English Standard Version

Christian Standard Bible

1Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.

1Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophesy.

2For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.

2For the person who speaks in another tongue is not speaking to people but to God, since no one understands him; he speaks mysteries in the Spirit.

3On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.

3On the other hand, the person who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouragement, and consolation.

4The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.

4The person who speaks in another tongue builds himself up, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.

5Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.

5I wish all of you spoke in other tongues, but even more that you prophesied. The person who prophesies is greater than the person who speaks in tongues, 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?

6So now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in other tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you with a revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?

7If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played?

7Even lifeless instruments 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?

8And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle?

8In fact, if the bugle makes an unclear sound, who will prepare for battle?

9So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will 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.

10There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning,

10There are doubtless many different kinds of languages in the world, none is without meaning.

11but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker 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.

12So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.

12So also you--since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek to excel in building up the church.

13Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.

13Therefore the person who speaks in another tongue 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 tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

15What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.

15What then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with my understanding. I will sing praise with the spirit, and I will also sing praise with my understanding.

16Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying?

16Otherwise, if you praise with the spirit, how will the outsider say "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying?

17For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up.

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 tongues more than all of you;

19Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order 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 ten thousand words in another tongue.

20Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.

20Brothers and sisters, don't be childish in your thinking, but be infants in regard to evil and adult in your thinking.

21In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.”

21It is written in the law, I will speak to this people by people of other tongues and by the lips of foreigners, and even then, they will not listen to me, says the Lord.

22Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers.

22Speaking in other tongues, then, is intended as a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers.

23If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds?

23If, therefore, the whole church assembles together and all are speaking in other tongues and people who are outsiders or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds?

24But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all,

24But if all are prophesying and some unbeliever or outsider comes in, he is convicted by all and is called to account by all.

25the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really 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, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.

26What then, brothers and sisters? Whenever you come together, each one has a hymn, a teaching, a revelation, another tongue, or an interpretation. Everything is to be done for building up.

27If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret.

27If anyone speaks in another tongue, there are to be only two, or at the most three, each in turn, and let someone interpret.

28But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.

28But if there is no interpreter, that person is to keep silent in the church and speak to himself and God.

29Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.

29Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should evaluate.

30If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent.

30But if something has been revealed to another person sitting there, the first prophet should be silent.

31For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged,

31For you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may learn and everyone may be encouraged.

32and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.

32And the prophets' spirits are subject to the prophets,

33For God is not a God of confusion 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,

34the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says.

34the women should be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but are to submit themselves, as the law also says.

35If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.

35If they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home, since it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.

36Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached?

36Or did the word of God originate from you, or did it come to you only?

37If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord.

37If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, he should recognize that what I write to you is the Lord's command.

38If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.

38If anyone ignores this, he will be ignored.

39So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

39So then, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in other tongues.

40But all things should be done decently and in order.

40But everything is to be done decently and in order.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.