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1 Corinthians 14:7–8

Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle?

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1 Corinthians 14:7–8 — The New International Version (NIV)

Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?

1 Corinthians 14:7–8 — English Standard Version (ESV)

If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle?

1 Corinthians 14:7–8 — King James Version (KJV 1900)

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? For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

1 Corinthians 14:7–8 — New Living Translation (NLT)

Even lifeless instruments like the flute or the harp must play the notes clearly, or no one will recognize the melody. And if the bugler doesn’t sound a clear call, how will the soldiers know they are being called to battle?

1 Corinthians 14:7–8 — New Century Version (NCV)

It is the same as with lifeless things that make sounds—like a flute or a harp. If they do not make clear musical notes, you will not know what is being played. And in a war, if the trumpet does not give a clear sound, who will prepare for battle?

1 Corinthians 14:7–8 — American Standard Version (ASV)

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? For if the trumpet give an uncertain voice, who shall prepare himself for war?

1 Corinthians 14:7–8 — 1890 Darby Bible (DARBY)

Even lifeless things giving a sound, whether pipe or harp, if they give not distinction to the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? For also, if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself for war?

1 Corinthians 14:7–8 — GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

Musical instruments like the flute or harp produce sounds. If there is no difference in the notes, how can a person tell what tune is being played? For example, if the trumpet doesn’t sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?

1 Corinthians 14:7–8 — The Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

Even inanimate things that produce sounds—whether flute or harp —if they don’t make a distinction in the notes, how will what is played on the flute or harp be recognized? In fact, if the trumpet makes an unclear sound, who will prepare for battle?

1 Corinthians 14:7–8 — The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

It is the same way with lifeless instruments that produce sound, such as the flute or the harp. If they do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is being played? And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle?

1 Corinthians 14:7–8 — The Lexham English Bible (LEB)

Likewise, the inanimate things which produce a sound, whether flute or lyre, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the lyre? For indeed, if the trumpet produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare for battle?

1 Corinthians 14:7–8 — New International Reader’s Version (1998) (NIrV)

Here are some examples. Certain objects make sounds. Take a flute or a harp. No one will know what the tune is unless different notes are played. Also, if the trumpet call isn’t clear, who will get ready for battle?

1 Corinthians 14:7–8 — New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (NASB95)

Yet even lifeless things, either flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp?

For if the bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle?


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