International Standard Version

English Standard Version

1Keep on pursuing love, and keep on desiring spiritual gifts, especially the ability to prophesy.

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

2For the person who speaks in a foreign language is not actually speaking to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands him, because he is talking about secrets by the Spirit.

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.

3But the person who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding, encouragement, and comfort.

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

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

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

5Now I wish that all of you could speak in foreign languages, but especially that you could prophesy. The person who prophesies is more important than the person who speaks in a foreign language, unless he interprets it so that the church may be built up.

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.

6Indeed, brothers, if I come to you speaking in foreign languages, what good will I be to you unless I speak to you in some revelation, knowledge, prophecy, or teaching?

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?

7In the same way, lifeless instruments like the flute or harp produce sounds. But if there's no difference in the notes, how can a person tell what tune is being played?

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

8For example, if a bugle doesn't sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?

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

9In the same way, unless you speak an intelligible message with your language, how will anyone know what is being said? You'll be talking into the air!

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.

10There are, I suppose, many different languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.

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

11If I don't know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker will be a foreigner to me.

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.

12In the same way, since you're so desirous of spiritual gifts, you must keep on desiring them for building up the church.

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

13Therefore, the person who speaks in a foreign language should pray for the ability to interpret it.

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

14For if I pray in a foreign language, my spirit prays but my mind is not productive.

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

15What does this mean? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing psalms with my spirit, but I will also sing psalms with my mind.

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.

16Otherwise, if you say a blessing with your spirit, how can an otherwise uneducated person say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you're saying?

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?

17It's good for you to give thanks, but it does not build up the other person.

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

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

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

19But in church I would rather speak five words with my mind to instruct others than 10,000 words in a foreign language.

19Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

20Brothers, stop being childish in your thinking. Be like infants with respect to evil, but think like adults.

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

21In the Law it is written, "By means of foreign languages and through the mouths of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me," declares the Lord.

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.”

22Foreign languages, then, are meant to be a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers, while prophecy is meant, not for unbelievers, but for believers.

22Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers.

23Now if the whole church gathers in the same place and everyone is speaking in foreign languages, when uneducated people or unbelievers come in, they will say that you are out of your mind, won't they?

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?

24But if everyone is prophesying, when an unbeliever or an uneducated person comes in he will be convicted and examined by everything that's happening.

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

25His secret, inner heart will become known, and so he will bow down to the ground and worship God, declaring, "God is truly among you!"

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.

26What, then, does this mean, brothers? When you gather, everyone has a psalm, teaching, revelation, foreign language, or interpretation. Everything must be done for upbuilding.

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.

27If anyone speaks in a foreign language, only two or three at the most should do so, one at a time, and somebody must interpret.

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

28If an interpreter is not present, the speaker should remain silent in the church and speak to himself and God.

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

29Two or three prophets should speak, and others should weigh carefully what is said.

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

30If a revelation is made to another person who is seated, the first person should be silent.

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

31For everyone can prophesy in turn, so that everyone can be instructed and everyone can be encouraged.

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

32The spirits of prophets are subject to the prophets,

32and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.

33for 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 must keep silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak out, but must place themselves in submission, as the oral law also says.

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.

35If they want to learn anything, they should ask their own husbands at home, for it is inappropriate for a woman to speak out in church.

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.

36Did God's word originate with you? Are you the only ones it has reached?

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

37If anyone thinks he is a prophet or a spiritual person, he must acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command.

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.

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

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

39Therefore, my brothers, desire the ability to prophesy, and do not prevent others from speaking in foreign languages.

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

40But everything must be done in a proper and orderly way.

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

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

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.