| English Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. | 1Pursue love and be eager for the spiritual gifts, 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 one speaking in a tongue does not speak to people but to God, for no one understands; he is speaking mysteries by the Spirit. |
| 3On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. | 3But the one 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 one who speaks in a 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 you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be strengthened. |
| 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? | 6Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I help you unless I speak to you with a revelation or with 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? | 7It is similar for lifeless things that make a sound, like a flute or harp. Unless they make a distinction in the notes, how can what is played on the flute or harp be understood? |
| 8And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? | 8If, for example, the trumpet makes an unclear sound, who will get ready 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. | 9It is the same for you. If you do not speak clearly with your tongue, how will anyone know what is being said? For you will be speaking into the air. |
| 10There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, | 10There are probably many kinds of languages in the world, and 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. | 11If then I do not know the meaning of a language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. |
| 12So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church. | 12It is the same with you. Since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, seek to abound in order to strengthen the church. |
| 13Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. | 13So then, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. |
| 14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. | 14If I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive. |
| 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 should I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing praises with my spirit, but I will also sing praises with my mind. |
| 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 are praising God with your spirit, how can someone without the gift say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, 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 certainly giving thanks well, but the other person is not strengthened. |
| 18I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. | 18I thank God that I speak in 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. | 19but in the church I want to speak five words with my mind to instruct others, 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. | 20Brothers and sisters, do not be children in your thinking. Instead, be infants in evil, 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.” | 21It is written in the law: "By people with strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people, yet not even in this way will they 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 a sign not for believers but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, 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? | 23So if the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and unbelievers or uninformed people enter, will they not say that you have lost 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 prophesy, and an unbeliever or uninformed person enters, he will be convicted by all, he will be 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 in this way he will fall down with his face to the ground and worship God, declaring, "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 should you do then, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each one has a song, has a lesson, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all these things be done for the strengthening of the church. |
| 27If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. | 27If someone speaks in a tongue, it should be two, or at the most three, one after the other, and someone 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 should be silent in the church. Let him speak to himself and to 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 what is said. |
| 30If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. | 30And if someone sitting down receives a revelation, the person who is speaking should conclude. |
| 31For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, | 31For you can all prophesy one after another, so all can learn and be encouraged. |
| 32and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. | 32Indeed, the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets, |
| 33For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, | 33for God is not characterized by disorder but by 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. Rather, let them be in submission, as in fact the law 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 find out about something, they should ask their husbands at home, because it is disgraceful 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? | 36Did the word of God begin with you, or did it come to you alone? |
| 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 considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, he should acknowledge that what I write to you is the Lord's command. |
| 38If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. | 38If someone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. |
| 39So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. | 39So then, brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid anyone from speaking in tongues. |
| 40But all things should be done decently and in order. | 40And do everything in a decent and orderly manner. |
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