

All these result from one and the same Spirit, who distributes his gifts to each individually as he wills.

12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of the body, which is one, though they be many, yet are but one body: euen so is Christ.

For just as the human body is one whole, and yet has many parts, and all its parts, many though they are, form but one body, so it is with the Christ;

13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we bee Iewes, or Grecians, whether we be bonde, or free, and haue bene all made to drinke into one Spirit.

for it was by one Spirit that we were all baptized to form one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, and were all imbued with one Spirit.

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

The human body, I repeat, consists not of one part, but of many.

15 If the foote would say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body?

If the foot says “Since I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it does not because of that cease to belong to the body.

16 And if the eare would say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body, is it therefore not of the body?

Or if the ear says “Since I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it does not because of that cease to belong to the body.

17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smellling?

If all the body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If it were all hearing, where would the sense of smell be?

18 But nowe hath God disposed the members euery one of them in the bodie at his owne pleasure.

But in fact God has placed each individual part just where he thought fit in the body.

19 For if they were all one member, where were the body?

If, however, they all made up only one part, where would the body be?

20 But now are there many members, yet but one body.

But in fact, although it has many parts, there is only one body.

21 And the eye cannot say vnto the hand, I haue no neede of thee: nor the head againe to the feete, I haue no neede of you.

The eye cannot say to the hand “I do not need you,” nor, again, the head to the feet “I do not need you.”

22 Yea, much rather those members of the body, which seeme to be more feeble, are necessarie.

No! Those parts of the body that seem naturally the weaker are indispensable;

23 And vpon those members of the body, which wee thinke most vnhonest, put wee more honestie on: and our vncomely parts haue more comelinesse on.

and those parts which we deem less honourable we surround with special honour; and our ungraceful parts receive a special grace which our graceful parts do not require.

24 For our comely partes neede it not: but God hath tempered the body together, and hath giuen the more honour to that part which lacked,

Yes, God has so constructed the body – by giving a special honour to the part that lacks it –

25 Lest there should be any diuision in the body: but that the members shoulde haue the same care one for another.

As to secure that there should be no disunion in the body, but that the parts should show the same care for one another.

26 Therefore if one member suffer, all suffer with it: if one member be had in honour, all the members reioyce with it.

If one part suffers, all the others suffer with it, and if one part has honour done to it, all the others share its joy.

27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members for your part.

Together you are the body of Christ, and individually its parts.

28 And God hath ordained some in the Church: as first Apostles, secondly Prophetes, thirdly teachers, then them that doe miracles: after that, the giftes of healing, helpers, gouernours, diuersitie of tongues.

In the church God has appointed, first, apostles, secondly preachers, thirdly teachers; then he has given supernatural powers, then power to cure diseases, aptness for helping others, capacity to govern, varieties of the gift of “tongues.”

29 Are all Apostles? are all Prophetes? are all teachers?

Can everyone be an apostle? Can everyone be a preacher? Can everyone be a teacher? Can everyone have supernatural powers?

30 Are all doers of miracles? haue all the gifts of healing? doe all speake with tongues? doe all interprete?

Can everyone have power to cure diseases? Can everyone speak in “tongues”? Can everyone interpret them?

31 But desire you the best giftes, and I will yet shewe you a more excellent way.

Strive for the greater gifts. Yet I can still show you a way beyond all comparison the best.