| Berean Study Bible | Holman Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. | 1Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, and above all that you may prophesy. |
| 2For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries in the Spirit. | 2For the person who speaks in another language is not speaking to men but to God, since no one understands him; however, he speaks mysteries in the Spirit. |
| 3But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, encouragement, and comfort. | 3But the person who prophesies speaks to people for edification, encouragement, and consolation. |
| 4The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. | 4The person who speaks in another language builds himself up, but he who prophesies builds up the church. |
| 5I wish that all of you could speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be edified. | 5I wish all of you spoke in other languages, but even more that you prophesied. The person who prophesies is greater than the person who speaks in languages, unless he interprets so that the church may be built up. |
| 6Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? | 6But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in other languages, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you with a revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? |
| 7Even in the case of lifeless instruments, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone recognize the tune they are playing unless the notes are distinct? | 7Even inanimate things that produce sounds--whether flute or harp--if they don't make a distinction in the notes, how will what is played on the flute or harp be recognized? |
| 8Again, if the trumpet sounds a muffled call, who will prepare for battle? | 8In fact, if the trumpet makes an unclear sound, who will prepare for battle? |
| 9So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. | 9In the same way, unless you use your tongue for intelligible speech, how will what is spoken be known? For you will be speaking into the air. |
| 10Assuredly, there are many different languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. | 10There are doubtless many different kinds of languages in the world, and all have meaning. |
| 11If, then, I do not know the meaning of someone’s language, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me. | 11Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker will be a foreigner to me. |
| 12It is the same with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, strive to excel in gifts that build up the church. | 12So also you--since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek to excel in building up the church. |
| 13Therefore, the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. | 13Therefore the person who speaks in another language should pray that he can interpret. |
| 14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. | 14For if I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. |
| 15What then shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. | 15What then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with my understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with my understanding. |
| 16Otherwise, if you speak a blessing in spirit, how can someone who is uninstructed say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? | 16Otherwise, if you praise with the spirit, how will the uninformed person say "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? |
| 17You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other one is not edified. | 17For you may very well be giving thanks, but the other person is not being built up. |
| 18I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. | 18I thank God that I speak in other languages more than all of you; |
| 19But in the church, I would rather speak five coherent words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue. | 19yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, in order to teach others also, than 10,000 words in another language. |
| 20Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature. | 20Brothers, don't be childish in your thinking, but be infants in regard to evil and adult in your thinking. |
| 21It is written in the Law: “By strange tongues and foreign lips I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to Me, says the Lord.” | 21It is written in the law: I will speak to these people by people of other languages and by the lips of foreigners, and even then, they will not listen to Me, says the Lord. |
| 22Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers. | 22It follows that speaking in other languages is intended as a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers. But prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers. |
| 23So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who are uninstructed or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds? | 23Therefore, if the whole church assembles together and all are speaking in other languages and people who are uninformed or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds? |
| 24But if an unbeliever or uninstructed person comes in while everyone is prophesying, he will be convicted and called to account by all, | 24But if all are prophesying and some unbeliever or uninformed person comes in, he is convicted by all and is judged by all. |
| 25and the secrets of his heart will be made known. So he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is truly among you!” | 25The secrets of his heart will be revealed, and as a result he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, "God is really among you." |
| 26What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a psalm or a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All of these must be done to build up the church. | 26What then is the conclusion, brothers? Whenever you come together, each one has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, another language, or an interpretation. All things must be done for edification. |
| 27If anyone speaks in a tongue, two, or at most three, should speak in turn, and someone must interpret. | 27If any person speaks in another language, there should be only two, or at the most three, each in turn, and someone must interpret. |
| 28But if there is no interpreter, he should remain silent in the church and speak only to himself and God. | 28But if there is no interpreter, that person should keep silent in the church and speak to himself and to God. |
| 29Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. | 29Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should evaluate. |
| 30And if a revelation comes to someone who is seated, the first speaker should stop. | 30But if something has been revealed to another person sitting there, the first prophet should be silent. |
| 31For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. | 31For you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may learn and everyone may be encouraged. |
| 32The spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. | 32And the prophets' spirits are under the control of the prophets, |
| 33For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace—as in all the churches of the saints. | 33since God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, |
| 34Women are to be silent in the churches. They are not permitted to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. | 34the women should be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but should be submissive, as the law also says. |
| 35If they wish to inquire about something, they are to ask their own husbands at home; for it is dishonorable for a woman to speak in the church. | 35And if they want to learn something, they should ask their own husbands at home, for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church meeting. |
| 36Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only ones it has reached? | 36Did the word of God originate from you, or did it come to you only? |
| 37If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, let him acknowledge that what I am writing you is the Lord’s command. | 37If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, he should recognize that what I write to you is the Lord's command. |
| 38But if anyone ignores this, he himself will be ignored. | 38But if anyone ignores this, he will be ignored. |
| 39So, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. | 39Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in other languages. |
| 40But everything must be done in a proper and orderly manner. | 40But everything must be done decently and in order. |
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