1 E agerly pursue and seek to acquire love; and earnestly desire and cultivate the spiritual endowments (gifts), especially that you may prophesy ( interpret the divine will and purpose in inspired preaching and teaching).

Follow after love, and be emulous of spiritual, but rather that ye may prophesy.

2 F or one who speaks in an tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things.

For he that speaks with a tongue does not speak to men but to God: for no one hears; but in spirit he speaks mysteries.

3 B ut, the one who prophesies '> interprets the divine will and purpose in inspired preaching and teaching] speaks to men for their upbuilding and constructive spiritual progress and encouragement and consolation.

But he that prophesies speaks to men edification, and encouragement, and consolation.

4 H e who speaks in a tongue edifies and improves himself, but he who prophesies '> interpreting the divine will and purpose and teaching with inspiration] edifies and improves the church and promotes growth.

He that speaks with a tongue edifies himself; but he that prophesies edifies assembly.

5 N ow I wish that you might all speak in tongues, but more especially to prophesy (to be inspired to preach and interpret the divine will and purpose). He who prophesies is greater (more useful and more important) than he who speaks in tongues, unless he should interpret, so that the church may be edified and receive good.

Now I desire that ye should all speak with tongues, but rather that ye should prophesy. But greater is he that prophesies than he that speaks with tongues, unless he interpret, that the assembly may receive edification.

6 N ow, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how shall I make it to your advantage unless I speak to you either in revelation (disclosure of God’s will to man) in knowledge or in prophecy or in instruction?

And now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I shall speak to you either in revelation, or in knowledge, or in prophecy, or in teaching?

7 I f even inanimate musical instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know or understand what is played?

Even lifeless things giving a sound, whether pipe or harp, if they give not distinction to the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

8 A nd if the war bugle gives an uncertain (indistinct) call, who will prepare for battle?

For also, if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself for war?

9 J ust so it is with you; if you in the tongue speak words that are not intelligible, how will anyone understand what you are saying? For you will be talking into empty space!

Thus also ye with the tongue, unless ye give a distinct speech, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye will be speaking to the air.

10 T here are, I suppose, all these many tongues in the world, and none is destitute of expression and meaning.

There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of undistinguishable sound.

11 B ut if I do not know the force and significance of the speech (language), I shall seem to be a foreigner to the one who speaks, and the speaker who addresses will seem a foreigner to me.

If therefore I do not know the power of the sound, I shall be to him that speaks a barbarian, and he that speaks a barbarian for me.

12 S o it is with yourselves; since you are so eager and ambitious to possess spiritual endowments and manifestations of the Spirit, striving to excel and to abound in ways that will build up the church.

Thus ye also, since ye are desirous of spirits, seek that ye may abound for the edification of the assembly.

13 T herefore, the person who speaks in an tongue should pray to interpret and explain what he says.

Wherefore let him that speaks with a tongue pray that he may interpret.

14 F or if I pray in an tongue, my spirit '> Holy Spirit within me] prays, but my mind is unproductive.

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

15 T hen what am I to do? I will pray with my spirit '> Holy Spirit that is within me], but I will also pray with my mind and understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind and understanding also.

What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray also with the understanding; I will sing with the spirit, but I will sing also with the understanding.

16 O therwise, if you bless and render thanks with spirit '> thoroughly aroused by the Holy Spirit], how can anyone in the position of an outsider or he who is not gifted with tongues, say the Amen to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?

Since otherwise, if thou blessest with spirit, how shall he who fills the place of the simple say Amen, at thy giving of thanks, since he does not know what thou sayest?

17 T o be sure, you may give thanks well (nobly), but the bystander is not edified.

For thou indeed givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

18 I thank God that I speak in tongues (languages) more than any of you or all of you put together;

I thank God I speak in a tongue more than all of you:

19 N evertheless, in public worship, I would rather say five words with my understanding and intelligently in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue (language).

but in assembly I desire to speak five words with my understanding, that I may instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

20 B rethren, do not be children in your thinking; continue to be babes in evil, but in your minds be mature.

Brethren, be not children in minds, but in malice be babes; but in minds be grown.

