1 Corinthians 13-16
21st Century King James Version
13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not charity, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith so that I could remove mountains, but have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up;
5 doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 Charity never faileth. But whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; but then shall I know, even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
14 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather so that ye may prophesy.
2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God, for no man understandeth him, however it may be that in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
3 But he that prophesieth, speaketh unto men for edification and exhortation and comfort.
4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself, but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
5 I would that ye all spoke with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied; for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, unless he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I shall speak to you either by revelation or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
7 And even things without life, making sounds, whether pipe or harp, unless they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
9 So likewise you, unless ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken, for ye shall be speaking into the air?
10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.
11 Therefore, if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.
12 Even so ye, inasmuch as ye are zealous to possess spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
13 Therefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.
14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also; I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
16 Else, when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say “Amen” at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?
17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
18 I thank my God that I speak with tongues more than ye all.
19 Yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
20 Brethren, be not children in understanding. Nonetheless, in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
21 In the law it is written: “With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that they will not hear Me,” saith the Lord.
22 Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to those who believe not; but prophesying serveth not those who believe not, but those who believe.
23 If therefore the whole church come together into one place and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are unlearned or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not or is unlearned, he is convinced by all and is judged by all,
25 and thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God and report that God is in you in truth.
26 How is it then, brethren? When ye come together every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.
27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two or at the most by three, and then in turn, and let one interpret.
28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church, and let him speak to himself and to God.
29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.
30 If anything be revealed to another who sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be comforted.
32 The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets,
33 for God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as it is in all churches of the saints.
34 Let your women keep silence in the churches, for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home, for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
36 What? Did the Word of God come out from you? Or did it come unto you only?
37 If any man think himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39 Therefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak in tongues.
40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
15 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which you also have received, and wherein ye stand,
2 by which ye also are saved if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you— unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received: how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
4 and that He was buried, and that He arose again the third day according to the Scriptures,
5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve,
6 and that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some have fallen asleep.
7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.
8 And last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.
9 For I am the least of the apostles, not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all — yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
11 Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
12 Now if Christ is preached, that He rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
14 and if Christ be not risen, then our preaching is vain, and your faith is also vain.
15 Yea, and we are found to be false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up, if so it be that the dead rise not.
16 For if the dead rise not, then is Christ not raised;
17 and if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of those who slept.
21 For since by man came death, by Man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive;
23 but every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.
24 Then cometh the end when He shall have delivered up the Kingdom to God, even the Father, when He shall have put down all rule, and all authority and power.
25 For He must reign until He hath put all enemies under His feet.
26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death,
27 for “He hath put all things under His feet.” But when He saith “all things” are put under Him, it is manifest that He is excepted, who did put all things under Him.
28 And when all things shall be subdued unto Him, then shall the Son Himself also be subject unto Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.
29 Else, what shall they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead?
30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?
31 I declare by my rejoicing in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord: I die daily.
32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is there to me, if the dead rise not? “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”
33 Be not deceived: “Evil associations corrupt good manners.”
34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.
35 But some man will say, “How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?”
36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, unless it die.
37 And that which thou sowest is not that body which shall be, but bare grain, by chance of wheat or of some other grain.
38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased Him, and to every seed his own body.
39 All flesh is not the same flesh; but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.
40 There are also celestial bodies and bodies terrestrial; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differeth from another star in glory.
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead: It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption.
43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.
44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
45 And so it is written: “The first man Adam was made a living soul.” The last Adam was made a quickening Spirit.
46 However that which is spiritual was not first, but that which is natural, and afterward that which is spiritual.
47 The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second Man is the Lord from Heaven.
48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51 Behold, I show you a mystery: We shall not all sleep; but we shall all be changed
52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
55 “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, for ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
16 Now concerning the collection for the saints: As I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
2 Upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay aside in store as God hath prospered him, so that there need be no gatherings when I come.
3 And when I come, whomever ye shall approve by your letters I will send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.
4 And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me.
5 Now I will come unto you when I shall pass through Macedonia (for I am passing through Macedonia).
6 And it may be that I will abide, yea, and winter with you,that ye may send me on my journey whithersoever I go.
7 For I will not see you now on my way, but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit.
8 But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost.
9 For a great door, and effectual, has opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.
10 Now if Timothy come, see that he may be with you without fear, for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do.
11 Let no man therefore despise him, but conduct him forth in peace, that he may come unto me; for I look for him with the brethren.
12 Now concerning our brother Apollos: I greatly desired that he should come unto you with the brethren, but it was not at all his will to come at this time; but he will come when it shall be convenient.
13 Watch ye; stand fast in the faith; acquit yourselves like men; be strong.
14 Let all your things be done with charity.
15 I beseech you, brethren (ye know the household of Stephanas and that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints),
16 that ye submit yourselves unto such and to everyone that helpeth with us and laboreth.
17 I am glad about the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied.
18 For they have refreshed my spirit and yours; therefore acknowledge ye those who are such.
19 The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.
20 All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with a holy kiss.
21 The salutation of me, Paul, with mine own hand.
22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema. Maranatha!
23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Copyright © 1994 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc.