| New King James Version | NET Bible |
| 1Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. | 1Pursue love and be eager for the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. |
| 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 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 he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. | 3But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouragement, and consolation. |
| 4He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. | 4The one who speaks in a tongue builds himself up, but the one who prophesies builds up 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 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. |
| 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 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? |
| 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? | 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 if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle? | 8If, for example, the trumpet makes an unclear sound, who will get ready 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. | 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, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance. | 10There are probably many kinds of languages in the world, and none 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 a language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker 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 for manifestations of the Spirit, seek to abound in order to strengthen the church. |
| 13Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. | 13So then, 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. | 14If I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive. |
| 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 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 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 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? |
| 17For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified. | 17For you are certainly giving thanks well, but the other person is not strengthened. |
| 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 want to speak five words with my mind to instruct others, rather 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 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: “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 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. |
| 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. | 22So then, tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. |
| 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 all speak in tongues, and unbelievers or uninformed people enter, will they not say that you have lost 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 all prophesy, and an unbeliever or uninformed person enters, he will be convicted by all, he will be 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. | 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." |
| 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 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 tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. | 27If someone speaks in a tongue, it should be two, or at the most three, one after the other, 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 be silent in the church. Let him speak to himself and to God. |
| 29Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. | 29Two or three prophets should speak and the others should evaluate what is said. |
| 30But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. | 30And if someone sitting down receives a revelation, the person who is speaking should conclude. |
| 31For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. | 31For you can all prophesy one after another, so all can learn and be encouraged. |
| 32And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. | 32Indeed, the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets, |
| 33For God is not the author of confusion 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, |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 want to find out about something, they should ask their husbands at home, because it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in church. |
| 36Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached? | 36Did the word of God begin with you, or did it come to you alone? |
| 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, he should acknowledge that what I write to you is the Lord's command. |
| 38But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant. | 38If someone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. |
| 39Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. | 39So then, brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid anyone from speaking in tongues. |
| 40Let all things be done decently and in order. | 40And do everything in a decent and orderly manner. |
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