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).

Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you 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 one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his 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 one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation 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.

One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church.

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 wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.

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?

But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation or of knowledge or of prophecy or of 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?

Yet even lifeless things, either flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp?

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

For if the bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle?

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!

So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into 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, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and no kind is without meaning.

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 then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be to the one who speaks a barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a barbarian to 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.

So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church.

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

Therefore let one who speaks in 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 in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind 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 the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.

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?

Otherwise if you bless in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying?

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

For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person 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 tongues more than you all;

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).

however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue. Instruction for the Church

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

Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.

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.

In the Law it is written, “ By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people, and even so they will not listen to Me,” says 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 then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is for a sign, 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?

Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you 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 an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by 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 disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among 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 the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for 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 anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must 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 is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; 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.

Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment.

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

But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep 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 you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted;

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

and the 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 a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches 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.

The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just 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].

If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church.

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

Was it from you that the word of God first went forth? Or has 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 anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the 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 anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.

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.

Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues.

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

But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.