1 Corinthians 14:39

Tyndale New Testament

Wherfore brethren covet to prophesye and forbyd not to speake with tonges.

Parallel Translations

Simplified Cowboy Version
Let me say this and then I'm done. Pay attention to good preaching, and don't stop someone from praying in tongues

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues.

Legacy Standard Bible
Therefore, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues.

Bible in Basic English
So then, my brothers, let it be your chief desire to be prophets; but let no one be stopped from using tongues.

Darby Translation
So that, brethren, desire to prophesy, and do not forbid the speaking with tongues.

Christian Standard Bible®
Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in other languages.

World English Bible
Therefore, brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy, and don't forbid speaking with other languages.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Therefore, brethren, covet to prophesy; yet forbid not to speak with tongues.

Weymouth's New Testament
The conclusion, my brethren, is this. Be earnestly ambitious to prophesy, and do not check speaking with tongues;

King James Version (1611)
Wherefore brethren, couet to prophesie, and forbid not to speake with tongues.

Literal Translation
So then, brothers, seek eagerly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in languages.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Wherfore brethren, couet to prophecye, and forbyd not to speake with tunges.

Mace New Testament (1729)
wherefore, brethren, zealously exercise the gift of prophecy, and don't prohibit those that speak in an unknown language.

THE MESSAGE
Three things, then, to sum this up: When you speak forth God's truth, speak your heart out. Don't tell people how they should or shouldn't pray when they're praying in tongues that you don't understand. Be courteous and considerate in everything.

Amplified Bible
Therefore, believers, desire earnestly to prophesy [to foretell the future, to speak a new message from God to the people], and do not forbid speaking in unknown tongues.

American Standard Version
Wherefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

Revised Standard Version
So, my brethren, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues;

Update Bible Version
Therefore, my brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.

Webster's Bible Translation
Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak in languages.

Young's Literal Translation
so that, brethren, earnestly desire to prophesy, and to speak with tongues do not forbid;

New Century Version
So my brothers and sisters, you should truly want to prophesy. But do not stop people from using the gift of speaking in different kinds of languages.

New English Translation
So then, brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid anyone from speaking in tongues.

Berean Standard Bible
So, my brothers, be eager to prophesy and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

Contemporary English Version
My friends, be eager to prophesy and don't stop anyone from speaking languages that others don't know.

Complete Jewish Bible
So, my brothers, eagerly seek to prophesy; and do not forbid speaking in tongues;

English Standard Version
So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Wherefore, brethren, couet to prophecie, and forbid not to speake languages.

George Lamsa Translation
Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not prohibit speaking in unknown tongues.

Hebrew Names Version
Therefore, brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy, and don't forbid speaking with other languages.

International Standard Version
Therefore, my brothers, desire the ability to prophesy, and do not prevent others from speaking in tongues.1 Corinthians 12:31; 1 Thessalonians 5:20;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
Be emulous, therefore, my brethren, to prophesy, and to speak with tongues forbid not;

Murdock Translation
Wherefore, my brethren, be emulous of prophesying: and to speak with tongues, prohibit not.

New King James Version
Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.

New Living Translation
So, my dear brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and don't forbid speaking in tongues.

New Life Bible
So then, my Christian brothers, you should want to speak God's Word. Do not stop anyone from speaking in special sounds.

English Revised Version
Wherefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

New Revised Standard
So, my friends, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues;

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
So, then, my brethren, - be zealous to prophesy, and do not forbid, to be speaking with tongues;

Douay-Rheims Bible
Wherefore, brethren, be zealous to prophesy: and forbid not to speak with tongues.

King James Version
Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

Lexham English Bible
So then, my brothers, desire to prophesy, and do not prevent speaking with tongues.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Wherfore brethren, couet to prophesie, and forbyd not to speake with tongues.

Easy-to-Read Version
So my brothers and sisters, continue to give your attention to prophesying. And don't stop anyone from using the gift of speaking in different languages.

New American Standard Bible
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

Good News Translation
So then, my friends, set your heart on proclaiming God's message, but do not forbid the speaking in strange tongues.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
`Therfor, britheren, loue ye to prophecie, and nyle ye forbede to speke in tungis.

Contextual Overview

³⁶ Sproge ye worde of god fro you? Ether came it vnto you only? ³⁷ Yf eny ma thinke him sylfe a prophet ether spirituall: let him vnderstonde what thinges I write vnto you. For they are the comaundementes of the Lorde. ³⁸ But and yf eny man be ignorat let him be ignorant. ³⁹ Wherfore brethren covet to prophesye and forbyd not to speake with tonges. ⁴⁰ And let all thinges be done honestly and in order.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

covet: 1 Corinthians 14:1, 1 Corinthians 14:3, 1 Corinthians 14:5, 1 Corinthians 14:24, 1 Corinthians 14:25, 1 Corinthians 12:31, 1 Thessalonians 5:20

Reciprocal: 1 Corinthians 12:10 - prophecy 1 Corinthians 13:8 - tongues 1 Corinthians 14:29 - the prophets

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy,.... The apostle now draws to a conclusion, and reassumes the exhortation he gave in the beginning of the chapter, pressing the members of this church to desire the gift of prophecy, that being the most eligible and preferable to others, particularly to speaking with tongues, since it was the most useful and edifying, as he abundantly proves:

and forbid not to speak with tongues; such as have that gift, and are desirous of exercising it, provided they observe the rules prescribed, and have an interpreter; this he adds to promote love, and prevent dissension and discord.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Covet to prophesy - See the note at 1 Corinthians 14:1. This is the “summing up” of all that he had said. It was “desirable” that a man should wish to be able to speak, under the teaching of the Holy Spirit, in such a manner as to edify the church.

And forbid not ... - Do not suppose that the power of speaking foreign languages is useless, or is to be despised, or that it is to be prohibited. “In its own place” it is a valuable endowment; and on proper occasions the talent should be exercised; see in 1 Corinthians 14:22.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 39. Covet to prophesy — Let it be your endeavour and prayer to be able to teach the way of God to the ignorant; this is the most valuable, because the most useful gift of the Spirit.

And forbid not to speak with tongues. — Let every gift have its own place and operation; let none envy another; nor prevent him from doing that part of the work to which God, by giving the qualification, has evidently called him.