13NOW HOWEVER ABIDE FAITH, HOPE, LOVE, <THE> THREE THESE; [THE] GREATEST HOWEVER OF THESE [IS] <THE> LOVE. 13And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love.
1DO EARNESTLY PURSUE <THE> LOVE; DO EARNESTLY DESIRE NOW <THE> SPIRITUAL GIFTS, ESPECIALLY NOW THAT YOU MAY PROPHESY. Prophecy and Tongues 1Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
2THE [ONE] FOR SPEAKING IN A TONGUE NOT TO MEN SPEAKS BUT <THE> TO GOD; NO [ONE] FOR HEARS, IN THE SPIRIT HOWEVER HE UTTERS MYSTERIES; 2For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries in the Spirit.
3THE [ONE] HOWEVER PROPHESYING TO MEN SPEAKS [FOR] EDIFICATION AND ENCOURAGEMENT AND CONSOLATION. 3But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, encouragement, and comfort.
4THE [ONE] SPEAKING IN A TONGUE HIMSELF EDIFIES, THE [ONE] HOWEVER PROPHESYING [THE] CHURCH EDIFIES. 4The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.
5I DESIRE NOW ALL YOU TO SPEAK IN TONGUES, RATHER HOWEVER THAT YOU MAY PROPHESY; GREATER [IS] NOW THE [ONE] PROPHESYING THAN THE [ONE] SPEAKING IN TONGUES EXCEPT ONLY UNLESS HE SHALL INTERPRET, SO THAT THE CHURCH EDIFICATION MAY RECEIVE. 5I wish that all of you could speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be edified.
6NOW HOWEVER BROTHERS, IF I SHALL COME TO YOU IN TONGUES SPEAKING, WHAT YOU WILL I PROFIT, ONLY UNLESS TO YOU I SHALL SPEAK EITHER IN REVELATION OR IN KNOWLEDGE OR IN PROPHECY OR IN TEACHING? 6Now, 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?
7EVEN <THE> LIFELESS THINGS A SOUND GIVING, WHETHER FLUTE OR HARP, IF DISTINCTION TO THE SOUNDS NOT THEY SHALL GIVE, HOW WILL IT BE KNOWN WHAT IS BEING PIPED OR WHAT IS BEING HARPED? 7Even in the case of lifeless instruments, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone recognize the tune they are playing unless the notes are distinct?
8ALSO FOR IF INDISTINCT [THE] TRUMPET SOUND SHALL GIVE, WHO WILL PREPARE HIMSELF FOR BATTLE? 8Again, if the trumpet sounds a muffled call, who will prepare for battle?
9SO ALSO YOU YOURSELVES WITH THE TONGUE ONLY UNLESS INTELLIGIBLE SPEECH YOU SHALL GIVE, HOW WILL IT BE KNOWN WHAT [IS] BEING SPOKEN? YOU WILL BE FOR INTO [THE] AIR SPEAKING. 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.
10SO MANY IF IT WOULD BE KINDS OF LANGUAGES THERE ARE IN [THE] WORLD, AND NONE OF THEM WITHOUT MEANING; 10Assuredly, there are many different languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.
11IF THEREFORE NOT I SHALL KNOW THE POWER OF THE SOUND, I WILL BE TO THE [ONE] SPEAKING A FOREIGNER AND THE [ONE] SPEAKING TO ME MYSELF A FOREIGNER; 11If, then, I do not know the meaning of someone’s language, I am a foreigner*NoteCloseLiterally a barbarian; twice in this verse to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me.
12SO ALSO YOU YOURSELVES, SINCE ZEALOUS YOU ARE OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS, FOR THE EDIFICATION OF THE CHURCH DO SEEK THAT YOU MAY EXCEED. 12It is the same with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, strive to excel in gifts that build up the church.
13FOR THE [ONE] SPEAKING IN A TONGUE HE SHOULD PRAY THAT HE MAY INTERPRET. 13Therefore, the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.
14IF FOR I SHALL PRAY IN A TONGUE, THE SPIRIT OF MINE PRAYS, <THE> BUT THE MIND OF MINE UNFRUITFUL IS. 14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
15WHAT THEN IS IT? I WILL PRAY WITH THE SPIRIT, I WILL PRAY HOWEVER ALSO WITH THE MIND; I WILL SING PRAISE WITH THE SPIRIT, I WILL SING PRAISE HOWEVER ALSO WITH THE MIND. 15What then shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.
16OTHERWISE IF YOU SHALL BLESS IN [THE] SPIRIT, THE [ONE] FILLING THE PLACE OF THE UNINSTRUCTED HOW WILL HE SAY THE AMEN AT <THE> YOUR THANKSGIVING? SINCE WHAT YOU SAY [IS THAT] NOT HE KNOWS; 16Otherwise, if you speak a blessing in spirit,*NoteCloseOr in the Spirit how can someone who is uninstructed say “Amen ” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?
17YOU YOURSELF TRULY FOR WELL ARE GIVING THANKS, BUT THE OTHER NOT IS EDIFIED. 17You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other one is not edified.
18I THANK THE GOD OF MINE THAN ALL OF YOU MORE IN TONGUES SPEAKING; 18I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
19BUT IN [THE] CHURCH I DESIRE FIVE WORDS THROUGH THE WITH MIND OF MINE TO SPEAK THAT ALSO OTHERS I MAY INSTRUCT, RATHER THAN TEN THOUSAND WORDS IN A TONGUE. 19But in the church, I would rather speak five coherent words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20BROTHERS, NOT CHILDREN DO BE IN THE MINDS, YET IN THE EVIL DO BE LITTLE CHILDREN, IN THE HOWEVER THINKING FULL GROWN DO BE. 20Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.
