14. The human body has many parts.
15. The foot might say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not part of the body.” But saying this would not stop the foot from being a part of the body.
16. The ear might say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not part of the body.” But saying this would not stop the ear from being a part of the body.
17. If the whole body were an eye, it would not be able to hear. If the whole body were an ear, it would not be able to smell.
18-19. If each part of the body were the same part, there would be no body. But truly God put all the parts, each one of them, in the body as he wanted them.
20. So then there are many parts, but only one body.
21. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the foot, “I don’t need you!”
22. No! Those parts of the body that seem to be the weaker are really necessary.
23. And the parts of the body we think are less deserving are the parts to which we give the most honor. We give special respect to the parts we want to hide.