| King James Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. | 1Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, and above all that you may prophesy. |
| 2For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. | 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. |
| 3But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. | 3But the person who prophesies speaks to people for edification, encouragement, and consolation. |
| 4He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. | 4The person who speaks in another language builds himself up, but he who prophesies builds up the church. |
| 5I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. | 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. |
| 6Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? | 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? |
| 7And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? | 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? |
| 8For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? | 8In fact, if the trumpet makes an unclear sound, who will prepare for battle? |
| 9So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air. | 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. |
| 10There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. | 10There are doubtless many different kinds of languages in the world, and all have meaning. |
| 11Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me. | 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. |
| 12Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. | 12So also you--since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek to excel in building up the church. |
| 13Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. | 13Therefore the person who speaks in another language should pray that he can interpret. |
| 14For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. | 14For if I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. |
| 15What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. | 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. |
| 16Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? | 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? |
| 17For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. | 17For you may very well be giving thanks, but the other person is not being built up. |
| 18I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: | 18I thank God that I speak in other languages more than all of you; |
| 19Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. | 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. |
| 20Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. | 20Brothers, don't be childish in your thinking, but be infants in regard to evil and adult in your thinking. |
| 21In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. | 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. |
| 22Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. | 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. |
| 23If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? | 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? |
| 24But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: | 24But if all are prophesying and some unbeliever or uninformed person comes in, he is convicted by all and is judged by all. |
| 25And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth. | 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." |
| 26How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. | 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. |
| 27If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. | 27If any person speaks in another language, there should be only two, or at the most three, each in turn, and someone must interpret. |
| 28But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. | 28But if there is no interpreter, that person should keep silent in the church and speak to himself and to God. |
| 29Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. | 29Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should evaluate. |
| 30If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. | 30But if something has been revealed to another person sitting there, the first prophet should be silent. |
| 31For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. | 31For you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may learn and everyone may be encouraged. |
| 32And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. | 32And the prophets' spirits are under the control of the prophets, |
| 33For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. | 33since God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, |
| 34Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. | 34the women should be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but should be submissive, as the law also says. |
| 35And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. | 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. |
| 36What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? | 36Did the word of God originate from you, or did it come to you only? |
| 37If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. | 37If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, he should recognize that what I write to you is the Lord's command. |
| 38But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. | 38But if anyone ignores this, he will be ignored. |
| 39Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. | 39Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in other languages. |
| 40Let all things be done decently and in order. | 40But everything must be done decently and in order. |
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