New King James Version

New International Version

Prophecy and Tongues

Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

Intelligibility in Worship

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

For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.

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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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But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.

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

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He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.

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

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I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; [a]for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.

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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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Tongues Must Be Interpreted

But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching?

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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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Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played?

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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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For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle?

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

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So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.

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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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There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without [b]significance.

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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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Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a [c]foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me.

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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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Even so you, since you are [d]zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the [e]edification of the church that you seek to excel.

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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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Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.

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

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

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What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.

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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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Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say?

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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 you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.

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

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I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all;

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

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yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

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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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Tongues a Sign to Unbelievers

Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.

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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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In the law it is written:
“With men of other tongues and other lips
I will speak to this people;
And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,”
says the Lord.

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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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Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe.

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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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Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are [f]out of your mind?

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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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But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all.

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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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[g]And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.

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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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Order in Church Meetings

How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for [h]edification.

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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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If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret.

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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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But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.

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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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Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.

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

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But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent.

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

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For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged.

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

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And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

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

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For God is not the author of [i]confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

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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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Let [j]your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says.

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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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And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.

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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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Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached?

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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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If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.

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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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But [k]if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

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

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Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.

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

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Let all things be done decently and in order.

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

Parallel

New King James Version

New International Version

1 Corinthians 14

1 Corinthians 14