21 I t is written in the Law, By men of strange languages and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and not even then will they listen to Me, says the Lord.

It is written in the law, By people of other tongues, and by strange lips, will I speak to this people; and neither thus will they hear me, saith the Lord.

22 T hus tongues are meant for a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy (inspired preaching and teaching, interpreting the divine will and purpose) is not for unbelievers but for believers.

So that tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to unbelievers; but prophecy, not to unbelievers, but to those who believe.

23 T herefore, if the whole church assembles and all of you speak in tongues, and the ungifted and uninitiated or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are demented?

If therefore the whole assembly come together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and simple enter in, or unbelievers, will not they say ye are mad?

24 B ut if all prophesy and an unbeliever or untaught outsider comes in, he is told of his sin and reproved and convicted and convinced by all, and his defects and needs are examined (estimated, determined) and he is called to account by all,

But if all prophesy, and some unbeliever or simple come in, he is convicted of all, he is judged of all;

25 T he secrets of his heart are laid bare; and so, falling on face, he will worship God, declaring that God is among you in very truth.

the secrets of his heart are manifested; and thus, falling upon face, he will do homage to God, reporting that God is indeed amongst you.

26 W hat then, brethren, is ? When you meet together, each one has a hymn, a teaching, a disclosure of special knowledge or information, an utterance in a tongue, or an interpretation of it. let everything be constructive and edifying and for the good of all.

What is it then, brethren? whenever ye come together, each has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done to edification.

27 I f some speak in a tongue, let the number be limited to two or at the most three, and each one turn, and let one interpret and explain.

If any one speak with a tongue, two, or at the most three, and separately, and let one interpret;

28 B ut if there is no one to do the interpreting, let each of them keep still in church and talk to himself and to God.

but if there be no interpreter, let him be silent in assembly, and let him speak to himself and to God.

29 S o let two or three prophets speak, while the rest pay attention and weigh and discern what is said.

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

30 B ut if an inspired revelation comes to another who is sitting by, then let the first one be silent.

But if there be a revelation to another sitting, let the first be silent.

31 F or in this way you can give testimony one by one, so that all may be instructed and all may be stimulated and encouraged;

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

32 F or the spirits of the prophets (the speakers in tongues) are under the speaker’s control,

And spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.

33 F or He is not a God of confusion and disorder but of peace and order. As in all the churches of the saints (God’s people),

For God is not of disorder but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the saints.

34 T he women should keep quiet in the churches, for they are not authorized to speak, but should take a secondary and subordinate place, just as the Law also says.

Let women be silent in the assemblies, for it is not permitted to them to speak; but to be in subjection, as the law also says.

35 B ut if there is anything they want to learn, they should ask their own husbands at home, for it is disgraceful for a woman to talk in church '> for her to usurp and exercise authority over men in the church].

But if they wish to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is a shame for a woman to speak in assembly.

36 W hat! Did the word of the Lord originate with you, or has it reached only you?

Did the word of God go out from you, or did it come to you only?

37 I f anyone thinks and claims that he is a prophet or has any other spiritual endowment, let him understand (recognize and acknowledge) that what I am writing to you is a command of the Lord.

If any one thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him recognise the things that I write to you, that it is Lord's commandment.

38 B ut if anyone disregards or does not recognize '> that it is a command of the Lord], he is disregarded and not recognized '> one whom God knows not].

But if any be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

39 S o, my brethren, earnestly desire and set your hearts on prophesying (on being inspired to preach and teach and to interpret God’s will and purpose), and do not forbid or hinder speaking in tongues.

So that, brethren, desire to prophesy, and do not forbid the speaking with tongues.

40 B ut all things should be done with regard to decency and propriety and in an orderly fashion.

But let all things be done comelily and with order.