| English Standard Version | New International Version |
| 1Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. | 1Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. |
| 2For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters 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 one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. | 3But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. |
| 4The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, 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. |
| 5Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone 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. |
| 6Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some 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? |
| 7If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? | 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? |
| 8And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? | 8Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? |
| 9So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? 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 languages in the world, and none is without meaning, | 10Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. |
| 11but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker 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 with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive 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, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may 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 a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. | 14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. |
| 15What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. | 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 give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when 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 be giving thanks well enough, 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 tongues more than all of you. | 18I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. |
| 19Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue. | 19But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue. |
| 20Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. | 20Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. |
| 21In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, 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." |
| 22Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign 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 comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, 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 prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he 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 are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that 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? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things 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 any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and 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 one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God. | 28If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God. |
| 29Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. | 29Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. |
| 30If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first 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 all may learn and all be encouraged, | 31For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. |
| 32and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. | 32The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. |
| 33For God is not a God of confusion 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 keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, 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 there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in 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 was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached? | 36Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? |
| 37If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. | 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 does not recognize this, he is not recognized. | 38But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored. |
| 39So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. | 39Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. |
| 40But all things should be done decently and in order. | 40But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way. |
| ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved. | 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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