| Holman Christian Standard Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, and above all that you may prophesy. | 1Keep on pursuing love, and keep on desiring spiritual gifts, especially the ability to prophesy. |
| 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. | 2For the person who speaks in a foreign language is not actually speaking to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands him, because he is talking about secrets by the Spirit. |
| 3But the person who prophesies speaks to people for edification, encouragement, and consolation. | 3But the person who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding, encouragement, and comfort. |
| 4The person who speaks in another language builds himself up, but he who prophesies builds up the church. | 4The person who speaks in a foreign language builds himself up, but the person who prophesies builds up the church. |
| 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. | 5Now I wish that all of you could speak in foreign languages, but especially that you could prophesy. The person who prophesies is more important than the person who speaks in a foreign language, unless he interprets it so that the church may be built up. |
| 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? | 6Indeed, brothers, if I come to you speaking in foreign languages, what good will I be to you unless I speak to you in some revelation, knowledge, prophecy, or teaching? |
| 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? | 7In the same way, lifeless instruments like the flute or harp produce sounds. But if there's no difference in the notes, how can a person tell what tune is being played? |
| 8In fact, if the trumpet makes an unclear sound, who will prepare for battle? | 8For example, if a bugle doesn't sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? |
| 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. | 9In the same way, unless you speak an intelligible message with your language, how will anyone know what is being said? You'll be talking into the air! |
| 10There are doubtless many different kinds of languages in the world, and all have meaning. | 10There are, I suppose, many different languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. |
| 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. | 11If I don't know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker will be a foreigner to me. |
| 12So also you--since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek to excel in building up the church. | 12In the same way, since you're so desirous of spiritual gifts, you must keep on desiring them for building up the church. |
| 13Therefore the person who speaks in another language should pray that he can interpret. | 13Therefore, the person who speaks in a foreign language should pray for the ability to interpret it. |
| 14For if I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. | 14For if I pray in a foreign language, my spirit prays but my mind is not productive. |
| 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. | 15What does this mean? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing psalms with my spirit, but I will also sing psalms with my mind. |
| 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? | 16Otherwise, if you say a blessing with your spirit, how can an otherwise uneducated person say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you're saying? |
| 17For you may very well be giving thanks, but the other person is not being built up. | 17It's good for you to give thanks, but it does not build up the other person. |
| 18I thank God that I speak in other languages more than all of you; | 18I thank God that I speak in foreign languages more than all of you. |
| 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. | 19But in church I would rather speak five words with my mind to instruct others than 10,000 words in a foreign language. |
| 20Brothers, don't be childish in your thinking, but be infants in regard to evil and adult in your thinking. | 20Brothers, stop being childish in your thinking. Be like infants with respect to evil, but think like adults. |
| 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. | 21In the Law it is written, "By means of foreign languages and through the mouths of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me," declares the Lord. |
| 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. | 22Foreign languages, then, are meant to be a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers, while prophecy is meant, not for unbelievers, but for believers. |
| 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? | 23Now if the whole church gathers in the same place and everyone is speaking in foreign languages, when uneducated people or unbelievers come in, they will say that you are out of your mind, won't they? |
| 24But if all are prophesying and some unbeliever or uninformed person comes in, he is convicted by all and is judged by all. | 24But if everyone is prophesying, when an unbeliever or an uneducated person comes in he will be convicted and examined by everything that's happening. |
| 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." | 25His secret, inner heart will become known, and so he will bow down to the ground and worship God, declaring, "God is truly among you!" |
| 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. | 26What, then, does this mean, brothers? When you gather, everyone has a psalm, teaching, revelation, foreign language, or interpretation. Everything must be done for upbuilding. |
| 27If any person speaks in another language, there should be only two, or at the most three, each in turn, and someone must interpret. | 27If anyone speaks in a foreign language, only two or three at the most should do so, one at a time, and somebody must interpret. |
| 28But if there is no interpreter, that person should keep silent in the church and speak to himself and to God. | 28If an interpreter is not present, the speaker should remain silent in the church and speak to himself and God. |
| 29Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should evaluate. | 29Two or three prophets should speak, and others should weigh carefully what is said. |
| 30But if something has been revealed to another person sitting there, the first prophet should be silent. | 30If a revelation is made to another person who is seated, the first person should be silent. |
| 31For you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may learn and everyone may be encouraged. | 31For everyone can prophesy in turn, so that everyone can be instructed and everyone can be encouraged. |
| 32And the prophets' spirits are under the control of the prophets, | 32The spirits of prophets are subject to the prophets, |
| 33since God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, | 33for God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, |
| 34the women should be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but should be submissive, as the law also says. | 34the women must keep silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak out, but must place themselves in submission, as the oral law also says. |
| 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. | 35If they want to learn anything, they should ask their own husbands at home, for it is inappropriate for a woman to speak out in church. |
| 36Did the word of God originate from you, or did it come to you only? | 36Did God's word originate with you? Are you the only ones it has reached? |
| 37If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, he should recognize that what I write to you is the Lord's command. | 37If anyone thinks he is a prophet or a spiritual person, he must acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command. |
| 38But if anyone ignores this, he will be ignored. | 38But if anyone ignores this, he should be ignored. |
| 39Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in other languages. | 39Therefore, my brothers, desire the ability to prophesy, and do not prevent others from speaking in foreign languages. |
| 40But everything must be done decently and in order. | 40But everything must be done in a proper and orderly way. |
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