English Standard Version

King James Bible

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

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

2For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in 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.

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

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

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

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

5Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, 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.

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?

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?

7If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is 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?

8And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle?

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

9So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking 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 doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning,

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

11but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker 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.

12So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in 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, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.

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

14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful.

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

15What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.

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 give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are 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?

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

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

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

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

19Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

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, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.

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

21In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says 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.

22Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign 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.

23If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds?

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 all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all,

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:

25the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really 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, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.

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 any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone 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.

28But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.

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

29Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.

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

30If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent.

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

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

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

32and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.

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

33For God is not a God of confusion 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 should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the 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 there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak 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.

36Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or 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 that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord.

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.

38If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.

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

39So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

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

40But all things should be done decently and in order.

40Let all things be done decently and in order.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.