New King James Version

New Living Translation

1Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

1Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to 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 if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God, since people won’t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be mysterious.

3But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.

3But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them.

4He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.

4A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire 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 could all speak in tongues, but even more I wish you could all prophesy. For prophecy is greater than speaking in tongues, unless someone interprets what you are saying so that the whole church will 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?

6Dear brothers and sisters, if I should come to you speaking in an unknown language, how would that help you? But if I bring you a revelation or some special knowledge or prophecy or teaching, that will be helpful.

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 lifeless instruments like the flute or the harp must play the notes clearly, or no one will recognize the melody.

8For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle?

8And if the bugler doesn’t sound a clear call, how will the soldiers know they are being called to 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’s the same for you. If you speak to people in words they don’t understand, how will they know what you are saying? You might as well be talking into empty space.

10There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance.

10There are many different languages in the world, and every language has 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.

11But if I don’t understand a language, I will be a foreigner to someone who speaks it, and the one who speaks it will be 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.

12And the same is true for you. Since you are so eager to have the special abilities the Spirit gives, seek those that will strengthen the whole church.

13Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.

13So anyone who speaks in tongues should pray also for the ability to interpret what has been said.

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

14For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is praying, but I don’t understand what I am saying.

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.

15Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the spirit, and I will also pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will also sing in words I understand.

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?

16For if you praise God only in the spirit, how can those who don’t understand you praise God along with you? How can they join you in giving thanks when they don’t understand what you are saying?

17For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.

17You will be giving thanks very well, but it won’t strengthen the people who hear you.

18I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all;

18I thank God that I speak in tongues more than any 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 a church meeting I would rather speak five understandable words to help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language.

20Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.

20Dear brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind.

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 Scriptures : “I will speak to my own people through strange languages and through the lips of foreigners. 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.

22So you see that speaking in tongues is a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for the benefit of believers, not 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?

23Even so, if unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into your church meeting and hear everyone speaking in an unknown language, they will think you are crazy.

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 of you are prophesying, and unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into your meeting, they will be convicted of sin and judged by what you say.

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.

25As they listen, their secret thoughts will be exposed, and they will fall to their knees and worship God, declaring, “God is truly here among you.” A Call to Orderly Worship

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.

26Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you.

27If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret.

27No more than two or three should speak in tongues. They must speak one at a time, and someone must interpret what they say.

28But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.

28But if no one is present who can interpret, they must be silent in your church meeting and speak in tongues to God privately.

29Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.

29Let two or three people prophesy, and let the others evaluate what is said.

30But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent.

30But if someone is prophesying and another person receives a revelation from the Lord, the one who is speaking must stop.

31For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged.

31In this way, all who prophesy will have a turn to speak, one after the other, so that everyone will learn and be encouraged.

32And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

32Remember that people who prophesy are in control of their spirit and can take turns.

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 meetings of God’s holy people.

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 should be silent during the church meetings. It is not proper for them to speak. They should be submissive, just 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 have any questions, they should ask their husbands at home, for it is improper for women to speak in church meetings.

36Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached?

36Or do you think God’s word originated with you Corinthians? Are you the only ones to whom it was given?

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 you claim to be a prophet or think you are spiritual, you should recognize that what I am saying is a command from the Lord himself.

38But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

38But if you do not recognize this, you yourself will not be recognized.

39Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.

39So, my dear brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking in tongues.

40Let all things be done decently and in order.

40But be sure that everything is done properly and in order.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.