Holman Christian Standard Bible

New American Standard Bible 1995

1Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, and above all that you may prophesy.

1Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

2For the person who speaks in another language is not speaking to men but to God, since no one understands him; however, he speaks mysteries in the Spirit.

2For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries.

3But the person who prophesies speaks to people for edification, encouragement, and consolation.

3But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation.

4The person who speaks in another language builds himself up, but he who prophesies builds up the church.

4One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church.

5I wish all of you spoke in other languages, but even more that you prophesied. The person who prophesies is greater than the person who speaks in languages, unless he interprets so that the church may be built up.

5Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.

6But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in other languages, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you with a revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?

6But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation or of knowledge or of prophecy or of teaching?

7Even inanimate things 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?

7Yet even lifeless things, either flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp?

8In fact, if the trumpet makes an unclear sound, who will prepare for battle?

8For if the bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself 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 also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.

10There are doubtless many different kinds of languages in the world, and all have meaning.

10There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and no kind 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 know the meaning of the language, I will be to the one who speaks a barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a barbarian to me.

12So also you--since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek to excel in building up the church.

12So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church.

13Therefore the person who speaks in another language should pray that he can interpret.

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

14For if I pray in another language, 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 with the spirit, and I will also sing with my understanding.

15What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.

16Otherwise, if you praise with the spirit, how will the uninformed person say "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying?

16Otherwise if you bless in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say the "Amen " at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying?

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

17For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not edified.

18I thank God that I speak in other languages more than all of you;

18I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all;

19yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, in order to teach others also, than 10,000 words in another language.

19however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.

20Brothers, don't be childish in your thinking, but be infants in regard to evil and adult in your thinking.

20Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.

21It is written in the law: I will speak to these people by people of other languages and by the lips of foreigners, and even then, they will not listen to Me, says the Lord.

21In the Law it is written, "BY MEN OF STRANGE TONGUES AND BY THE LIPS OF STRANGERS I WILL SPEAK TO THIS PEOPLE, AND EVEN SO THEY WILL NOT LISTEN TO ME," says the Lord.

22It follows that speaking in other languages is intended as a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers. But prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers.

22So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those who believe.

23Therefore, if the whole church assembles together and all are speaking in other languages and people who are uninformed or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds?

23Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad?

24But if all are prophesying and some unbeliever or uninformed person comes in, he is convicted by all and is judged by all.

24But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account 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."

25the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you.

26What then is the conclusion, brothers? Whenever you come together, each one has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, another language, or an interpretation. All things must be done for edification.

26What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.

27If any person speaks in another language, there should be only two, or at the most three, each in turn, and someone must interpret.

27If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must interpret;

28But if there is no interpreter, that person should keep silent in the church and speak to himself and to God.

28but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God.

29Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should evaluate.

29Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment.

30But if something has been revealed to another person sitting there, the first prophet should be silent.

30But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent.

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

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

32And the prophets' spirits are under the control of the prophets,

32and the spirits of prophets are subject to 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 confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

34the women should be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but should be submissive, as the law also says.

34The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says.

35And if they want to learn something, they should ask their own husbands at home, for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church meeting.

35If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church.

36Did the word of God originate from you, or did it come to you only?

36Was it from you that the word of God first went forth? Or has it come to you only?

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 he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord's commandment.

38But if anyone ignores this, he will be ignored.

38But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.

39Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in other languages.

39Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues.

40But everything must be done decently and in order.

40But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org