Holman Christian Standard Bible

Greek Study Bible

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

1Διώκετε τὴν ἀγάπην ζηλοῦτε δὲ τὰ πνευματικά μᾶλλον δὲ ἵνα προφητεύητε

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.

2ὁ γὰρ λαλῶν γλώσσῃ οὐκ ἀνθρώποις λαλεῖ ἀλλὰ Θεῷ οὐδεὶς γὰρ ἀκούει πνεύματι δὲ λαλεῖ μυστήρια

3But the person who prophesies speaks to people for edification, encouragement, and consolation.

3ὁ δὲ προφητεύων ἀνθρώποις λαλεῖ οἰκοδομὴν καὶ παράκλησιν καὶ παραμυθίαν

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

4ὁ λαλῶν γλώσσῃ ἑαυτὸν οἰκοδομεῖ ὁ δὲ προφητεύων ἐκκλησίαν οἰκοδομεῖ

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.

5Θέλω δὲ πάντας ὑμᾶς λαλεῖν γλώσσαις μᾶλλον δὲ ἵνα προφητεύητε μείζων δὲ ὁ προφητεύων ἢ ὁ λαλῶν γλώσσαις ἐκτὸς εἰ μὴ διερμηνεύῃ ἵνα ἡ ἐκκλησία οἰκοδομὴν λάβῃ

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?

6Νῦν δέ ἀδελφοί ἐὰν ἔλθω πρὸς ὑμᾶς γλώσσαις λαλῶν τί ὑμᾶς ὠφελήσω ἐὰν μὴ ὑμῖν λαλήσω ἢ ἐν ἀποκαλύψει ἢ ἐν γνώσει ἢ ἐν προφητείᾳ ἢ ‹ἐν› διδαχῇ

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?

7ὅμως τὰ ἄψυχα φωνὴν διδόντα εἴτε αὐλὸς εἴτε κιθάρα ἐὰν διαστολὴν τοῖς φθόγγοις μὴ δῷ πῶς γνωσθήσεται τὸ αὐλούμενον ἢ τὸ κιθαριζόμενον

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

8Καὶ γὰρ ἐὰν ἄδηλον σάλπιγξ φωνὴν δῷ τίς παρασκευάσεται εἰς πόλεμον

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.

9οὕτως καὶ ὑμεῖς διὰ τῆς γλώσσης ἐὰν μὴ εὔσημον λόγον δῶτε πῶς γνωσθήσεται τὸ λαλούμενον ἔσεσθε γὰρ εἰς ἀέρα λαλοῦντες

10There are doubtless many different kinds of languages in the world, and all have meaning.

10Τοσαῦτα εἰ τύχοι γένη φωνῶν εἰσιν ἐν κόσμῳ καὶ οὐδὲν ἄφωνον

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.

11ἐὰν οὖν μὴ εἰδῶ τὴν δύναμιν τῆς φωνῆς ἔσομαι τῷ λαλοῦντι βάρβαρος καὶ ὁ λαλῶν ἐν ἐμοὶ βάρβαρος

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

12Οὕτως καὶ ὑμεῖς ἐπεὶ ζηλωταί ἐστε πνευμάτων πρὸς τὴν οἰκοδομὴν τῆς ἐκκλησίας ζητεῖτε ἵνα περισσεύητε

13Therefore the person who speaks in another language should pray that he can interpret.

13Διὸ ὁ λαλῶν γλώσσῃ προσευχέσθω ἵνα διερμηνεύῃ

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

14ἐὰν γὰρ προσεύχωμαι γλώσσῃ τὸ πνεῦμά μου προσεύχεται ὁ δὲ νοῦς μου ἄκαρπός ἐστιν

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.

15Τί οὖν ἐστιν προσεύξομαι τῷ πνεύματι προσεύξομαι δὲ καὶ τῷ νοΐ ψαλῶ τῷ πνεύματι ψαλῶ δὲ καὶ τῷ νοΐ

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?

16ἐπεὶ ἐὰν εὐλογῇς [ἐν] πνεύματι ὁ ἀναπληρῶν τὸν τόπον τοῦ ἰδιώτου πῶς ἐρεῖ τὸ Ἀμήν ἐπὶ τῇ σῇ εὐχαριστίᾳ ἐπειδὴ τί λέγεις οὐκ οἶδεν

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

17σὺ μὲν γὰρ καλῶς εὐχαριστεῖς ἀλλ’ ὁ ἕτερος οὐκ οἰκοδομεῖται

18I thank God that I speak in other languages more than all of you;

18Εὐχαριστῶ τῷ Θεῷ πάντων ὑμῶν μᾶλλον γλώσσαις λαλῶ

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.

19ἀλλὰ ἐν ἐκκλησίᾳ θέλω πέντε λόγους τῷ νοΐ μου λαλῆσαι ἵνα καὶ ἄλλους κατηχήσω ἢ μυρίους λόγους ἐν γλώσσῃ

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

20Ἀδελφοί μὴ παιδία γίνεσθε ταῖς φρεσίν ἀλλὰ τῇ κακίᾳ νηπιάζετε ταῖς δὲ φρεσὶν τέλειοι γίνεσθε

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.

