International Standard Version

Christian Standard Bible

1Keep on pursuing love, and keep on desiring spiritual gifts, especially the ability to prophesy.

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

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 the person who speaks in another tongue is not speaking to people but to God, since no one understands him; he speaks mysteries in the Spirit.

3But the person who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding, encouragement, and comfort.

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

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

4The person who speaks in another tongue builds himself up, but the one who prophesies builds up 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 all of you spoke in other tongues, but even more that you prophesied. The person who prophesies is greater than the person who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be built up.

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?

6So now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in other tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you with a 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 lifeless instruments 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?

8For example, if a bugle doesn't sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?

8In fact, if the bugle makes an unclear sound, 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!

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, I suppose, many different languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.

10There are doubtless many different kinds of languages in the world, none 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.

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.

12In the same way, since you're so desirous of spiritual gifts, you must keep on desiring them for building up the church.

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

13Therefore, the person who speaks in a foreign language should pray for the ability to interpret it.

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

14For if I pray in a foreign language, my spirit prays but my mind is not productive.

14For if I pray in another tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding 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? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with my understanding. I will sing praise with the spirit, and I will also sing praise with my understanding.

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 praise with the spirit, how will the outsider say "Amen" at your giving of thanks, 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.

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

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

18I thank God that I speak in other 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.

19yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, in order to teach others also, than ten thousand words in another tongue.

20Brothers, stop being childish in your thinking. Be like infants with respect to evil, but think like adults.

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

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, I will speak to this people by people of other tongues and by the lips of foreigners, and 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.

22Speaking in other tongues, then, is intended as a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers.

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?

23If, therefore, the whole church assembles together and all are speaking in other tongues and people who are outsiders or 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 all are prophesying and some unbeliever or outsider comes in, he is convicted by all and is 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!"

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."

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, brothers and sisters? Whenever you come together, each one has a hymn, a teaching, a revelation, another tongue, or an interpretation. Everything is to be done for building up.

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 another tongue, there are to be only two, or at the most three, each in turn, and let someone 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, that person is to keep silent in the church and speak 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 evaluate.

30If a revelation is made to another person who is seated, the first person should be silent.

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

31For everyone can prophesy in turn, so that everyone can be instructed and everyone can be encouraged.

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

32The spirits of prophets are subject to the prophets,

32And the prophets' spirits are subject to the prophets,

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

33since 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.

34the women should be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but are to submit themselves, as the law also 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 want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home, since it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.

36Did God's word originate with you? Are you the only ones it has reached?

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

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 thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, he should recognize that what I write to you is the Lord's command.

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

38If anyone ignores this, he will be ignored.

39Therefore, my brothers, desire the ability to prophesy, and do not prevent others from speaking in foreign languages.

39So then, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in other tongues.

40But everything must be done in a proper and orderly way.

40But everything is to be done decently and in order.

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.