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

Follow after love; yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

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 he that speaketh in a tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God; for no man understandeth; but in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

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

But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men edification, and exhortation, and consolation.

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

He that speaketh in a tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

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 would have you all speak with tongues, but rather that ye should prophesy: and greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

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?

But now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching?

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?

Even things without life, giving a voice, whether pipe or harp, if they give not a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

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

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

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.

So also ye, unless ye utter by the tongue speech easy to understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye will be speaking into the air.

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

There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and no kind is without signification.

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.

If then I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be to him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh will be a barbarian unto 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 also ye, since ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may abound unto the edifying of the church.

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

Wherefore let him that speaketh in a tongue pray that he may interpret.

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

For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

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.

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.

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?

Else if thou bless with the spirit, how shall he that filleth the place of the unlearned say the Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he knoweth not what thou sayest?

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

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

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

I thank God, I speak with tongues more than you all:

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.

howbeit in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

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

Brethren, be not children in mind: yet in malice be ye babes, but in mind be men.

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.

In the law it is written, By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers will I speak unto this people; and not even thus will they hear me, saith 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.

Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to the unbelieving: but prophesying is for a sign, not to the unbelieving, but to them that believe.

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?

If therefore the whole church be assembled together and all speak with tongues, and there come in men unlearned or unbelieving, will they not say that ye are mad?

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 there come in one unbelieving or unlearned, he is reproved by all, he is judged 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 made manifest; and so he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeed.

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 is it then, brethren? When ye come together, each one hath a psalm, hath a teaching, hath a revelation, hath a tongue, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

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 any man speaketh in a tongue, let it be by two, or at the most three, and that in turn; and let one interpret:

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 be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

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

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

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

But if a revelation be made to another sitting by, let the first keep silence.

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

For ye all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be exhorted;

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

and the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets;

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

for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,

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.

let the women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as also saith the law.

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.

And if they would learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home: for it is shameful for a woman to speak in the church.

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

What? was it from you that the word of God went forth? or came it unto you alone?

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 any man thinketh himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him take knowledge of the things which I write unto you, that they are the commandment of the Lord.

38 B ut anyone that ignores them shall be ignored.

But if any man is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

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

Wherefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

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

But let all things be done decently and in order.