21ἐν τῷ νόμῳ γέγραπται ὅτι Ἐν ἑτερογλώσσοις καὶ ἐν χείλεσιν ἑτέρων λαλήσω τῷ λαῷ τούτῳ καὶ οὐδ’ οὕτως εἰσακούσονταί μου λέγει Κύριος

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.

22Ὥστε αἱ γλῶσσαι εἰς σημεῖόν εἰσιν οὐ τοῖς πιστεύουσιν ἀλλὰ τοῖς ἀπίστοις ἡ δὲ προφητεία οὐ τοῖς ἀπίστοις ἀλλὰ τοῖς πιστεύουσιν

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?

23Ἐὰν οὖν συνέλθῃ ἡ ἐκκλησία ὅλη ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ καὶ πάντες λαλῶσιν γλώσσαις εἰσέλθωσιν δὲ ἰδιῶται ἢ ἄπιστοι οὐκ ἐροῦσιν ὅτι μαίνεσθε

24But if all are prophesying and some unbeliever or uninformed person comes in, he is convicted by all and is judged by all.

24ἐὰν δὲ πάντες προφητεύωσιν εἰσέλθῃ δέ τις ἄπιστος ἢ ἰδιώτης ἐλέγχεται ὑπὸ πάντων ἀνακρίνεται ὑπὸ πάντων

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."

25τὰ κρυπτὰ τῆς καρδίας αὐτοῦ φανερὰ γίνεται καὶ οὕτως πεσὼν ἐπὶ πρόσωπον προσκυνήσει τῷ Θεῷ ἀπαγγέλλων ὅτι Ὄντως ὁ Θεὸς ἐν ὑμῖν ἐστιν

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.

26Τί οὖν ἐστιν ἀδελφοί ὅταν συνέρχησθε ἕκαστος ψαλμὸν ἔχει διδαχὴν ἔχει ἀποκάλυψιν ἔχει γλῶσσαν ἔχει ἑρμηνείαν ἔχει πάντα πρὸς οἰκοδομὴν γινέσθω

27If any person speaks in another language, there should be only two, or at the most three, each in turn, and someone must interpret.

27Εἴτε γλώσσῃ τις λαλεῖ κατὰ δύο ἢ τὸ πλεῖστον τρεῖς καὶ ἀνὰ μέρος καὶ εἷς διερμηνευέτω

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

28ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ᾖ διερμηνευτής σιγάτω ἐν ἐκκλησίᾳ ἑαυτῷ δὲ λαλείτω καὶ τῷ Θεῷ

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

29Προφῆται δὲ δύο ἢ τρεῖς λαλείτωσαν καὶ οἱ ἄλλοι διακρινέτωσαν

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

30ἐὰν δὲ ἄλλῳ ἀποκαλυφθῇ καθημένῳ ὁ πρῶτος σιγάτω

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

31δύνασθε γὰρ καθ’ ἕνα πάντες προφητεύειν ἵνα πάντες μανθάνωσιν καὶ πάντες παρακαλῶνται

32And the prophets' spirits are under the control of the prophets,

32καὶ πνεύματα προφητῶν προφήταις ὑποτάσσεται

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

33οὐ γάρ ἐστιν ἀκαταστασίας ὁ Θεὸς ἀλλὰ εἰρήνης Ὡς ἐν πάσαις ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις τῶν ἁγίων

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

34αἱ γυναῖκες ἐν ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις σιγάτωσαν οὐ γὰρ ἐπιτρέπεται αὐταῖς λαλεῖν ἀλλὰ ὑποτασσέσθωσαν καθὼς καὶ ὁ νόμος λέγει

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.

35εἰ δέ τι μαθεῖν θέλουσιν ἐν οἴκῳ τοὺς ἰδίους ἄνδρας ἐπερωτάτωσαν αἰσχρὸν γάρ ἐστιν γυναικὶ λαλεῖν ἐν ἐκκλησίᾳ

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

36Ἢ ἀφ’ ὑμῶν ὁ λόγος τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐξῆλθεν ἢ εἰς ὑμᾶς μόνους κατήντησεν

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

37Εἴ τις δοκεῖ προφήτης εἶναι ἢ πνευματικός ἐπιγινωσκέτω ἃ γράφω ὑμῖν ὅτι Κυρίου ἐστὶν ἐντολή

38But if anyone ignores this, he will be ignored.

38εἰ δέ τις ἀγνοεῖ ἀγνοεῖται

39Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in other languages.

39Ὥστε ἀδελφοί μου ζηλοῦτε τὸ προφητεύειν καὶ τὸ λαλεῖν μὴ κωλύετε γλώσσαις

40But everything must be done decently and in order.

40πάντα δὲ εὐσχημόνως καὶ κατὰ τάξιν γινέσθω

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

Greek and Hebrew Study Bible courtesy Bible Hub and the Discovery Bible team.