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

Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

2 For the one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God, because no one understands; they speak mysteries by the Spirit.

For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

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

But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up themselves, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.

He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

5 I wish that all of you spoke in tongues, but I would rather you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless they interpret so that the church may be built up.

I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

6 Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what good will I be to you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?

Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?

7 Even lifeless instruments like the flute or harp, if they do not produce a clear distinction in the notes, how will anyone recognize what is played on the flute or the harp?

And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

8 For if the trumpet gives an unclear sound, who will prepare for battle?

For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

9 In the same way, unless you speak intelligible words through your tongue, how will anyone understand what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.

So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.

10 There are so many kinds of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.

There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.

11 If I do not understand the meaning of what someone is saying, I will be a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker will be a foreigner to me.

Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.

12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for spiritual gifts, seek to excel in building up the church.

Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

13 Therefore, the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say.

Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.

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

For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

15 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.

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.

16 Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can someone who is in the position of an outsider say 'Amen' to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying?

Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?

17 You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not built up.

For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

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

I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

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

Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

20 Brothers and sisters, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in regard to evil, but in your thinking be mature.

Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

21 In the Law it is written: 'By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me,' says the Lord.

In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.

22 Thus, tongues are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign, not for unbelievers but for believers.

Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

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

If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

24 But if everyone is prophesying and an unbeliever or uninitiated person enters, they are convicted of sin by all and are examined by all.

But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:

25 The secrets of their heart are revealed, and they will fall facedown and worship God, exclaiming, 'God is truly among you!'

And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

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

How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, let it be two or at most three, each in turn, and let someone interpret.

If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.

28 But if there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep silent in the church and speak to themselves and to God.

But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others evaluate what is said.

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

30 If something is revealed to another sitting there, the first speaker should stop.

If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.

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

For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.

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

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

33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

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

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

Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.

35 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.

And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

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

What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?

37 If anyone considers themselves to be a prophet or spiritually gifted, let them acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are the Lord’s commands.

If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

38 But if anyone ignores this, let them remain ignorant.

But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

39 So then, brothers and sisters, eagerly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

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

Let all things be done decently and in order.