International Standard Version

King James Bible

1Keep on pursuing love, and keep on desiring spiritual gifts, especially the ability to prophesy.

1Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

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.

2For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

3But the person who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding, encouragement, and comfort.

3But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

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

4He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

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.

5I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

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?

6Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?

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?

7And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

8For example, if a bugle doesn't sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?

8For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

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!

9So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.

10There are, I suppose, many different languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.

10There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.

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.

11Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.

12In the same way, since you're so desirous of spiritual gifts, you must keep on desiring them for building up the church.

12Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

13Therefore, the person who speaks in a foreign language should pray for the ability to interpret it.

13Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.

14For if I pray in a foreign language, my spirit prays but my mind is not productive.

14For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

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.

15What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

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?

16Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?

17It's good for you to give thanks, but it does not build up the other person.

17For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

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

18I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

19But in church I would rather speak five words with my mind to instruct others than 10,000 words in a foreign language.

19Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

20Brothers, stop being childish in your thinking. Be like infants with respect to evil, but think like adults.

20Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

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.

21In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.

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.

22Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

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?

23If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

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.

24But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:

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!"

25And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

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.

26How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

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.

27If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.

28If an interpreter is not present, the speaker should remain silent in the church and speak to himself and God.

28But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

29Two or three prophets should speak, and others should weigh carefully what is said.

29Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.

30If a revelation is made to another person who is seated, the first person should be silent.

30If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.

31For everyone can prophesy in turn, so that everyone can be instructed and everyone can be encouraged.

31For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.

32The spirits of prophets are subject to the prophets,

32And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

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

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

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.

34Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.

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.

35And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

36Did God's word originate with you? Are you the only ones it has reached?

36What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?

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.

37If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

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

38But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

39Therefore, my brothers, desire the ability to prophesy, and do not prevent others from speaking in foreign languages.

39Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

40But everything must be done in a proper and orderly way.

40Let all things be done decently and in order.

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.