1 Corinthians 14 NLT ISV Parallel

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◄ 1 Corinthians 14 ►

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1Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy.

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

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.

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

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

4A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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?

8And if the bugler doesn’t sound a clear call, how will the soldiers know they are being called to battle?

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

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.

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!

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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?

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

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 any of you.

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

19But in a church meeting I would rather speak five understandable words to help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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 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

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!"

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

32The spirits of prophets are subject to the prophets,

33For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of God’s holy people.

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

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.

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 have any questions, they should ask their husbands at home, for it is improper for women to speak in church meetings.

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

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

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.

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 you do not recognize this, you yourself will not be recognized.

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

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

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

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

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

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