1  Pursue love, and desire the spiritual [gifts], but especially that you may prophesy.

1  Follow after love; yet desire earnestly spiritual [gifts], but rather that ye may prophesy.

1  Pursue charity. Be zealous for spiritual things, but only so that you may prophesy.

2  For he who speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men, but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.

2  For he that speaketh in a tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God; for no man understandeth; but in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

2  For whoever speaks in tongues, speaks not to men, but to God. For no one understands. Yet by the Spirit, he speaks mysteries.

3  But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort.

3  But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men edification, and exhortation, and consolation.

3  But whoever prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation.

4  He who speaks in an [unknown] tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.

4  He that speaketh in a tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

4  Whoever speaks in tongues edifies himself. But whoever prophesies edifies the Church.

5  Now I wish you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you should prophesy; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified.

5  Now 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.

5  I would that you all spoke various tongues, but I would rather that you prophesied: for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks various tongues, unless he interpret; however, if he interpret it, he edifies the church.

6  But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either in a revelation, or in knowledge, or in a prophesy, or in doctrine?

6  Now, my brethren, if I should come to you and speak in diverse tongues, what would I profit you, except I speak to you either by means of revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying or by teaching?

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?

7  Likewise the lifeless things, when they make a sound, whether flute or harp, unless they make a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is being played on the flute, or what is being played on the harp?

7  Even 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?

7  Even those things that are without a soul can make sounds, whether it is a wind or a stringed instrument. But unless they present a distinction within the sounds, how will it be known which is from the pipe and which is from the string?

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

8  For example, if the trumpet made an uncertain sound, who would prepare himself for battle?

9  So also you, [if you] do not give a clear word by the tongue, how will it be known what is being spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.

9  So it is with you also, for unless you utter with the tongue in plain speech, how will it be known what is said? For then you would be speaking into the air.

9  Even so you, except you utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what you say? you shall speak as into the air.

10  There are, perhaps, so many kinds of sounds in the world, and none of them without meaning.

10  Consider that there are so many different kinds of languages in this world, and yet none is without a voice.

10  For, behold, there are many kinds of speech in the world, yet none of them are without expression.

11  Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the sound, I shall be as a foreigner to the [one ]speaking, and the [one] speaking [shall be] as a foreigner to me.

11  If 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.

11  So if I do not understand the utterance, I shall be as a barbarian to the speaker, and the speaker shall be as a barbarian to me.

12  So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual [gifts], seek that you may abound to the edification of the church.

12  So it is with you also. And since you are zealous for what is spiritual, seek the edification of the Church, so that you may abound.

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

13  Therefore let he that speaks in an [unknown] tongue pray that he may interpret.

13  For this reason, too, whoever speaks in tongues, let him pray for the interpretation.

13  Thus he who speaks in an unknown tongue, pray that he may interpret it.

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

14  So, if I pray in tongues, my spirit prays, but my mind is without fruit.