1 Corinthians 14 Parallel Bible Translations

1 Corinthians 14 ▼
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1 Keep on pursuing love, and keep on desiring spiritual gifts, especially the ability to prophesy. 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 For 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. 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 the person who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding, encouragement, and comfort. 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 The person who speaks in a foreign language builds himself up, but the person who prophesies builds up the church. 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 Now 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. 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 Indeed, 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? 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 In 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? 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 a bugle 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, unless you speak an intelligible message with your language, how will anyone know what is being said? You'll be talking into the 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 There are, I suppose, many different languages in the world, yet none 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 the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker 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 so desirous of spiritual gifts, you must keep on desiring them for building up the church. 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 Therefore, the person who speaks in a foreign language should pray for the ability to interpret it. 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 For if I pray in a foreign 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 What 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. 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 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? 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 It's good for you to give thanks, but it does not build up the other person. 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 foreign languages more than all 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 But in church I would rather speak five words with my mind to instruct others than 10,000 words in a foreign 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, stop being childish in your thinking. Be like infants with respect to evil, but think like adults. 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 In 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. 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 Foreign languages, then, are meant to be a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers, while prophecy is meant, not for unbelievers, but for believers. 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 Now 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? 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 But if everyone is prophesying, when an unbeliever or an uneducated person comes in he will be convicted and examined by everything that's happening. 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 His secret, inner heart will become known, and so he will bow down to the ground and worship God, declaring, |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 What, then, does this mean, brothers? When you gather, everyone has a psalm, teaching, revelation, foreign language, or interpretation. Everything must be done for upbuilding. 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 anyone speaks in a foreign language, only two or three at the most should do so, one at a time, and somebody must interpret. 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 If an interpreter is not present, the speaker should remain silent in the church and speak to himself and 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 prophets should speak, and others should weigh carefully what is said. 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 a revelation is made to another person who is seated, the first person 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 For everyone can prophesy in turn, so that everyone can be instructed and everyone can 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 The spirits of prophets are subject to the prophets, and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.
33 for God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, 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 in the churches. They are not allowed to speak out, but must place themselves in submission, as the oral law also says. 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 learn anything, they should ask their own husbands at home, for it is inappropriate for a woman to speak out 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 If 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. 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 if anyone ignores this, he should be ignored. If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored.
39 Therefore, my brothers, desire the ability to prophesy, and do not prevent others from speaking in foreign 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 But 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.
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