1 ¶ Follow after charity and earnestly pursue spiritual gifts, but above all, that ye may prophesy.

Eagerly 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).

2 F or he that speaks in an unknown tongue speaks not unto men, but unto God, for no one understands him, even though by the Spirit he speaks mysteries.

For 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.

3 B ut he that prophesies speaks unto men for edification and exhortation and comfort.

But, 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.

4 H e that speaks in an unknown tongue edifies himself, but he that prophesies edifies the congregation.

He 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.

5 I would that ye all spoke with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied, for greater is he that prophesies than he that speaks with tongues, unless he interprets, that the congregation may receive edifying.

Now 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.

6 ¶ Now, brothers, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either with revelation or with knowledge or with prophecy or with doctrine?

Now, 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?

7 A nd even things without life giving sound, whether flute or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is played or harped?

If 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?

8 F or if the trumpet gives an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

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

9 S o likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue a clear and definite word, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.

Just 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!

10 T here are many kinds of distinct voices in the world, and nothing is dumb.

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

11 T herefore, if I ignore the virtue of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaks as a barbarian, and he that speaks shall be a barbarian unto me.

But 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.

12 E ven so ye, forasmuch as ye desire the things of the Spirit, earnestly pursue excellence unto the edification of the congregation.

So 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.

13 T herefore, let him that speaks in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.

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

14 F or if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

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

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

Then 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.

16 E lse when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupies the place of the ignorant say, Amen, at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understands not what thou sayest?

Otherwise, 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?

17 F or thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

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

18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all;

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

19 y et in the congregation I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

Nevertheless, 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).

20 B rothers, be not children in understanding, howbeit in malice be ye children; but in understanding be perfect.

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

21 ¶ In the law it is written, In other tongues and with other lips I will speak unto this people; and yet for all that, they will not hear me, saith the Lord.

It 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.

22 T herefore, tongues are for a sign, not to those that believe, but to those that do not believe; but prophecy is not for those that do not believe, but for those who believe.

Thus 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.

23 I f, therefore, the whole congregation is come together into one place and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

Therefore, 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?

24 B ut if all prophesy, and there come in one that does not believe or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all;

But 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,

25 f or the secrets of his heart are made manifest; and so falling down on his face, he will worship God, declaring that God is indeed in you.

The 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.

26 ¶ How is it then, brothers? when ye come together, each one of you has a psalm, has doctrine, has tongues, has revelation, has interpretation. Let all things be done unto edification.

What 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.

27 I f anyone speaks in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.

If 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.

28 B ut if there is no interpreter, let him keep silence in the congregation, and let him speak to himself and to God.

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

29 L et the prophets speak two or three, and let the others judge.

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

30 I f any thing is revealed to another that sits by, let the first be silent.

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

31 F or ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be exhorted.

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

32 A nd the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

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

33 F or God is not the God of disorder, but of peace, as in all the congregations of the saints.

For 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),

34 ¶ Let your women keep silence in the congregations, for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be in subjection, as also saith the law.

The 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.

35 A nd if they desire to learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home, for it is a dishonest thing for women to speak in the congregation.

But 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].

36 ¶ What? Did the word of God come out from you? or did it come unto you only?

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

37 I f anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

If 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.

38 B ut anyone that ignores them shall be ignored.

But 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].

39 T herefore, brothers, earnestly pursue prophecy and do not forbid to speak with tongues.

So, 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.

40 B ut let all things be done decently and in order.

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