1 Pursue love {agapen: self-giving devotion}, and be zealous for the spiritual things, but especially that you may prophesy {propheteuete: speak inspired message}.
2 For the one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people, but to God {Theos, Divine Listener}; for no one understands, but in spirit he speaks mysteries {mysteria: hidden truths}.
3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for edification {oikodomen: spiritual building up} and exhortation {paraklesin: urgent encouragement} and consolation.
4 The one who speaks in a tongue {glosse: spiritual language} builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church {ekklesia: gathered community}.
5 But I wish that all of you spoke in tongues, but rather that you might prophesy; and greater is the one who prophesies than the one who speaks in tongues, unless it is interpreted, so that the church {ekklēsia: called-out assembly} may receive edification {oikodomē: spiritual building-up}.
6 Now, brothers {adelphoi: fellow believers}, if I come to you speaking in tongues {glossais: unlearned languages}, what will I profit you, unless I speak to you either by revelation or by knowledge or by prophecy or by teaching?
7 Likewise, lifeless things giving a sound {phonen: meaningful utterance}, whether a flute or a harp, if they do not give a distinction {diastolen: clear variation} in the tones, how will what is being played on the flute or what is being played on the harp be recognized?
8 For if a trumpet {salpinx: battle instrument} gives an uncertain sound {phonen: trumpet signal}, who will prepare himself for battle?
9 So also you, through the tongue, if you do not give a clear {eusemon: easily understood} word, how will what is spoken be known? For you will be speaking into the air {aera: empty space}.
10 There are, perhaps, so many kinds of voices {phonon: various speech} in the world {kosmos: human society}, and none of them is without meaning.
11 Therefore, if I do not know the meaning {dynamin: significance or force} of the voice, I will be a foreigner {barbaros: non-Greek speaker} to the one speaking, and the one speaking will be a foreigner to me.
12 So also you, since you are zealous {zelotai: deeply eager} for spiritual gifts, seek to excel for the building up {oikodome: spiritual strengthening} of the church.
13 Therefore, the one who speaks {lalon: habitually speaking} in a tongue should pray that he may interpret {diermeneue: convey meaning}.
14 For if I pray in a tongue {glosse: unlearned language}, my spirit prays, but my mind {nous: faculty of understanding} is unfruitful.
15 What then is the conclusion? I will pray with the spirit {pneumati: spiritual faculty}, and I will also pray with the mind {noi: faculty of understanding}; I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the mind.
16 For if you bless with the spirit {pneuma: spiritual capacity}, how will the one occupying the place of the unlearned {idiotes: uninstructed hearer} say the Amen at your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?
17 For you {su: direct addressee} indeed give thanks {eucharisteis: express gratitude} well, but the other person is not being built up.
18 I thank God {Theos, Recipient Of Thanks} that I speak in tongues {glōssais: other languages} more than all of you do.
19 But in the assembly {ekklesia: gathered congregation}, I would rather speak five words with my understanding {nous: thoughtful mind}, so that I may also instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20 Brothers, do not become children in your understanding, but in evil {kakia: moral corruption} be infants; yet in your understanding, become mature {teleioi: morally and spiritually complete}.
21 In the Law it is written: “In other tongues {heteroglossois: foreign languages} and in the lips of others I will speak to this people, and not even so will they listen to Me,” says the Lord {Kyrios, Sovereign Speaker}.
22 So then, tongues {glossai: other languages} are for a sign {semeion: confirming indication}, not to those who believe, but to unbelievers; but prophecy is not for unbelievers, but for those who believe.
23 If therefore the whole assembly {ekklesia: called-out congregation} should come together in the same place, and all are speaking in tongues {glossais: other languages}, and uninstructed persons or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad?
24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is exposed {elegchetai: inwardly exposed} by everyone and is examined {anakrinetai: carefully scrutinized} by all.
25 The hidden things of his heart are made manifest {phanera: openly revealed}, and thus, falling upon his face, he will worship God {Theos, Rightful Object Of Worship} and declare that truly God is among you.
26 What then is it, brothers, when you come together? Each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation {apokalypsin: unveiled message}, has a tongue, has an interpretation; let all things be done for edification {oikodomēn: spiritual building up}.
27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, let it be by two {duo: limited number}, or at the most three, and each in turn; and let one interpret {diermeneueto: provide clear explanation}.
28 But if there is no interpreter {diermeneutes: one who explains}, let him keep silent in the assembly, and let him speak to himself and to God {Theos, Intimate Hearer}.
29 But let two or three prophets {prophetai: those who speak forth a message} speak, and let the others discern {diakrinetosan: evaluate carefully} what is said.
30 But if something is revealed {apokalyphthe: made known} to another who is sitting there, let the first one be silent {sigato: stop speaking}.
31 For you are all able to prophesy one by one, so that all may learn {manthano: receive instruction} and all may be encouraged {parakaleo: be strengthened}.
32 And the spirits {pneumata: individual spiritual impulses} of the prophets are subject {hypotassetai: placed under authority} to the prophets.
33 For God {Theos, Author Of Peace} is not a God of disorder {akatastasias: chaotic instability}, but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
34 The women in the churches must be silent {sigatosan: refrain from speaking aloud}; for it is not permitted for them to speak, but they must be submissive, just as the law {nomos: established Torah standard} also says.
35 If they want to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands {andras: married men} at home; for it is shameful for a woman to speak in the church {ekklēsia: gathered congregation}.
36 Or did the word {logos: authoritative message} of God {Theos, Source of Revelation} go out from you, or has it reached only you?
37 If anyone thinks that he is a prophet {prophetes: inspired spokesperson} or spiritual, he must acknowledge that the things which I write to you are of the Lord {Kyrios, Command-Giving Lord}.
38 But if anyone {tis: universal individual} does not recognize this, he is not recognized {agnoeitai: remains unacknowledged}.
39 So then, my brothers {adelphoi: fellow believers}, be zealous to prophesy {propheteuein: inspired speaking}, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
40 But let all things take place in a proper manner {euskhemonos: proper, dignified} and in an organized arrangement {taxin: structured order}.