King James Bible

New Living Translation

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

1Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to 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 if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God, since people won’t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be mysterious.

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

3But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them.

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

4A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire 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 you could all speak in tongues, but even more I wish you could all prophesy. For prophecy is greater than speaking in tongues, unless someone interprets what you are saying so that the whole church will be strengthened.

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?

6Dear brothers and sisters, if I should come to you speaking in an unknown language, how would that help you? But if I bring you a revelation or some special knowledge or prophecy or teaching, that will be helpful.

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 like the flute or the harp must play the notes clearly, or no one will recognize the melody.

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

8And if the bugler doesn’t sound a clear call, how will the soldiers know they are being called to 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.

9It’s the same for you. If you speak to people in words they don’t understand, how will they know what you are saying? You might as well be talking into empty space.

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

10There are many different languages in the world, and every language has 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.

11But if I don’t understand a language, I will be a foreigner to someone who speaks it, and the one who speaks it 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.

12And the same is true for you. Since you are so eager to have the special abilities the Spirit gives, seek those that will strengthen the whole church.

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

13So anyone who speaks in tongues should pray also for the ability to interpret what has been said.

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

14For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is praying, but I don’t understand what I am saying.

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.

15Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the spirit, and I will also pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will also sing in words I understand.

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?

16For if you praise God only in the spirit, how can those who don’t understand you praise God along with you? How can they join you in giving thanks when they don’t understand what you are saying?

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

17You will be giving thanks very well, but it won’t strengthen the people who hear you.

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

18I thank God that I speak in tongues more than any 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.

19But in a church meeting I would rather speak five understandable words to help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language.

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

20Dear brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind.

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 Scriptures : “I will speak to my own people through strange languages and through the lips of foreigners. But 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.

22So you see that speaking in tongues is a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for the benefit of believers, not unbelievers.

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?

23Even so, if unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into your church meeting and hear everyone speaking in an unknown language, they will think you are crazy.

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 of you are prophesying, and unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into your meeting, they will be convicted of sin and judged by what you say.

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.

25As they listen, their secret thoughts will be exposed, and they will fall to their knees and worship God, declaring, “God is truly here among you.” A Call to Orderly Worship

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.

26Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you.

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.

27No more than two or three should speak in tongues. They must speak one at a time, and someone must interpret what they say.

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

28But if no one is present who can interpret, they must be silent in your church meeting and speak in tongues to God privately.

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

29Let two or three people prophesy, and let the others evaluate what is said.

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

30But if someone is prophesying and another person receives a revelation from the Lord, the one who is speaking must stop.

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

31In this way, all who prophesy will have a turn to speak, one after the other, so that everyone will learn and be encouraged.

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

32Remember that people who prophesy are in control of their spirit and can take turns.

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

33For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of God’s holy people.

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.

34Women should be silent during the church meetings. It is not proper for them to speak. They should be submissive, just as the law 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 have any questions, they should ask their husbands at home, for it is improper for women to speak in church meetings.

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

36Or do you think God’s word originated with you Corinthians? Are you the only ones to whom it was given?

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 you claim to be a prophet or think you are spiritual, you should recognize that what I am saying is a command from the Lord himself.

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

38But if you do not recognize this, you yourself will not be recognized.

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

39So, my dear brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking in tongues.

40Let all things be done decently and in order.

40But be sure that everything is done properly and in order.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.