King James Bible

Christian Standard Bible

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

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

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.

2For the person who speaks in another tongue is not speaking to people but to God, since no one understands him; he speaks mysteries in the Spirit.

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

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

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

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

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.

5I wish all of you spoke in other tongues, but even more that you prophesied. The person who prophesies is greater than the person who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be built up.

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?

6So now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in other tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you with a revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?

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?

7Even lifeless instruments 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?

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

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

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.

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.

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

10There are doubtless many different kinds of languages in the world, none is without meaning.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

15What then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with my understanding. I will sing praise with the spirit, and I will also sing praise with my understanding.

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?

16Otherwise, if you praise with the spirit, how will the outsider say "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying?

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

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

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

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

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.

19yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, in order to teach others also, than ten thousand words in another tongue.

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

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

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.

21It is written in the law, I will speak to this people by people of other tongues and by the lips of foreigners, and even then, they will not listen to me, says the Lord.

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.

22Speaking in other tongues, then, is intended as a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers.

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?

23If, therefore, the whole church assembles together and all are speaking in other tongues and people who are outsiders or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds?

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:

24But if all are prophesying and some unbeliever or outsider comes in, he is convicted by all and is called to account by all.

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.

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."

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.

26What then, brothers and sisters? Whenever you come together, each one has a hymn, a teaching, a revelation, another tongue, or an interpretation. Everything is to be done for building up.

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.

27If anyone speaks in another tongue, there are to be only two, or at the most three, each in turn, and let someone interpret.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

32And the prophets' spirits are subject to the prophets,

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

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

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.

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

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.

35If they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home, since it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.

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

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

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.

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

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

38If anyone ignores this, he will be ignored.

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

39So then, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in other tongues.

40Let all things be done decently and in order.

40But everything is to be done decently and in order.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.