1 Corinthians 14 Parallel Bible

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	GWT God's Word Translation	ESV English Standard Version	NIV New International Version
1	Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially the gift of speaking what God has revealed.	Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.	Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.
2	When a person speaks in another language, he doesn't speak to people but to God. No one understands him. His spirit is speaking mysteries.	For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.	For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.
3	But when a person speaks what God has revealed, he speaks to people to help them grow, to encourage them, and to comfort them.	On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.	But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.
4	When a person speaks in another language, he helps himself grow. But when a person speaks what God has revealed, he helps the church grow.	The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.	Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.
5	I wish that all of you could speak in other languages, but especially that you could speak what God has revealed. The person who speaks what God has revealed is more important than the person who speaks in other languages. This is true unless he can interpret what he says to help the church grow.	Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.	I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.
6	Brothers and sisters, it wouldn't do you any good if I came to you speaking in other languages, unless I explained revelation, knowledge, prophecy, or doctrine to you.	Now, 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?	Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction?
7	Musical instruments like the flute or harp produce sounds. If there is no difference in the notes, how can a person tell what tune is being played?	If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played?	Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes?
8	For example, if the trumpet doesn't sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?	And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle?	Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?
9	In the same way, if you don't speak in a way that can be understood, how will anyone know what you're saying? You will be talking into thin air.	So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air.	So 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.
10	No matter how many different languages there are in the world, not one of them is without meaning.	There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning,	Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.
11	If I don't know what a language means, I will be a foreigner to the person who speaks it and that person will be a foreigner to me.	but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me.	If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me.
12	In the same way, since you're eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in them so that you help the church grow.	So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.	So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.
13	So the person who speaks in another language should pray for an interpretation of what he says.	Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.	For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say.
14	If I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my mind is not productive.	For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful.	For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
15	So what does this mean? It means that I will pray with my spirit, and I will pray with my mind. I will sing psalms with my spirit, and I will sing psalms with my mind.	What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.	So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding.
16	Otherwise, if you praise God only with your spirit, how can outsiders say \|Amen!\| to your prayer of thanksgiving? They don't know what you're saying.	Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying?	Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer, say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying?
17	Your prayer of thanksgiving may be very good, but it doesn't help other people grow.	For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up.	You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.
18	I thank God that I speak in other languages more than any of you.	I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.	I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
19	Yet, in order to teach others in church, I would rather say five words that can be understood than ten thousand words in another language.	Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.	But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20	Brothers and sisters, don't think like children. When it comes to evil, be like babies, but think like mature people.	Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.	Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.
21	God's word says, \|Through people who speak foreign languages and through the mouths of foreigners I will speak to these people, but even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.\|	In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.”	In the Law it is written: “With other tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.”
22	So the gift of speaking in other languages is a sign for unbelievers, not for believers. The gift of speaking what God had revealed is a sign for believers, not for unbelievers.	Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers.	Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers.
23	Suppose the whole congregation gathers in the same place and you speak in other languages. When outsiders or unbelievers come in, won't they say that you're out of your mind?	If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds?	So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?
24	Now suppose you speak what God has revealed. When unbelievers or outsiders come in you will show them where they are wrong and convince them that they are sinners.	But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all,	But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all,
25	The secrets in their hearts will become known, and in this way they will quickly bow with their faces touching the ground, worship God, and confess that God is truly among you.	the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.	as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”
26	So what does this mean, brothers and sisters? When you gather, each person has a psalm, doctrine, revelation, another language, or an interpretation. Everything must be done to help each other grow.	What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.	What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.
27	If people speak in other languages, only two or three at the most should speak. They should do it one at a time, and someone must interpret what each person says.	If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret.	If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret.
28	But if an interpreter isn't present, those people should remain silent in church. They should only speak to themselves and to God.	But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.	If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.
29	Two or three people should speak what God has revealed. Everyone else should decide whether what each person said is right or wrong.	Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.	Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.
30	If God reveals something to another person who is seated, the first speaker should be silent.	If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent.	And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop.
31	All of you can take your turns speaking what God has revealed. In that way, everyone will learn and be encouraged.	For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged,	For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.
32	People who speak what God has revealed must control themselves.	and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.	The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.
33	God is not a God of disorder but a God of peace. As in all the churches of God's holy people,	For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,	For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.
34	the women must keep silent. They don't have the right to speak. They must take their place as Moses' Teachings say.	the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says.	Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says.
35	If they want to know anything they should ask their husbands at home. It's shameful for a woman to speak in church.	If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.	If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.
36	Did God's word originate with you? Are you the only ones it has reached?	Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached?	Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached?
37	Whoever thinks that he speaks for God or that he is spiritually gifted must acknowledge that what I write to you is what the Lord commands.	If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord.	If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command.
38	But whoever ignores what I write should be ignored.	If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.	But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored.
39	So, brothers and sisters, desire to speak what God has revealed, and don't keep anyone from speaking in other languages.	So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.	Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
40	Everything must be done in a proper and orderly way.	But all things should be done decently and in order.	But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.
	Read God's Word Translation Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations.	Read English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles.	Read New International Version Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.

1 Corinthians 14 Parallel Bible Translations