International Standard Version

New American Standard Bible 1995

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

1Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but 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 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 their upbuilding, encouragement, and comfort.

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

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

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

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?

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?

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?

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?

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

8For if the bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself 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 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, I suppose, many different languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.

10There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and no kind 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.

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.

12In the same way, since you're so desirous of spiritual gifts, you must keep on desiring them for 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 a foreign language should pray for the ability to interpret it.

13Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue 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 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 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 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?

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

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

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

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

19But in church I would rather speak five words with my mind to instruct others than 10,000 words in a foreign 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, stop being childish in your thinking. Be like infants with respect to evil, but think like adults.

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

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.

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.

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?

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 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 an ungifted man 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 he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly 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 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 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 anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must 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 interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him 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 pass judgment.

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

30But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep 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 may be exhorted;

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 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.

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

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 a spiritual person, he must acknowledge that what I am writing 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 should be ignored.

38But if 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.

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

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

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

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

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