| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. | 1Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. |
| 2For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. | 2For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries in the Spirit. |
| 3But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. | 3But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, encouragement, and comfort. |
| 4He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. | 4The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. |
| 5I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification. | 5I wish that all of you could speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be edified. |
| 6But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by 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? |
| 7Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? | 7Even in the case of lifeless instruments, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone recognize the tune they are playing unless the notes are distinct? |
| 8For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle? | 8Again, if the trumpet sounds a muffled call, who will prepare for battle? |
| 9So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. | 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. |
| 10There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance. | 10Assuredly, there are many different languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. |
| 11Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me. | 11If, then, I do not know the meaning of someone’s language, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me. |
| 12Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel. | 12It is the same with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, strive to excel in gifts that build up the church. |
| 13Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. | 13Therefore, the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. |
| 14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. | 14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. |
| 15What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. | 15What then shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. |
| 16Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? | 16Otherwise, if you speak a blessing in spirit, how can someone who is uninstructed say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? |
| 17For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified. | 17You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other one is not edified. |
| 18I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; | 18I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. |
| 19yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue. | 19But in the church, I would rather speak five coherent words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue. |
| 20Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature. | 20Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature. |
| 21In the law it is written: “With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,” says the Lord. | 21It is written in the Law: “By strange tongues and foreign lips I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to Me, says the Lord.” |
| 22Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe. | 22Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers. |
| 23Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind? | 23So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who are uninstructed or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds? |
| 24But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. | 24But if an unbeliever or uninstructed person comes in while everyone is prophesying, he will be convicted and called to account by all, |
| 25And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you. | 25and the secrets of his heart will be made known. So he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is truly among you!” |
| 26How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. | 26What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a psalm or a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All of these must be done to build up the church. |
| 27If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. | 27If anyone speaks in a tongue, two, or at most three, should speak in turn, and someone must interpret. |
| 28But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. | 28But if there is no interpreter, he should remain silent in the church and speak only to himself and God. |
| 29Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. | 29Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. |
| 30But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. | 30And if a revelation comes to someone who is seated, the first speaker should stop. |
| 31For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. | 31For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. |
| 32And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. | 32The spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. |
| 33For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. | 33For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace—as in all the churches of the saints. |
| 34Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. | 34Women are to be silent in the churches. They are not permitted to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. |
| 35And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church. | 35If they wish to inquire about something, they are to ask their own husbands at home; for it is dishonorable for a woman to speak in the church. |
| 36Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached? | 36Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only ones it has reached? |
| 37If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. | 37If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, let him acknowledge that what I am writing you is the Lord’s command. |
| 38But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant. | 38But if anyone ignores this, he himself will be ignored. |
| 39Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. | 39So, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. |
| 40Let all things be done decently and in order. | 40But everything must be done in a proper and orderly manner. |
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