Side by side
1 Corinthians 14
Classic
Classic (WEB / ASV)
ModernAI
Modern English
1Follow after love; yet desire earnestly spiritualgifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
1Make love your greatest goal. At the same time, you should truly want spiritual gifts, especially the ability to prophesy.
2For he that speaketh in a tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God; for no man understandeth; but in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
2For someone who speaks in a tongue is not speaking to people but to God. No one understands them, because they are speaking deep secrets by the power of the Spirit.
3But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men edification, and exhortation, and consolation.
3But the person who prophesies speaks to people to build them up, to encourage them, and to comfort them.
4He that speaketh in a tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
4The person who speaks in a tongue strengthens themselves, but the person who prophesies strengthens the whole church.
5Now 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.
5I wish you all could speak in tongues, but I would much rather have you prophesy. A person who prophesies is more helpful than someone who speaks in tongues, unless they translate what is said so the whole church can be built up.
6But 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?
6Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will that help you? It won’t, unless I bring you some revelation, special knowledge, prophecy, or teaching.
7Even 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?
7It is like musical instruments—for example, a flute or a harp. If they don't play clear notes, how will anyone know what tune is being played?
8For if the trumpet give an uncertain voice, who shall prepare himself for war?
8And if the bugle doesn't sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?
9So 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.
9It is the same with you. Unless you speak words that people can understand, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be talking to the air.
10There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and no kind is without signification.
10There are many different languages in the world, and all of them have meaning.
11If 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.
11But if I don’t understand the language, the speaker will be a foreigner to me, and I will be a foreigner to the speaker.
12So also ye, since ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may abound unto the edifying of the church.
12Since you are so eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in the ones that build up the church.
13Wherefore let him that speaketh in a tongue pray that he may interpret.
13So, anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray for the ability to interpret what they say.
14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit is praying, but my mind is not doing anything useful.
15What 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.
15So what should 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.
16Else 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?
16Otherwise, if you praise God only with your spirit, how can people who don't understand say 'Amen' to your prayer of thanks? They won't know what you are saying.
17For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
17You may be giving thanks very well, but it doesn't help the other person grow.
18I thank God, I speak with tongues more than you all:
18I thank God that I speak in tongues more than any of you.
19howbeit 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.
19But in a church meeting, I would rather speak five understandable words to help others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20Brethren, be not children in mind: yet in malice be ye babes, but in mind be men.
20Brothers and sisters, don't think like children. Be like infants when it comes to evil, but in your thinking, be mature adults.
21In 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.
21It is written in the Scriptures: 'I will speak to this people through people who speak strange languages and through the lips of foreigners, but even then they will not listen to me,' says the Lord.
22Wherefore 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.
22So you see that speaking in tongues is a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.
23If 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?
23If the whole church meets together and everyone speaks in tongues, and then some ordinary people or unbelievers walk in, won't they say you are crazy?
24But if all prophesy, and there come in one unbelieving or unlearned, he is reproved by all, he is judged by all;
24But if everyone is prophesying and an unbeliever or an ordinary person comes in, they will be shown their sin by what everyone says and will be judged by it all.
25the 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.
25The secrets of their hearts will be revealed. They will fall down on their faces and worship God, announcing, 'God is truly among you!'
26What 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.
26What is the conclusion then, brothers and sisters? When you meet, one has a song, another has a teaching, another has a revelation, another has a tongue, and another has an interpretation. Everything must be done to build up the church.
27If any man speaketh in a tongue, let it be by two, or at the most three, and that in turn; and let one interpret:
27If anyone speaks in a tongue, only two or at most three should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret.
28but if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
28But if there is no interpreter, the person should keep quiet in the church and speak only to themselves and to God.
29And let the prophets speak by two or three, and let the others discern.
29Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.
30But if a revelation be made to another sitting by, let the first keep silence.
30If a revelation comes to someone else who is sitting there, the first person should stop talking.
31For ye all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be exhorted;
31In this way, you can all prophesy one by one so that everyone can learn and be encouraged.
32and the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets;
32Remember that people who prophesy are in control of their own spirits.
33for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,
33For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as is the case in all the churches of God's people.
34let the women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as also saith the law.
34Women should keep silent in the church meetings. They are not allowed to speak, but should be in submission, just as the Law says.
35And 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.
35If they want to learn something, they should ask their own husbands at home, for it is improper for a woman to speak in the church meeting.
36What? was it from you that the word of God went forth? or came it unto you alone?
36Did the word of God start with you? Or are you the only people it has reached?
37If 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.
37If anyone thinks they are a prophet or spiritually gifted, they should acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command.
38But if any man is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
38But if someone ignores this, they themselves will be ignored.