1 Corinthians 14 NIV ISV Parallel

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◄ 1 Corinthians 14 ►

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1Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.

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

2For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.

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.

3But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.

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

4Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.

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

5I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.

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.

6Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction?

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?

7Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes?

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?

8Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?

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

9So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.

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!

10Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.

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

11If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me.

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.

12So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.

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

13For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say.

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

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

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

15So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding.

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.

16Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer, say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying?

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?

17You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.

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

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

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

19But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

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

20Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.

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

21In the Law it is written: "With other tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord."

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.

22Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers.

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.

23So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?

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?

24But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all,

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.

25as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God is really among you!"

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!"

26What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.

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.

27If anyone speaks in a tongue, two--or at the most three--should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret.

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.

28If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.

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

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

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

30And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop.

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

31For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.

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

32The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.

32The spirits of prophets are subject to the prophets,

33For God is not a God of disorder but of peace--as in all the congregations of the Lord's people.

33for God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,

34Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says.

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.

35If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.

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.

36Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached?

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

37If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command.

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.

38But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored.

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

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

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

40But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.

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

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