1 Corinthians 14

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.	1 Pursue love, but strive eagerly for the spiritual gifts, above all that you may prophesy.
2 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.	2 For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to human beings but to God, for no one listens; he utters mysteries in spirit.
3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.	3 On the other hand, one who prophesies does speak to human beings, for their building up, encouragement, and solace.
4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.	4 Whoever speaks in a tongue builds himself up, but whoever prophesies builds up the church.
5 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.	5 Now I should like all of you to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. One who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be built up.
6 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?	6 Now, brothers, if I should come to you speaking in tongues, what good will I do you if I do not speak to you by way of revelation, or knowledge, or prophecy, or instruction?
7 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?	7 Likewise, if inanimate things that produce sound, such as flute or harp, do not give out the tones distinctly, how will what is being played on flute or harp be recognized?
8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?	8 And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle?
9 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.	9 Similarly, if you, because of speaking in tongues, do not utter intelligible speech, how will anyone know what is being said? For you will be talking to the air.
10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.	10 It happens that there are many different languages in the world, and none is meaningless;
11 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.	11 but if I do not know the meaning of a language, I shall be a foreigner to one who speaks it, and one who speaks it a foreigner to me.
12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.	12 So with yourselves: since you strive eagerly for spirits, seek to have an abundance of them for building up the church.
13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.	13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray to be able to interpret.
14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.	14 (For) if I pray in a tongue, my spirit is at prayer but my mind is unproductive.
15 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.	15 So what is to be done? I will pray with the spirit, but I will also pray with the mind. I will sing praise with the spirit, but I will also sing praise with the mind.
16 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?	16 Otherwise, if you pronounce a blessing (with) the spirit, how shall one who holds the place of the uninstructed say the "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?
17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.	17 For you may be giving thanks very well, but the other is not built up.
18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:	18 I give thanks to God that I speak in tongues more than any of you,
19 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.	19 but in the church I would rather speak five words with my mind, so as to instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.	20 Brothers, stop being childish in your thinking. In respect to evil be like infants, but in your thinking be mature.
21 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.	21 It is written in the law: "By people speaking strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, and even so they will not listen to me, says the Lord."
22 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.	22 Thus, tongues are a sign not for those who believe but for unbelievers, whereas prophecy is not for unbelievers but for those who believe.
23 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?	23 So if the whole church meets in one place and everyone speaks in tongues, and then uninstructed people or unbelievers should come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds?
24 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:	24 But if everyone is prophesying, and an unbeliever or uninstructed person should come in, he will be convinced by everyone and judged by everyone,
25 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.	25 and the secrets of his heart will be disclosed, and so he will fall down and worship God, declaring, "God is really in your midst."
26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, everyone of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.	26 So what is to be done, brothers? When you assemble, one has a psalm, another an instruction, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Everything should be done for building up.
27 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.	27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, let it be two or at most three, and each in turn, and one should interpret.
28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.	28 But if there is no interpreter, the person should keep silent in the church and speak to himself and to God.
29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.	29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others discern.
30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.	30 But if a revelation is given to another person sitting there, the first one should be silent.
31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.	31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged.
32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.	32 Indeed, the spirits of prophets are under the prophets' control,
33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.	33 since he is not the God of disorder but of peace. As in all the churches of the holy ones,
34 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.	34 women should keep silent in the churches, for they are not allowed to speak, but should be subordinate, as even the law says.
35 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.	35 But if they want to learn anything, they should ask their husbands at home. For it is improper for a woman to speak in the church.
36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?	36 Did the word of God go forth from you? Or has it come to you alone?
37 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.	37 If anyone thinks that he is a prophet or a spiritual person, he should recognize that what I am writing to you is a commandment of the Lord.
38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.	38 If anyone does not acknowledge this, he is not acknowledged.
39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.	39 So, (my) brothers, strive eagerly to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues,
40 Let all things be done decently and in order.	40 but everything must be done properly and in order.