| International Standard Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Keep on pursuing love, and keep on desiring spiritual gifts, especially the ability to prophesy. | 1Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. |
| 2For the person who speaks in a foreign language is not actually speaking to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands him, because he is talking about secrets by the Spirit. | 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. |
| 3But the person who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding, encouragement, and comfort. | 3But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, encouragement, and comfort. |
| 4The person who speaks in a foreign language builds himself up, but the person who prophesies builds up the church. | 4The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. |
| 5Now I wish that all of you could speak in foreign languages, but especially that you could prophesy. The person who prophesies is more important than the person who speaks in a foreign language, unless he interprets it so that the church may be built up. | 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. |
| 6Indeed, brothers, if I come to you speaking in foreign languages, what good will I be to you unless I speak to you in some revelation, knowledge, prophecy, or teaching? | 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? |
| 7In the same way, lifeless instruments like the flute or harp produce sounds. But if there's no difference in the notes, how can a person tell what tune is being played? | 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? |
| 8For example, if a bugle doesn't sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? | 8Again, if the trumpet sounds a muffled call, who will prepare for battle? |
| 9In the same way, unless you speak an intelligible message with your language, how will anyone know what is being said? You'll be talking into the air! | 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. |
| 10There are, I suppose, many different languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. | 10Assuredly, there are many different languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. |
| 11If I don't know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker will be a foreigner to me. | 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. |
| 12In the same way, since you're so desirous of spiritual gifts, you must keep on desiring them for building up the church. | 12It is the same with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, strive to excel in gifts that build up the church. |
| 13Therefore, the person who speaks in a foreign language should pray for the ability to interpret it. | 13Therefore, the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. |
| 14For if I pray in a foreign language, my spirit prays but my mind is not productive. | 14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. |
| 15What does this mean? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing psalms with my spirit, but I will also sing psalms with my mind. | 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. |
| 16Otherwise, if you say a blessing with your spirit, how can an otherwise uneducated person say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you're saying? | 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? |
| 17It's good for you to give thanks, but it does not build up the other person. | 17You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other one is not edified. |
| 18I thank God that I speak in foreign languages more than all of you. | 18I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. |
| 19But in church I would rather speak five words with my mind to instruct others than 10,000 words in a foreign language. | 19But in the church, I would rather speak five coherent words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue. |
| 20Brothers, stop being childish in your thinking. Be like infants with respect to evil, but think like adults. | 20Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature. |
| 21In the Law it is written, "By means of foreign languages and through the mouths of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me," declares the Lord. | 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.” |
| 22Foreign languages, then, are meant to be a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers, while prophecy is meant, not for unbelievers, but for believers. | 22Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers. |
| 23Now if the whole church gathers in the same place and everyone is speaking in foreign languages, when uneducated people or unbelievers come in, they will say that you are out of your mind, won't they? | 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? |
| 24But if everyone is prophesying, when an unbeliever or an uneducated person comes in he will be convicted and examined by everything that's happening. | 24But if an unbeliever or uninstructed person comes in while everyone is prophesying, he will be convicted and called to account by all, |
| 25His secret, inner heart will become known, and so he will bow down to the ground and worship God, declaring, "God is truly among you!" | 25and the secrets of his heart will be made known. So he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is truly among you!” |
| 26What, then, does this mean, brothers? When you gather, everyone has a psalm, teaching, revelation, foreign language, or interpretation. Everything must be done for upbuilding. | 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. |
| 27If anyone speaks in a foreign language, only two or three at the most should do so, one at a time, and somebody must interpret. | 27If anyone speaks in a tongue, two, or at most three, should speak in turn, and someone must interpret. |
| 28If an interpreter is not present, the speaker should remain silent in the church and speak to himself and God. | 28But if there is no interpreter, he should remain silent in the church and speak only to himself and God. |
| 29Two or three prophets should speak, and others should weigh carefully what is said. | 29Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. |
| 30If a revelation is made to another person who is seated, the first person should be silent. | 30And if a revelation comes to someone who is seated, the first speaker should stop. |
| 31For everyone can prophesy in turn, so that everyone can be instructed and everyone can be encouraged. | 31For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. |
| 32The spirits of prophets are subject to the prophets, | 32The spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. |
| 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 churches of the saints. |
| 34the women must keep silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak out, but must place themselves in submission, as the oral law also says. | 34Women are to be silent in the churches. They are not permitted to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. |
| 35If they want to learn anything, they should ask their own husbands at home, for it is inappropriate for a woman to speak out in church. | 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. |
| 36Did God's word originate with you? Are you the only ones it has reached? | 36Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only ones it has reached? |
| 37If anyone thinks he is a prophet or a spiritual person, he must acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command. | 37If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, let him acknowledge that what I am writing you is the Lord’s command. |
| 38But if anyone ignores this, he should be ignored. | 38But if anyone ignores this, he himself will be ignored. |
| 39Therefore, my brothers, desire the ability to prophesy, and do not prevent others from speaking in foreign languages. | 39So, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. |
| 40But everything must be done in a proper and orderly way. | 40But everything must be done in a proper and orderly manner. |
The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. | The Berean Bible (Berean Study Bible (BSB) © 2016, 2018 by Bible Hub and Berean.Bible. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. |
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