New International Version

New Living Translation

Intelligibility in Worship

Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.

Tongues and Prophecy

Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives — especially the ability to prophesy.

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For anyone who speaks in a tonguea does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.

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For if you have the ability to speak in tongues,a you will be talking only to God, since people won’t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit,b but it will all be mysterious.

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But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.

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But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them.

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Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.

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A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church.

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I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,b but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues,c unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.

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I wish you could all speak in tongues, but even more I wish you could all prophesy. For prophecy is greater than speaking in tongues, unless someone interprets what you are saying so that the whole church will be strengthened.

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Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction?

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Dear brothers and sisters,c if I should come to you speaking in an unknown language,d how would that help you? But if I bring you a revelation or some special knowledge or prophecy or teaching, that will be helpful.

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Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes?

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Even lifeless instruments like the flute or the harp must play the notes clearly, or no one will recognize the melody.

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Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?

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And if the bugler doesn’t sound a clear call, how will the soldiers know they are being called to battle?

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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.

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It’s the same for you. If you speak to people in words they don’t understand, how will they know what you are saying? You might as well be talking into empty space.

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Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.

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There are many different languages in the world, and every language has meaning.

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If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me.

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But if I don’t understand a language, I will be a foreigner to someone who speaks it, and the one who speaks it will be a foreigner to me.

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So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.

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And the same is true for you. Since you are so eager to have the special abilities the Spirit gives, seek those that will strengthen the whole church.

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For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say.

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So anyone who speaks in tongues should pray also for the ability to interpret what has been said.

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For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.

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For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is praying, but I don’t understand what I am saying.

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So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding.

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Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the spirit,e and I will also pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will also sing in words I understand.

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Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer,d say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying?

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For if you praise God only in the spirit, how can those who don’t understand you praise God along with you? How can they join you in giving thanks when they don’t understand what you are saying?

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You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.

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You will be giving thanks very well, but it won’t strengthen the people who hear you.

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I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.

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I thank God that I speak in tongues more than any of you.

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But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

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But in a church meeting I would rather speak five understandable words to help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language.

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Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.

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Dear brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind.

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In the Law it is written:
“With other tongues
and through the lips of foreigners
I will speak to this people,
but even then they will not listen to me,
says the Lord.”e

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It is written in the Scripturesf:
“I will speak to my own people
through strange languages
and through the lips of foreigners.
But even then, they will not listen to me,”g
says the LORD.

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Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers.

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So you see that speaking in tongues is a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for the benefit of believers, not unbelievers.

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So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?

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Even so, if unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into your church meeting and hear everyone speaking in an unknown language, they will think you are crazy.

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But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all,

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But if all of you are prophesying, and unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into your meeting, they will be convicted of sin and judged by what you say.

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as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”

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As they listen, their secret thoughts will be exposed, and they will fall to their knees and worship God, declaring, “God is truly here among you.”

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Good Order in Worship

What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.

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A Call to Orderly Worship

Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you.

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If anyone speaks in a tongue, two — or at the most three — should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret.

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No more than two or three should speak in tongues. They must speak one at a time, and someone must interpret what they say.

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If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.

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But if no one is present who can interpret, they must be silent in your church meeting and speak in tongues to God privately.

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Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.

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Let two or three people prophesy, and let the others evaluate what is said.

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And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop.

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But if someone is prophesying and another person receives a revelation from the Lord, the one who is speaking must stop.

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For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.

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In this way, all who prophesy will have a turn to speak, one after the other, so that everyone will learn and be encouraged.

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The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.

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Remember that people who prophesy are in control of their spirit and can take turns.

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For God is not a God of disorder but of peace — as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.

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For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of God’s holy people.h

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Womenf should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says.

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Women should be silent during the church meetings. It is not proper for them to speak. They should be submissive, just as the law says.

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If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.g

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If they have any questions, they should ask their husbands at home, for it is improper for women to speak in church meetings.i

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Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached?

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Or do you think God’s word originated with you Corinthians? Are you the only ones to whom it was given?

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If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command.

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If you claim to be a prophet or think you are spiritual, you should recognize that what I am saying is a command from the Lord himself.

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But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored.h

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But if you do not recognize this, you yourself will not be recognized.j

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Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

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So, my dear brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking in tongues.

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But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.

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But be sure that everything is done properly and in order.

Parallel

New International Version

New Living Translation

1 Corinthians 14

1 Corinthians 14