| Christian Standard Bible | New International Version |
| 1Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophesy. | 1Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. |
| 2For the person who speaks in another tongue is not speaking to people but to God, since no one understands him; he speaks mysteries in the Spirit. | 2For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. |
| 3On the other hand, the person who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouragement, and consolation. | 3But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. |
| 4The person who speaks in another tongue builds himself up, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. | 4Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. |
| 5I wish all of you spoke in other tongues, but even more that you prophesied. The person who prophesies is greater than the person who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be built up. | 5I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified. |
| 6So now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in other tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you with a revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? | 6Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? |
| 7Even lifeless instruments that produce sounds--whether flute or harp--if they don't make a distinction in the notes, how will what is played on the flute or harp be recognized? | 7Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? |
| 8In fact, if the bugle makes an unclear sound, who will prepare for battle? | 8Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? |
| 9In the same way, unless you use your tongue for intelligible speech, how will what is spoken be known? For you will be speaking into the air. | 9So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. |
| 10There are doubtless many different kinds of languages in the world, none is without meaning. | 10Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. |
| 11Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker will be a foreigner to me. | 11If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me. |
| 12So also you--since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek to excel in building up the church. | 12So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church. |
| 13Therefore the person who speaks in another tongue should pray that he can interpret. | 13For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say. |
| 14For if I pray in another tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. | 14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. |
| 15What then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with my understanding. I will sing praise with the spirit, and I will also sing praise with my understanding. | 15So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. |
| 16Otherwise, if you praise with the spirit, how will the outsider say "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? | 16Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer, say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying? |
| 17For you may very well be giving thanks, but the other person is not being built up. | 17You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified. |
| 18I thank God that I speak in other tongues more than all of you; | 18I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. |
| 19yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, in order to teach others also, than ten thousand words in another tongue. | 19But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue. |
| 20Brothers and sisters, don't be childish in your thinking, but be infants in regard to evil and adult in your thinking. | 20Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. |
| 21It is written in the law, I will speak to this people by people of other tongues and by the lips of foreigners, and even then, they will not listen to me, says the Lord. | 21In the Law it is written: "With other tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord." |
| 22Speaking in other tongues, then, is intended as a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers. | 22Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. |
| 23If, therefore, the whole church assembles together and all are speaking in other tongues and people who are outsiders or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds? | 23So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? |
| 24But if all are prophesying and some unbeliever or outsider comes in, he is convicted by all and is called to account by all. | 24But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, |
| 25The secrets of his heart will be revealed, and as a result he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, "God is really among you." | 25as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God is really among you!" |
| 26What then, brothers and sisters? Whenever you come together, each one has a hymn, a teaching, a revelation, another tongue, or an interpretation. Everything is to be done for building up. | 26What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. |
| 27If anyone speaks in another tongue, there are to be only two, or at the most three, each in turn, and let someone interpret. | 27If anyone speaks in a tongue, two--or at the most three--should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. |
| 28But if there is no interpreter, that person is to keep silent in the church and speak to himself and God. | 28If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God. |
| 29Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should evaluate. | 29Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. |
| 30But if something has been revealed to another person sitting there, the first prophet should be silent. | 30And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. |
| 31For you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may learn and everyone may be encouraged. | 31For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. |
| 32And the prophets' spirits are subject to the prophets, | 32The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. |
| 33since God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, | 33For God is not a God of disorder but of peace--as in all the congregations of the Lord's people. |
| 34the women should be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but are to submit themselves, as the law also says. | 34Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. |
| 35If they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home, since it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. | 35If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. |
| 36Or did the word of God originate from you, or did it come to you only? | 36Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? |
| 37If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, he should recognize that what I write to you is the Lord's command. | 37If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command. |
| 38If anyone ignores this, he will be ignored. | 38But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored. |
| 39So then, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in other tongues. | 39Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. |
| 40But everything is to be done decently and in order. | 40But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way. |
| The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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