King James Version KJV
English Standard Version ESV
1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
1
Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.
2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
2
For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.
3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
3
On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.
4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
4
The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.
5 I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
5
Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.
6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
6
Now, 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?
7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
7
If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played?
8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
8
And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle?
9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.
9
So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air.
10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.
10
There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning,
11 Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.
11
but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me.
12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
12
So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.
13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.
13
Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray for the power to interpret.
14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
14
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful.
15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
15
What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.
16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?
16
Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say "Amen" to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying?
17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
17
For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up.
18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:
18
I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
19
Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
20
Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.
21 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.
21
In the Law it is written, "By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord."
22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
22
Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers.
23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
23
If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds?
24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
24
But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all,
25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
25
the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.
26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
26
What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.
27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.
27
If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret.
28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
28
But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.
29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
29
Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.
30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
30
If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent.
31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
31
For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged,
32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
32
and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.
33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
33
For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,
34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
34
the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says.
35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
35
If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.
36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?
36
Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached?
37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
37
If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord.
38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
38
If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.
39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
39
So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
40
But all things should be done decently and in order.
The King James Version is in the public domain.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.