1 F ollow after love, and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

2 F or he who speaks in another language speaks not to men, but to God; for no one understands; but in the Spirit he speaks mysteries.

For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.

3 B ut he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, exhortation, and consolation.

But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.

4 H e who speaks in another language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the assembly.

He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.

5 N ow 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.

I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification. Tongues Must Be Interpreted

6 B ut 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?

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

7 E ven 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?

Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played?

8 F or if the trumpet gave an uncertain sound, who would prepare himself for war?

For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle?

9 S o 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.

So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.

10 T here are, it may be, so many kinds of sounds in the world, and none of them is without meaning.

There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance.

11 I f 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.

Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me.

12 S o also you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound to the building up of the assembly.

Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.

13 T herefore let him who speaks in another language pray that he may interpret.

Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.

14 F or if I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

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

15 W hat 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 the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.

16 O therwise 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?

Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say?

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

For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.

18 I thank my God, I speak with other languages more than you all.

I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all;

19 H owever 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.

yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue. Tongues a Sign to Unbelievers

20 B rothers, don’t be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature.

Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.

21 I n 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.”

In the law it is written: “With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,” says the Lord.

22 T herefore 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.

Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe.

23 I f 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?

Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind?

24 B ut if all prophesy, and someone unbelieving or unlearned comes in, he is reproved by all, and he is judged by all.

But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all.

25 A nd 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.

And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you. Order in Church Meetings

26 W hat 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.

How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.

27 I f any man speaks in another language, let it be two, or at the most three, and in turn; and let one interpret.

If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret.

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

But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.

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

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

30 B ut if a revelation is made to another sitting by, let the first keep silent.

But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent.

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

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

32 T he 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 a God of confusion, but of peace. As in all the assemblies of the saints,

For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

34 l et 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.

Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says.

35 I f 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.

And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.

36 W hat? Was it from you that the word of God went out? Or did it come to you alone?

Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached?

37 I f 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.

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

38 B ut if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

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

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

40 L et all things be done decently and in order.

Let all things be done decently and in order.