Prophecy and Tongues 1 RV Follow after love; yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts , but rather that ye may prophesy. BSB BSB: Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
2 RV For he that speaketh in a tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God; for no man understandeth; but in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. BSB BSB: For 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.
3 RV But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men edification, and comfort, and consolation. BSB BSB: But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, encouragement, and comfort.
4 RV He that speaketh in a tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. BSB BSB: The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.
5 RV Now I would have you all speak with tongues, but rather that ye should prophesy: and greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. BSB BSB: I 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.
6 RV But now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching? BSB BSB: 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 RV Even things without life, giving a voice, whether pipe or harp, if they give not a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? BSB BSB: Even 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?
8 RV For if the trumpet give an uncertain voice, who shall prepare himself for war? BSB BSB: Again, if the trumpet sounds a muffled call, who will prepare for battle?
9 RV So also ye, unless ye utter by the tongue speech easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye will be speaking into the air. BSB BSB: So 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.
10 RV There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and no kind is without signification. BSB BSB: Assuredly, there are many different languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.
11 RV If then I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be to him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh will be a barbarian unto me. BSB BSB: If, then, I do not know the meaning of someone’s language, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me.
12 RV So also ye, since ye are zealous of spiritual gifts , seek that ye may abound unto the edifying of the church. BSB BSB: It is the same with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, strive to excel in gifts that build up the church.
13 RV Wherefore let him that speaketh in a tongue pray that he may interpret. BSB BSB: Therefore, the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.
14 RV For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. BSB BSB: For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
15 RV 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. BSB BSB: What 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.
16 RV Else if thou bless with the spirit, how shall he that filleth the place of the unlearned say the Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he knoweth not what thou sayest? BSB BSB: Otherwise, if you speak a blessing in spirit, how can someone who is uninstructed say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?
17 RV For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. BSB BSB: You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other one is not edified.
18 RV I thank God, I speak with tongues more than you all: BSB BSB: I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
19 RV howbeit in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue. BSB BSB: But in the church, I would rather speak five coherent words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20 RV Brethren, be not children in mind: howbeit in malice be ye babes, but in mind be men. BSB BSB: Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.
21 RV In the law it is written, By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers will I speak unto this people; and not even thus will they hear me, saith the Lord. BSB BSB: It 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.”
22 RV Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to the unbelieving: but prophesying is for a sign , not to the unbelieving, but to them that believe. BSB BSB: Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.
23 RV If therefore the whole church be assembled together, and all speak with tongues, and there come in men unlearned or unbelieving, will they not say that ye are mad? BSB BSB: So 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?
24 RV But if all prophesy, and there come in one unbelieving or unlearned, he is reproved by all, he is judged by all; BSB BSB: But if an unbeliever or uninstructed person comes in while everyone is prophesying, he will be convicted and called to account by all,
25 RV the secrets of his heart are made manifest; and so he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeed. BSB BSB: and the secrets of his heart will be made known. So he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is truly among you!”
Orderly Worship 26 RV What is it then, brethren? When ye come together, each one hath a psalm, hath a teaching, hath a revelation, hath a tongue, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. BSB BSB: What 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.
27 RV If any man speaketh in a tongue, let it be by two, or at the most three, and that in turn; and let one interpret: BSB BSB: If anyone speaks in a tongue, two, or at most three, should speak in turn, and someone must interpret.
28 RV but if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. BSB BSB: But if there is no interpreter, he should remain silent in the church and speak only to himself and God.
29 RV And let the prophets speak by two or three, and let the others discern. BSB BSB: Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.
30 RV But if a revelation be made to another sitting by, let the first keep silence. BSB BSB: And if a revelation comes to someone who is seated, the first speaker should stop.
31 RV For ye all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted; BSB BSB: For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.
32 RV and the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets; BSB BSB: The spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.
33 RV for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace; as in all the churches of the saints. BSB BSB: For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace—as in all the churches of the saints.
35 RV And if they would learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home: for it is shameful for a woman to speak in the church. BSB BSB: If 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.
36 RV What? was it from you that the word of God went forth? or came it unto you alone? BSB BSB: Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only ones it has reached?
37 RV If any man thinketh himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him take knowledge of the things which I write unto you, that they are the commandment of the Lord. BSB BSB: If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, let him acknowledge that what I am writing you is the Lord’s command.
38 RV But if any man is ignorant, let him be ignorant. BSB BSB: But if anyone ignores this, he himself will be ignored.
39 RV Wherefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. BSB BSB: So, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
40 RV But let all things be done decently and in order. BSB BSB: But everything must be done in a proper and orderly manner.
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