King James Version KJV
New Revised Standard NRS
1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
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Pursue love and strive for the spiritual gifts, and 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.
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For those who speak in a tongue do not speak to other people but to God; for nobody understands them, since they are speaking mysteries in the Spirit.
3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
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On the other hand, those who prophesy speak to other 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.
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Those who speak in a tongue build up themselves, but those who prophesy build 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.
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Now I would like all of you to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. One who prophesies is greater than 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?
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Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you in 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?
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It is the same way with lifeless instruments that produce sound, such as the flute or the harp. If they do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is being played?
8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
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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.
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So with yourselves; if in a tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is being 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.
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There are doubtless many different kinds of sounds in the world, and nothing is without sound.
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.
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If then I do not know the meaning of a sound, 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.
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So with yourselves; since you are eager for spiritual gifts, strive to excel in them for building up the church.
13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.
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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.
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For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unproductive.
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.
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What should I do then? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray with the mind also; I will sing praise with the spirit, but I will sing praise with the 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?
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Otherwise, if you say a blessing with the spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say the "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since the outsider does not know what you are saying?
17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
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For you may give thanks well enough, but the other person is not built up.
18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:
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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.
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nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind, in order to instruct others also, 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.
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Brothers and sisters, do not be children in your thinking; rather, be infants in evil, but in thinking be adults.
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.
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In the law it is written, "By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people; yet 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.
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Tongues, then, are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is 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?
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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 mind?
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:
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But if all prophesy, an unbeliever or outsider who enters is reproved by all and 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.
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After the secrets of the unbeliever's heart are disclosed, that person will bow down before God and worship him, declaring, "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.
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What should be done then, my friends? 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.
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If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn; and let one interpret.
28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
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But if there is no one to interpret, let them be silent in church and speak to themselves and to God.
29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
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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.
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If a revelation is made to someone else sitting nearby, let the first person be silent.
31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
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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.
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And the spirits of prophets are subject to the prophets,
33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
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for God is a God not of disorder 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.
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women should be silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, 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.
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If there is anything they desire to know, 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?
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Or did the word of God originate with you? 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.
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Anyone who claims to be a prophet, or to have spiritual powers, must acknowledge that what I am writing to you is a command of the Lord.
38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
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Anyone who does not recognize this is not to be recognized.
39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
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So, my friends, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues;
40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
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but all things should be done decently and in order.
The King James Version is in the public domain.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.