English Standard Version

New Living Translation

1Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.

1Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy.

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 if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God, since people won’t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be mysterious.

3On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.

3But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them.

4The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.

4A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire 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 wish you could all speak in tongues, but even more I wish you could all prophesy. For prophecy is greater than speaking in tongues, unless someone interprets what you are saying so that the whole church will be strengthened.

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?

6Dear brothers and sisters, if I should come to you speaking in an unknown language, how would that help you? But if I bring you a revelation or some special knowledge or prophecy or teaching, that will be helpful.

7If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played?

7Even lifeless instruments like the flute or the harp must play the notes clearly, or no one will recognize the melody.

8And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle?

8And if the bugler doesn’t sound a clear call, how will the soldiers know they are being called to 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.

9It’s the same for you. If you speak to people in words they don’t understand, how will they know what you are saying? You might as well be talking into empty space.

10There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning,

10There are many different languages in the world, and every language has 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.

11But if I don’t understand a language, I will be a foreigner to someone who speaks it, and the one who speaks it will be a foreigner to me.

12So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.

12And the same is true for you. Since you are so eager to have the special abilities the Spirit gives, seek those that will strengthen the whole church.

13Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.

13So anyone who speaks in tongues should pray also for the ability to interpret what has been said.

14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful.

14For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is praying, but I don’t understand what I am saying.

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.

15Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the spirit, and I will also pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will also sing in words I understand.

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?

16For if you praise God only in the spirit, how can those who don’t understand you praise God along with you? How can they join you in giving thanks when they don’t understand what you are saying?

17For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up.

17You will be giving thanks very well, but it won’t strengthen the people who hear you.

18I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.

18I thank God that I speak in tongues more than any 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 a church meeting I would rather speak five understandable words to help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language.

20Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.

20Dear brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind.

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.”

21It is written in the Scriptures : “I will speak to my own people through strange languages and through the lips of foreigners. 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.

22So you see that speaking in tongues is a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for the benefit of believers, not unbelievers.

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?

23Even so, if unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into your church meeting and hear everyone speaking in an unknown language, they will think you are crazy.

24But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all,

24But if all of you are prophesying, and unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into your meeting, they will be convicted of sin and judged by what you say.

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 they listen, their secret thoughts will be exposed, and they will fall to their knees and worship God, declaring, “God is truly here among you.” A Call to Orderly Worship

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.

26Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you.

27If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret.

27No more than two or three should speak in tongues. They must speak one at a time, and someone must interpret what they say.

28But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.

28But if no one is present who can interpret, they must be silent in your church meeting and speak in tongues to God privately.

29Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.

29Let two or three people prophesy, and let the others evaluate what is said.

30If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent.

30But if someone is prophesying and another person receives a revelation from the Lord, the one who is speaking must stop.

31For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged,

31In this way, all who prophesy will have a turn to speak, one after the other, so that everyone will learn and be encouraged.

32and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.

32Remember that people who prophesy are in control of their spirit and can take turns.

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 meetings of God’s holy 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 be silent during the church meetings. It is not proper for them to speak. They should be submissive, just 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 have any questions, they should ask their husbands at home, for it is improper for women to speak in church meetings.

36Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached?

36Or do you think God’s word originated with you Corinthians? Are you the only ones to whom it was given?

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 you claim to be a prophet or think you are spiritual, you should recognize that what I am saying is a command from the Lord himself.

38If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.

38But if you do not recognize this, you yourself will not be recognized.

39So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

39So, my dear brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking in tongues.

40But all things should be done decently and in order.

40But be sure that everything is done properly and in order.

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.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.