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

Follow after love, and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you 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 who speaks in another language speaks not to men, but to God; for no one understands; but in the Spirit he speaks mysteries.

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

But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, exhortation, and consolation.

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

He who speaks in another language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the assembly.

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 desire to have you all speak with other languages, but rather that you would prophesy. For he is greater who prophesies than he who speaks with other languages, unless he interprets, that the assembly may be built up.

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, brothers, if I come to you speaking with other languages, what would 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 didn’t give a distinction in the sounds, how would 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 gave an uncertain sound, who would 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 you, unless you uttered by the tongue words easy to understand, how would it be known what is spoken? For you would 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 sounds in the world, and none of them is without 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.

If then I don’t know the meaning of the sound, I would be to him who speaks a foreigner, and he who speaks would be 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 also you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound to the building up of the assembly.

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

Therefore let him who speaks in another language 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 another language, my spirit prays, 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?

Otherwise if you bless with the spirit, how will he who fills the place of the unlearned say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks, seeing he doesn’t know what you say?

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

For you most certainly give thanks well, but the other person is not built up.

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

I thank my God, I speak with other languages 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.

However in the assembly I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in another language.

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

Brothers, don’t be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts 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.

In the law it is written, “By men of strange languages and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people. Not even thus will they hear 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.

Therefore other languages are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to the unbelieving; but prophesying is for a sign, not to the unbelieving, but to those who 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 assembly is assembled together and all speak with other languages, and unlearned or unbelieving people come in, won’t they say that you are crazy?

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 someone unbelieving or unlearned comes in, he is reproved by all, and 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.

And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed. 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, brothers? When you come together, each one of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has another language, has an interpretation. Let all things be done to build each other up.

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 speaks in another language, let it be two, or at the most three, and 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 is no interpreter, let him keep silent in the assembly, and let him speak to himself, and to God.

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

Let the prophets speak, 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 is made to another sitting by, let the first keep silent.

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

For you 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.

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 assemblies 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 your wives keep silent in the assemblies, for it has not been permitted for them to speak; but let them be in subjection, 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.

If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for a woman to chatter in the assembly.

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 out? Or did it come to 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 thinks himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him recognize the things which I write to you, that they are the commandment of the Lord.

38 B ut anyone that ignores them shall be ignored.

But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

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

Therefore, brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking with other languages.

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

Let all things be done decently and in order.