1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye 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. 3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth 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. 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 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 give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the 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. 10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. 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. 12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. 13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. 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. 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? 17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. 18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: 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. 20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. 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. 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. 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? 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: 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. 26 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 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 be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. 29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. 30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. 31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. 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. 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. 36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? 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. 38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. 39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. 40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

1 Jaag die liefde na, en beywer julle met die oog op die geestelike gawes, maar veral om te profeteer.

2 Want hy wat in 'n taal spreek, spreek nie tot mense nie, maar tot God; want niemand verstaan dit nie, maar deur die Gees spreek hy verborgenhede.

3 Maar hy wat profeteer, spreek tot die mense woorde van stigting en troos en bemoediging.

4 Hy wat in 'n taal spreek, stig homself; maar hy wat profeteer, stig die gemeente.

5 Ek wens dat julle almal in tale spreek, maar nog liewer dat julle profeteer. Want hy wat profeteer, is groter as hy wat in tale spreek, of hy moet dit uitlê, sodat die gemeente stigting kan ontvang.

6 Maar nou, broeders, as ek na julle kom en in tale spreek, tot watter nut sal ek vir julle wees as ek nie met julle spreek •f deur 'n openbaring, •f deur kennis, •f deur profesie, •f deur lering nie?

7 Net soos met lewelose dinge wat 'n klank gee, 'n fluit of 'n siter, as hulle nie 'n onderskeid in toon laat hoor nie, hoe sal 'n mens weet wat op die fluit of siter gespeel word?

8 Want as die basuin ook 'n onduidelike klank gee, wie sal klaarmaak vir die oorlog?

9 Net so julle ook, as julle met die tong geen verstaanbare woord uitbring nie, hoe sal 'n mens weet wat gespreek word? Want julle sal wees soos mense wat in die wind praat.

10 Daar is wie weet hoeveel soorte tale in die wêreld, en geeneen daarvan is sonder klank nie.

11 As ek dan die betekenis van die klank nie ken nie, sal ek vir die spreker 'n vreemdeling wees, en die spreker sal vir my 'n vreemdeling wees.

12 So moet julle ook, terwyl julle streef na geestelike gawes, probeer om uit te munt tot stigting van die gemeente.

13 Daarom moet hy wat in 'n taal spreek, bid dat hy dit kan uitlê.

14 Want as ek in 'n taal bid, dan bid my gees, maar my verstand is onvrugbaar.

15 Hoe staan die saak dan? Ek sal met die gees bid, maar ek sal ook met die verstand bid. Ek sal met die gees psalmsing, maar ek sal ook met die verstand psalmsing.

16 Anders, as jy met die gees dank, hoe sal hy wat die plek van 'n onkundige inneem, amen sê op jou danksegging, aangesien hy nie weet wat jy sê nie?

17 Want jy dank wel goed, maar die ander een word nie gestig nie.

18 Ek dank my God dat ek meer in tale spreek as julle almal;

19 maar in die gemeente wil ek liewer vyf woorde met my verstand spreek om ook ander te onderrig, as tien duisend woorde in 'n taal.

20 Broeders, moenie kinders wees in die verstand nie, maar wees kinders in die boosheid en wees volwassenes in die verstand.

21 In die wet is geskrywe: Ek sal deur mense van ander tale en deur ander lippe tot hierdie volk spreek, en ook so sal hulle na My nie luister nie, sê die Here.

22 Die tale is dus 'n teken nie vir die gelowiges nie, maar vir die ongelowiges; die profesie egter is nie vir die ongelowiges nie, maar vir die gelowiges.

23 As die hele gemeente dan saam vergader het en hulle sou almal in tale spreek en daar kom onkundiges of ongelowiges binne, sal hulle nie sê dat julle kranksinnig is nie?

24 Maar as almal profeteer en daar 'n ongelowige of 'n onkundige binnekom, dan word hy deur almal oortuig, deur almal beoordeel;

25 en so kom die geheime van sy hart aan die lig. En so sal hy op sy aangesig val, God aanbid, en verkondig dat God werklik onder julle is.

26 Hoe staan die saak dan, broeders? Wanneer julle saamkom, dan het elkeen van julle 'n psalm of 'n lering of 'n taal of 'n openbaring of 'n uitlegging -- laat alles tot stigting geskied.

27 En as iemand in 'n taal spreek, laat dit dan wees twee of hoogstens drie, en by beurte; en laat een dit uitlê.

28 Maar as daar geen uitlêer is nie, laat hy in die gemeente swyg, en laat hy met homself en met God spreek.

29 Laat twee of drie profete spreek en die ander dit beoordeel.

30 Maar as daar iets geopenbaar is aan 'n ander wat daar sit, laat die eerste swyg.

31 Want julle kan almal een vir een profeteer, sodat almal kan leer en almal bemoedig word.

32 En die geeste van die profete is aan die profete onderworpe;

33 want God is nie 'n God van wanorde nie, maar van vrede, soos in al die gemeentes van die heiliges.

34 Julle vroue moet in die gemeentes swyg; want dit is hulle nie toegelaat om te spreek nie, maar om onderdanig te wees, soos die wet ook sê.

35 Maar as hulle iets wil leer, laat hulle tuis hul eie mans vra, want dit is lelik vir vroue om in die gemeente te spreek.

36 Of het die woord van God van julle uitgegaan, of het dit tot julle alleen gekom?

37 As iemand meen dat hy 'n profeet of 'n geestelike mens is, moet hy erken dat wat ek aan julle skrywe, bevele van die Here is.

38 Maar as iemand onkundig is, laat hom onkundig bly.

39 Daarom, broeders, beywer julle om te profeteer en moenie verhinder dat daar in tale gespreek word nie.

40 Laat alles welvoeglik en ordelik toegaan.