| International Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1Keep on pursuing love, and keep on desiring spiritual gifts, especially the ability to prophesy. | 1Pursue love and be eager for 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 the one speaking in a tongue does not speak to people but to God, for no one understands; he is speaking mysteries by the Spirit. |
| 3But the person who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding, encouragement, and comfort. | 3But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, 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 himself up, 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. | 5I wish you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be strengthened. |
| 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 and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I help you unless I speak to you with a revelation or with 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? | 7It is similar for lifeless things that make a sound, like a flute or harp. Unless they make a distinction in the notes, how can what is played on the flute or harp be understood? |
| 8For example, if a bugle doesn't sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? | 8If, for example, the trumpet makes an unclear 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! | 9It is the same for you. If you do not speak clearly with your tongue, how will anyone know what is being 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 probably many kinds of 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. | 11If then I do not know the meaning of a 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. | 12It is the same with you. Since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, seek to abound in order to strengthen the church. |
| 13Therefore, the person who speaks in a foreign language should pray for the ability to interpret it. | 13So then, 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. | 14If I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive. |
| 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 should I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing praises with my spirit, but I will also sing praises with my mind. |
| 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 are praising God with your spirit, how can someone without the gift say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, 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 certainly giving thanks well, but the other person is not strengthened. |
| 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. | 19but in the church I want to speak five words with my mind to instruct others, 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. | 20Brothers and sisters, do not be children in your thinking. Instead, 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. | 21It is written in the law: "By people with strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people, yet not even in this way will they 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 a sign not for believers but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is 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? | 23So if the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and unbelievers or uninformed people enter, will they not say that you have lost 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 uninformed person enters, he will be convicted by all, he will be 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 in this way he will fall down with his face to the ground and worship God, declaring, "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 should you do then, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each one has a song, has a lesson, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all these things be done for the strengthening of the church. |
| 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 someone speaks in a tongue, it should be two, or at the most three, one after the other, and someone 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 should be silent in the church. Let him speak to himself and to God. |
| 29Two or three prophets should speak, and others should weigh carefully what is said. | 29Two or three prophets should speak and the others should evaluate what is said. |
| 30If a revelation is made to another person who is seated, the first person should be silent. | 30And if someone sitting down receives a revelation, the person who is speaking should conclude. |
| 31For everyone can prophesy in turn, so that everyone can be instructed and everyone can be encouraged. | 31For you can all prophesy one after another, so all can learn and be encouraged. |
| 32The spirits of prophets are subject to the prophets, | 32Indeed, the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets, |
| 33for God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, | 33for God is not characterized by disorder but by 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 be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak. Rather, let them be in submission, as in fact the law 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 want to find out about something, they should ask their husbands at home, because it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in church. |
| 36Did God's word originate with you? Are you the only ones it has reached? | 36Did the word of God begin with you, or did it come to you alone? |
| 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 considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, he should acknowledge that what I write to you is the Lord's command. |
| 38But if anyone ignores this, he should be ignored. | 38If someone 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 then, brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid anyone from speaking in tongues. |
| 40But everything must be done in a proper and orderly way. | 40And do everything in a decent and orderly manner. |
|
