1 John 4:1 — Compare Translations

28 translations compared side by side

BELOVED, DO not put faith in every spirit, but prove (test) the spirits to discover whether they proceed from God; for many false prophets have gone forth into the world.

English Amplified Classic Bible 1987

BELOVED, DO not put faith in every spirit, but prove (test) the spirits to discover whether they proceed from God; for many false prophets have gone forth into the world.

English Berean Standard Bible (BSB) 2025

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.

English CSB 2017 - Christian Standard Bible

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

English Darby 1890 : Public Domain

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, if they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

English EASY 2024

My friends, do not believe everyone who says that they speak God's message. There are many false prophets who are travelling around everywhere. They say that they have a message from God's Spirit, but the message comes from a false spirit. So check each message carefully to see if it is really from God.

English ERV 2006 - Only For Website

My dear friends, many false prophets are in the world now. So don't believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God.

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

English GNT (Good News Translation)

My dear friends, do not believe all who claim to have the Spirit, but test them to find out if the spirit they have comes from God. For many false prophets have gone out everywhere.

English God's Word - GW 1995

Dear friends, don't believe all people who say that they have the Spirit. Instead, test them. See whether the spirit they have is from God, because there are many false prophets in the world.

English HCSB 2004 - Copyrighted Only For Website

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

English KJV 1611

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

English LSB

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

English MEV 2014 (Modern English Version)

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

English NASB (New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995)

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

English NASU 1989 - New American Standard Update - Only for Website

Beloved, do not trust every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

English NET Bible - 2005 (New English Translation)

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to determine if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

English NIRV 1996 - Copyrighted only for Website

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit. Put the spirits to the test to see if they belong to God. Many false prophets have gone out into the world.

English NIV

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

English NKJ 1982

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

English NLT

Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world.

English NRSV 1989 - Only for website

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

English Passion Translation Bible 2020

Delightfully loved friends, don’t trust every spirit, but carefully examine what they say to determine if they are of God, because many false prophets have mingled into the world.

English RSV (Revised Standard Version)

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are of God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

English TL (The Living Bible) (1971)

Dearly loved friends, don't always believe everything you hear just because someone says it is a message from God: test it first to see if it really is. For there are many false teachers around,

English Tyndale 1537

Dearly(Ye) beloved believe not every spirit: but prove the spirits whether they are(be) of God, or no:(or not:) for many false prophets are gone out in to the world.