21IN THE LAW IT HAS BEEN WRITTEN THAT BY OTHER TONGUES AND BY LIPS OF OTHERS I WILL SPEAK TO THE PEOPLE THIS, AND NOT EVEN THUS WILL THEY HEAR ME, SAYS [THE] LORD. 21It is written in the Law: “By strange tongues and foreign lips I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to Me, says the Lord.”*NoteCloseIsaiah 28:11–12
22SO THEN <THE> TONGUES FOR A SIGN ARE NOT TO THOSE BELIEVING BUT TO THE UNBELIEVING, <THE> BUT PROPHECY [IS] NOT TO THE UNBELIEVING BUT TO THE BELIEVING. 22Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.
23IF THEREFORE SHALL GATHER THE CHURCH WHOLE TOGETHER THE PLACE AND ALL SHALL SPEAK IN TONGUES MAY COME IN HOWEVER UNINSTRUCTED ONES OR UNBELIEVERS, SURELY THEY WILL SAY THAT YOU ARE MAD? 23So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who are uninstructed or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds?
24IF HOWEVER ALL SHALL PROPHESY, SHALL COME IN THEN SOME UNBELIEVER OR UNINSTRUCTED, HE IS CONVICTED BY ALL, HE IS EXAMINED BY ALL, 24But if an unbeliever or uninstructed person comes in while everyone is prophesying, he will be convicted and called to account by all,
25AND THUS THE SECRETS OF THE HEART OF HIM MANIFEST BECOME, AND THUS HAVING FALLEN UPON [HIS] FACE HE WILL WORSHIP <THE> GOD DECLARING THAT CERTAINLY <THE> GOD AMONG YOU IS. 25and the secrets of his heart will be made known. So he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming “God is truly among you! ”
26WHAT THEN IS IT, BROTHERS? WHEN YOU MAY COME TOGETHER, EACH OF YOU A PSALM HAS, A TEACHING HAS, A REVELATION HAS, A TONGUE HAS, AN INTERPRETATION HAS; ALL THINGS FOR EDIFICATION SHOULD BE. Orderly Worship 26What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a psalm or a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All of these must be done to build up the church.
27IF WITH A TONGUE ANYONE SPEAKS, [LET IT BE] BY TWO OR THE MOST THREE AND IN TURN; AND ONE SHOULD INTERPRET; 27If anyone speaks in a tongue, two, or at most three, should speak in turn, and someone must interpret.
28IF HOWEVER NOT THERE SHALL BE AN INTERPRETER, HE SHOULD BE SILENT IN [THE] CHURCH, TO HIMSELF THEN HE SHOULD SPEAK AND <THE> TO GOD. 28But if there is no interpreter, he should remain silent in the church and speak only to himself and God.
29PROPHETS THEN TWO OR THREE SHOULD SPEAK, AND THE OTHERS SHOULD DISCERN; 29Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.
30IF HOWEVER TO ANOTHER A REVELATION SHALL BE MADE SITTING BY, THE FIRST SHOULD BE SILENT. 30And if a revelation comes to someone who is seated, the first speaker should stop.
31YOU ARE ABLE FOR [ONE] BY ONE ALL TO PROPHESY, SO THAT ALL MAY LEARN AND ALL MAY BE EXHORTED; 31For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.
32AND SPIRITS OF PROPHETS TO PROPHETS ARE SUBJECT; 32The spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.
33NOT FOR HE IS OF DISORDER THE GOD 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 churches of the saints.*NoteCloseOr of peace. As in all the churches of the saints: Thus, some translators begin the new paragraph after peace.
34THE WOMEN OF YOU IN THE CHURCHES THEY SHOULD BE SILENT; NOT FOR IT IS ALLOWED TO THEM TO SPEAK, BUT THEY SHOULD BE SUBMITTED EVEN AS ALSO THE LAW SAYS. 34Women are to be silent in the churches. They are not permitted to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says.
35IF HOWEVER ANYTHING TO LEARN THEY DESIRE, AT HOME <THE> [THEIR] OWN HUSBANDS THEY SHOULD ASK; SHAMEFUL FOR IT IS FOR A WOMAN TO SPEAK IN [THE] CHURCH. 35If they wish to inquire about something, they are to ask their own husbands at home; for it is dishonorable for a woman to speak in the church.*NoteCloseSome manuscripts place verses 34–35 after verse 40.
36OR FROM YOU THE WORD <THE> OF GOD HAS GONE OUT? OR TO YOU ONLY HAS IT COME? 36Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only ones it has reached?
37IF ANYONE CONSIDERS A PROPHET HIMSELF TO BE OR SPIRITUAL, HE SHOULD RECOGNIZE [THE] THINGS I WRITE TO YOU THAT OF THE LORD IS [THE] COMMAND; 37If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, let him acknowledge that what I am writing you is the Lord’s command.
38IF HOWEVER ANYONE IS IGNORANT, HIM IS IGNORED. 38But if anyone ignores this, he himself will be ignored.*NoteCloseBYZ and TR let him be ignorant
39SO, BROTHERS OF MINE, DO EARNESTLY DESIRE <THE> TO PROPHESY, AND <THE> TO SPEAK NOT DO FORBID IN TONGUES. 39So, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
40ALL THINGS HOWEVER PROPERLY AND WITH ORDER SHOULD BE DONE. 40But everything must be done in a proper and orderly manner.