| New King James Version | New International Version |
| 1Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. | 1Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. |
| 2For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. | 2For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. |
| 3But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. | 3But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. |
| 4He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. | 4Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. |
| 5I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification. | 5I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified. |
| 6But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching? | 6Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? |
| 7Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? | 7Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? |
| 8For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle? | 8Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? |
| 9So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking 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, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance. | 10Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. |
| 11Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me. | 11If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me. |
| 12Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel. | 12So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church. |
| 13Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. | 13For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say. |
| 14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. | 14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. |
| 15What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. | 15So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. |
| 16Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? | 16Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer, say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying? |
| 17For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified. | 17You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified. |
| 18I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; | 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, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue. | 19But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue. |
| 20Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature. | 20Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. |
| 21In the law it is written: “With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,” says the Lord. | 21In the Law it is written: "With other tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord." |
| 22Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe. | 22Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. |
| 23Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind? | 23So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? |
| 24But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. | 24But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, |
| 25And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you. | 25as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God is really among you!" |
| 26How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. | 26What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. |
| 27If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. | 27If anyone speaks in a tongue, two--or at the most three--should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. |
| 28But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. | 28If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God. |
| 29Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. | 29Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. |
| 30But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. | 30And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. |
| 31For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. | 31For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. |
| 32And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. | 32The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. |
| 33For God is not the author of confusion 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 congregations of the Lord's people. |
| 34Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. | 34Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. |
| 35And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church. | 35If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. |
| 36Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached? | 36Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? |
| 37If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. | 37If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command. |
| 38But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant. | 38But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored. |
| 39Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. | 39Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. |
| 40Let all things be done decently and in order. | 40But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way. |
| The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. | New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. |
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