New Living Translation

Holman Christian Standard Bible

1Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy.

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

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.

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.

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

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

4A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church.

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

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.

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.

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.

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?

7Even lifeless instruments like the flute or the harp must play the notes clearly, or no one will recognize the melody.

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?

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

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

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.

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 many different languages in the world, and every language has meaning.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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?

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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

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

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."

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

35If they have any questions, they should ask their husbands at home, for it is improper for women to speak in church meetings.

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.

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

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

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.

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 you do not recognize this, you yourself will not be recognized.

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

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

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

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

40But everything must be done decently and in order.

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.

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