14 Follow the way of loven and eagerly desireo gifts of the Spirit,p especially prophecy.q 2For anyone who speaks in a tonguear does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them;s they utter mysteriest by the Spirit. 3But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening,u encouragingv and comfort. 4Anyone who speaks in a tonguew edifiesx themselves, but the one who prophesiesy edifies the church.
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1 Corinthians 14:1–4 — English Standard Version (ESV)
1Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 2For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. 3On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.
1 Corinthians 14:1–4 — King James Version (KJV 1900)
1Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. 2For 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. 3But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 4He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
1 Corinthians 14:1–4 — New Living Translation (NLT)
1Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy. 2For if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God, since people won’t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be mysterious. 3But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them. 4A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church.
1 Corinthians 14:1–4 — The New King James Version (NKJV)
1Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 3But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 4He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
1 Corinthians 14:1–4 — New Century Version (NCV)
1You should seek after love, and you should truly want to have the spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. 2I will explain why. Those who have the gift of speaking in different languages are not speaking to people; they are speaking to God. No one understands them; they are speaking secret things through the Spirit. 3But those who prophesy are speaking to people to give them strength, encouragement, and comfort. 4The ones who speak in different languages are helping only themselves, but those who prophesy are helping the whole church.
1 Corinthians 14:1–4 — American Standard Version (ASV)
1Follow after love; yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may 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. 3But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men edification, and exhortation, and consolation. 4He that speaketh in a tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
1 Corinthians 14:1–4 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)
1Follow after love, and be emulous of spiritual manifestations, but rather that ye may prophesy. 2For he that speaks with a tongue does not speak to men but to God: for no one hears; but in spirit he speaks mysteries. 3But he that prophesies speaks to men in edification, and encouragement, and consolation. 4He that speaks with a tongue edifies himself; but he that prophesies edifies the assembly.
1 Corinthians 14:1–4 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
1Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially the gift of speaking what God has revealed. 2When a person speaks in another language, he doesn’t speak to people but to God. No one understands him. His spirit is speaking mysteries. 3But when a person speaks what God has revealed, he speaks to people to help them grow, to encourage them, and to comfort them. 4When a person speaks in another language, he helps himself grow. But when a person speaks what God has revealed, he helps the church grow.
1 Corinthians 14:1–4 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
1Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, and above all that you may prophesy. 2For the person who speaks in another language is not speaking to men but to God, since no one understands him; however, he speaks mysteries in the Spirit. 3But the person who prophesies speaks to people for edification, encouragement, and consolation. 4The person who speaks in another language builds himself up, but he who prophesies builds up the church.
1 Corinthians 14:1–4 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
1Pursue love and strive for the spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophesy. 2For those who speak in a tongue do not speak to other people but to God; for nobody understands them, since they are speaking mysteries in the Spirit. 3On the other hand, those who prophesy speak to other people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4Those who speak in a tongue build up themselves, but those who prophesy build up the church.
1 Corinthians 14:1–4 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)
1Pursue love, and strive for spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2For the one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God, because no one understands, but by the Spirit he speaks mysteries. 3But the one who prophesies speaks to people edification and encouragement and consolation. 4The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.
1 Corinthians 14:1–4 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)
1Follow the way of love. You should also want the gifts the Holy Spirit gives. Most of all, you should want the gift of prophecy.
2Anyone who speaks in a language he had not known before doesn’t speak to people. He speaks only to God. In fact, no one understands that person. What he says with his spirit remains a mystery. 3But anyone who prophesies speaks to people. He says things to make them stronger, to give them hope and to comfort them. 4Those who speak in other languages build themselves up. But those who prophesy build up the church.
1 Corinthians 14:1–4 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)
1Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
2For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries.
3But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation.
4One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church.
