| Berean Study Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. | 1Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy. |
| 2For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries in the Spirit. | 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 who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, encouragement, and comfort. | 3But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them. |
| 4The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. | 4A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church. |
| 5I wish that all of you could speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be edified. | 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, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? | 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. |
| 7Even in the case of lifeless instruments, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone recognize the tune they are playing unless the notes are distinct? | 7Even lifeless instruments like the flute or the harp must play the notes clearly, or no one will recognize the melody. |
| 8Again, if the trumpet sounds a muffled call, who will prepare for battle? | 8And if the bugler doesn’t sound a clear call, how will the soldiers know they are being called to battle? |
| 9So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking 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. |
| 10Assuredly, there are many different languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. | 10There are many different languages in the world, and every language has meaning. |
| 11If, then, I do not know the meaning of someone’s language, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to 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. |
| 12It is the same with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, strive to excel in gifts that build up 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. |
| 13Therefore, the one who speaks in a tongue should 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 a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. | 14For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is praying, but I don’t understand what I am saying. |
| 15What then shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. | 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. |
| 16Otherwise, if you speak a blessing in spirit, how can someone who is uninstructed say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? | 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? |
| 17You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other one is not edified. | 17You will be giving thanks very well, but it won’t strengthen the people who hear you. |
| 18I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. | 18I thank God that I speak in tongues more than any of you. |
| 19But in the church, I would rather speak five coherent words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue. | 19But in a church meeting I would rather speak five understandable words to help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language. |
| 20Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature. | 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. |
| 21It is written in the Law: “By strange tongues and foreign lips I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to Me, says 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. |
| 22Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers. | 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. |
| 23So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who are uninstructed or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds? | 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 an unbeliever or uninstructed person comes in while everyone is prophesying, he will be convicted and called to account by 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 the secrets of his heart will be made known. So he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is truly among you!” | 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 |
| 26What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a psalm or a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All of these must be done to build up the church. | 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 anyone speaks in a tongue, two, or at most three, should speak in turn, and someone must 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 is no interpreter, he should remain silent in the church and speak only to himself and 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. |
| 29Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. | 29Let two or three people prophesy, and let the others evaluate what is said. |
| 30And if a revelation comes to someone who is seated, the first speaker should stop. | 30But if someone is prophesying and another person receives a revelation from the Lord, the one who is speaking must stop. |
| 31For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. | 31In this way, all who prophesy will have a turn to speak, one after the other, so that everyone will learn and be encouraged. |
| 32The spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. | 32Remember that people who prophesy are in control of their spirit and can take turns. |
| 33For 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 meetings of God’s holy people. |
| 34Women are to be silent in the churches. They are not permitted to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. | 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. |
| 35If they wish to inquire about something, they are to ask their own husbands at home; for it is dishonorable for a woman 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. |
| 36Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only ones it has reached? | 36Or do you think God’s word originated with you Corinthians? Are you the only ones to whom it was given? |
| 37If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, let him acknowledge that what I am writing you is the Lord’s command. | 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 anyone ignores this, he himself will be ignored. | 38But if you do not recognize this, you yourself will not be recognized. |
| 39So, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. | 39So, my dear brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking in tongues. |
| 40But everything must be done in a proper and orderly manner. | 40But be sure that everything is done properly and in order. |
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