| New Living Translation | NET Bible |
| 1Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy. | 1Pursue love and be eager for the spiritual gifts, especially that you may 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 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 one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them. | 3But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouragement, and consolation. |
| 4A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church. | 4The one who speaks in a tongue builds himself up, but the one 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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 lifeless instruments like the flute or the harp must play the notes clearly, or no one will recognize the melody. | 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? |
| 8And if the bugler doesn’t sound a clear call, how will the soldiers know they are being called to battle? | 8If, for example, the trumpet makes an unclear sound, 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. | 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 many different languages in the world, and every language has meaning. | 10There are probably many kinds of languages in the world, and none 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 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. |
| 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. | 12It is the same with you. Since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, seek to abound in order to strengthen the church. |
| 13So anyone who speaks in tongues should pray also for the ability to interpret what has been said. | 13So then, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. |
| 14For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is praying, but I don’t understand what I am saying. | 14If I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive. |
| 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 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. |
| 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 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? |
| 17You will be giving thanks very well, but it won’t strengthen the people who hear you. | 17For you are certainly giving thanks well, but the other person is not strengthened. |
| 18I thank God that I speak in tongues more than any of you. | 18I thank God that I speak in tongues 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 the church I want to speak five words with my mind to instruct others, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue. |
| 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 and sisters, do not be children in your thinking. Instead, be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 22So then, tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is 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. | 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 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 all prophesy, and an unbeliever or uninformed person enters, he will be convicted by all, he will be called to account by all. |
| 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 | 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." |
| 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 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. |
| 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 someone speaks in a tongue, it should be two, or at the most three, one after the other, and someone 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. | 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 people prophesy, and let the others evaluate what is said. | 29Two or three prophets should speak and the others should evaluate what is said. |
| 30But if someone is prophesying and another person receives a revelation from the Lord, the one who is speaking must stop. | 30And if someone sitting down receives a revelation, the person who is speaking should conclude. |
| 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 you can all prophesy one after another, so all can learn and be encouraged. |
| 32Remember that people who prophesy are in control of their spirit and can take turns. | 32Indeed, the spirits of the 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 characterized by disorder but by 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 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. |
| 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 find out about something, they should ask their husbands at home, because it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in church. |
| 36Or do you think God’s word originated with you Corinthians? Are you the only ones to whom it was given? | 36Did the word of God begin with you, or did it come to you alone? |
| 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 considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, he should acknowledge that what I write to you is the Lord's command. |
| 38But if you do not recognize this, you yourself will not be recognized. | 38If someone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. |
| 39So, my dear brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking in tongues. | 39So then, brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid anyone from speaking in tongues. |
| 40But be sure that everything is done properly and in order. | 40And do everything in a decent and orderly manner. |
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