New Living Translation

New American Standard Bible 1995

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

1Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially 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 one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries.

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

3But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation.

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

4One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies 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.

5Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.

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, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation or of knowledge or of prophecy or of teaching?

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

7Yet even lifeless things, either flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp?

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

8For if the bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself 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.

9So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.

10There are many different languages in the world, and every language has meaning.

10There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and no kind is without 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.

11If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be to the one who speaks a barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a barbarian 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 of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church.

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

13Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may 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 a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind 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 is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.

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 bless in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say the "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 are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not edified.

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

18I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all;

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

19however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.

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.

20Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.

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.

21In the Law it is written, "BY MEN OF STRANGE TONGUES AND BY THE LIPS OF STRANGERS I WILL SPEAK TO THIS PEOPLE, AND EVEN SO 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.

22So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those who believe.

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 speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad?

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 prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account 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 are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly 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 is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things 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 anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one 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, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God.

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

29Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment.

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

30But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep 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 all may learn and all may be exhorted;

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

32and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets;

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

33for God is not a God of confusion 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 are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just 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.

35If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church.

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

36Was it from you that the word of God first went forth? Or has 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, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord's commandment.

38But if you do not recognize this, you yourself will not be recognized.

38But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.

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

39Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues.

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

40But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.

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.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org