English Standard Version

New American Standard Bible 1995

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

1Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but 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 one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries.

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

3But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation.

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

4One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies 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.

5Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.

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, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation or of knowledge or of prophecy or of teaching?

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

7Yet even lifeless things, either flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp?

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

8For if the bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself 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.

9So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.

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

10There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and no kind 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.

11If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be to the one who speaks a barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a barbarian 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 of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church.

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

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

14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful.

14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind 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 is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.

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 bless in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say the "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 are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not edified.

18I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.

18I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all;

19Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

19however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.

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

20Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.

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.”

21In the Law it is written, "BY MEN OF STRANGE TONGUES AND BY THE LIPS OF STRANGERS I WILL SPEAK TO THIS PEOPLE, AND EVEN SO 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.

22So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those who believe.

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?

23Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad?

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 prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he 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 are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly 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 is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.

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 a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must 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, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God.

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

29Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment.

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

30But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep 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 all may learn and all may be exhorted;

32and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.

32and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets;

33For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,

33for God is not a God of confusion 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 are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just 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 desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church.

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

36Was it from you that the word of God first went forth? Or has 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, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord's commandment.

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

38But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.

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

39Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues.

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

40But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.

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