| Holman Christian Standard Bible | NET Bible |
| 1Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, and above all that you may prophesy. | 1Pursue love and be eager for the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. |
| 2For the person who speaks in another language is not speaking to men but to God, since no one understands him; however, he speaks mysteries in the Spirit. | 2For the one speaking in a tongue does not speak to people but to God, for no one understands; he is speaking mysteries by the Spirit. |
| 3But the person who prophesies speaks to people for edification, encouragement, and consolation. | 3But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouragement, and consolation. |
| 4The person who speaks in another language builds himself up, but he who prophesies builds up the church. | 4The one who speaks in a tongue builds himself up, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. |
| 5I wish all of you spoke in other languages, but even more that you prophesied. The person who prophesies is greater than the person who speaks in languages, unless he interprets so that the church may be built up. | 5I wish you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be strengthened. |
| 6But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in other languages, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you with a revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? | 6Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I help you unless I speak to you with a revelation or with knowledge or prophecy or teaching? |
| 7Even inanimate things 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? | 7It is similar for lifeless things that make a sound, like a flute or harp. Unless they make a distinction in the notes, how can what is played on the flute or harp be understood? |
| 8In fact, if the trumpet makes an unclear sound, who will prepare for battle? | 8If, for example, the trumpet makes an unclear sound, who will get ready for battle? |
| 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. | 9It is the same for you. If you do not speak clearly with your tongue, how will anyone know what is being said? For you will be speaking into the air. |
| 10There are doubtless many different kinds of languages in the world, and all have meaning. | 10There are probably many kinds of languages in the world, and none is without meaning. |
| 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. | 11If then I do not know the meaning of a language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. |
| 12So also you--since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek to excel in building up the church. | 12It is the same with you. Since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, seek to abound in order to strengthen the church. |
| 13Therefore the person who speaks in another language should pray that he can interpret. | 13So then, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. |
| 14For if I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. | 14If I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive. |
| 15What then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with my understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with my understanding. | 15What should I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing praises with my spirit, but I will also sing praises with my mind. |
| 16Otherwise, if you praise with the spirit, how will the uninformed person say "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? | 16Otherwise, if you are praising God with your spirit, how can someone without the gift say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? |
| 17For you may very well be giving thanks, but the other person is not being built up. | 17For you are certainly giving thanks well, but the other person is not strengthened. |
| 18I thank God that I speak in other languages more than all of you; | 18I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you, |
| 19yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, in order to teach others also, than 10,000 words in another language. | 19but in the church I want to speak five words with my mind to instruct others, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue. |
| 20Brothers, don't be childish in your thinking, but be infants in regard to evil and adult in your thinking. | 20Brothers and sisters, do not be children in your thinking. Instead, be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. |
| 21It is written in the law: I will speak to these people by people of other languages and by the lips of foreigners, and even then, they will not listen to Me, says the Lord. | 21It is written in the law: "By people with strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people, yet not even in this way will they listen to me," says the Lord. |
| 22It follows that speaking in other languages is intended as a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers. But prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers. | 22So then, tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. |
| 23Therefore, if the whole church assembles together and all are speaking in other languages and people who are uninformed or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds? | 23So if the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and unbelievers or uninformed people enter, will they not say that you have lost your minds? |
| 24But if all are prophesying and some unbeliever or uninformed person comes in, he is convicted by all and is judged by all. | 24But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or uninformed person enters, he will be convicted by all, he will be called to account by all. |
| 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." | 25The secrets of his heart are disclosed, and in this way he will fall down with his face to the ground and worship God, declaring, "God is really among you." |
| 26What then is the conclusion, brothers? Whenever you come together, each one has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, another language, or an interpretation. All things must be done for edification. | 26What should you do then, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each one has a song, has a lesson, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all these things be done for the strengthening of the church. |
| 27If any person speaks in another language, there should be only two, or at the most three, each in turn, and someone must interpret. | 27If someone speaks in a tongue, it should be two, or at the most three, one after the other, and someone must interpret. |
| 28But if there is no interpreter, that person should keep silent in the church and speak to himself and to God. | 28But if there is no interpreter, he should be silent in the church. Let him speak to himself and to God. |
| 29Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should evaluate. | 29Two or three prophets should speak and the others should evaluate what is said. |
| 30But if something has been revealed to another person sitting there, the first prophet should be silent. | 30And if someone sitting down receives a revelation, the person who is speaking should conclude. |
| 31For you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may learn and everyone may be encouraged. | 31For you can all prophesy one after another, so all can learn and be encouraged. |
| 32And the prophets' spirits are under the control of the prophets, | 32Indeed, the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets, |
| 33since God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, | 33for God is not characterized by disorder but by peace. As in all the churches of the saints, |
| 34the women should be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but should be submissive, as the law also says. | 34the women should be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak. Rather, let them be in submission, as in fact the law says. |
| 35And if they want to learn something, they should ask their own husbands at home, for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church meeting. | 35If they want to find out about something, they should ask their husbands at home, because it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in church. |
| 36Did the word of God originate from you, or did it come to you only? | 36Did the word of God begin with you, or did it come to you alone? |
| 37If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, he should recognize that what I write to you is the Lord's command. | 37If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, he should acknowledge that what I write to you is the Lord's command. |
| 38But if anyone ignores this, he will be ignored. | 38If someone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. |
| 39Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in other languages. | 39So then, brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid anyone from speaking in tongues. |
| 40But everything must be done decently and in order. | 40And do everything in a decent and orderly manner. |
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