Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible RHE
New Revised Standard NRS
1 Follow after charity, be zealous for spiritual gifts; but rather that you 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 a tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man heareth. Yet by 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 to men unto 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 a 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 And I would have you all to speak with tongues, but rather to prophesy. For greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues: unless perhaps he interpret, that the church may receive edification.
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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 But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak to you either in revelation or in knowledge or in prophecy or in 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 Even things without life that give sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction of 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 you, except you utter by the tongue plain speech, how shall it be known what is said? For you shall be speaking 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, for example, so many kinds of tongues in this world: and none is without voice.
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There are doubtless many different kinds of sounds in the world, and nothing is without sound.
11 If then I know not the power of the voice, I shall be to him to whom I speak a barbarian: and he that speaketh a barbarian to 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 So you also, forasmuch as you are zealous of spirits, seek to abound unto 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 And therefore he that speaketh by a tongue, let him 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 a tongue, my spirit prayeth: but my understanding is without fruit.
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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, I will pray also with the understanding, I will sing with the spirit, I will sing also with the understanding.
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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, if thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that holdeth the place of the unlearned say, Amen, to thy blessing? Because he knoweth 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 indeed 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 all your tongues.
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I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you;
19 But in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may instruct others also: than ten thousand words in a 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, do not become children in sense. But in malice be children: and in sense be perfect.
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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: In other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people: and neither so will they 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 believers but to unbelievers: but prophecies, not to unbelievers but to believers.
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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 come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in unlearned persons or infidels, will they not say that you 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 an unlearned person, 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 The secrets of his heart are made manifest. And so, falling down on his face, he will adore God, affirming that God is among you indeed.
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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 you come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a revelation, hath a tongue, hath an interpretation: let all things be done to edification.
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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 speak with a tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and in 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 hold his peace in the church and 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 And let the prophets speak, two or three: and let the rest judge.
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Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.
30 But if any thing be revealed to another sitting, 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 you may all prophesy, one by one, that all may learn and all may be exhorted.
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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 God of dissension, but of peace: as also I teach in all the 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 women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted them to speak but to be subject, as also the law saith.
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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 But if they would learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is a shame for a woman 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 Or did the word of God come out from you? Or came it only unto you?
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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 seem to be a prophet or spiritual, let him know the things that I write to you, that they 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 know not, he shall not be known.
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Anyone who does not recognize this is not to be recognized.
39 Wherefore, brethren, be zealous 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 But let all things be done decently and according to order.
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but all things should be done decently and in order.
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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.