1 Corinthians 14

1 Follow after love and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

Hotly pursue this love, yet seek earnestly spiritual gifts, and chiefly that you may prophesy.

2 For he who speaks in another language speaks not to men, but to God, for no one understands, but in the Spirit he speaks mysteries.

For he who speaks in a "tongue" speaks not to man but to God, for no one understands him, but in the Spirit he utters secret truths.

3 But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, exhortation, and consolation.

But he who prophesies addresses words to men that build up, encourage, and console.

4 He who speaks in another language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the assembly.

He who speaks in a tongue upbuilds himself; but he who prophesies upbuilds the church.

5 Now I desire to have you all speak with other languages, but even more that you would prophesy. For he is greater who prophesies than he who speaks with other languages, unless he interprets, that the assembly may be built up.

Now I should like you all to speak with "tongues"; but I should rather that you prophesied, For he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be built up.

6 But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking with other languages, what would I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching?

Now brothers, if I should come to you speaking with tongues, what should I benefit you, unless I speak to you some revelation, or knowledge, or prophecy, or teaching?

7 Even lifeless things that make a sound, whether pipe or harp, if they did not give a distinction in the sounds, how would it be known what is piped or harped?

For if lifeless instruments such as the flute or the harp give no distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is fluted or harped?

8 For if the trumpet gave an uncertain sound, who would prepare himself for war?

Or, for example, if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, what soldier will be prepared for battle?

9 So also you, unless you uttered by the tongue words easy to understand, how would it be known what is spoken? For you would be speaking into the air.

In the same way with you, if you utter unintelligible words with your tongue, how can what you say be understood? You will be speaking to the winds!

10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without meaning.

There are, let us say, so many languages in the world, and none without its meaning.

11 If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I would be to him who speaks a foreigner, and he who speaks would be a foreigner to me.

If then I do not know the force of expression, I shall seem a barbarian to the one who uses it, and he will seem a barbarian to me.

12 So also you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound to the building up of the assembly.

So also in your case, since you are ambitious for spiritual gifts, seek to excel in them for the upbuilding of the church.

13 Therefore let him who speaks in another language pray that he may interpret.

So let him who speaks with tongues pray that he may interpret.

14 For if I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is barren.

15 What should I do? 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.

What then? I will pray with my spirit, and I will pray also with my mind. I will praise God with my spirit, but I will praise him with my mind, also.

16 Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who fills the place of the unlearned say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks, seeing he does not know what you say?

For if you in your spirit bless God, how shall he who fills the place of the unlearned say the Amen to your thanksgiving, when he does not know what you are talking about?

17 For you most certainly give thanks well, but the other person is not built up.

You on the one hand offer a good thanksgiving, but the other is not built up.

18 I thank my God, I speak with other languages more than you all.

Thank God I speak with tongues more than you all,

19 However, in the assembly I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in another language.

but in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, so as to instruct others, than ten thousand in an unknown tongue.

20 Brothers, do not be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature.

Brothers, do not become children in understanding; be babes in malice, but in understanding become mature men.

21 In the law it is written, “By men of strange languages and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people. They will not even listen to me that way, says the Lord.”

In the Law it is written. With men of other tongues, and by the lips of strangers, will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.

22 Therefore other languages are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to the unbelieving; but prophesying is for a sign, not to the unbelieving, but to those who believe.

So then the gift of tongues is for a sign, not to believers, but to unbelievers; but prophecy is not for unbelievers, but for those who believe.

23 If therefore the whole assembly is assembled together and all speak with other languages, and unlearned or unbelieving people come in, will not they say that you are crazy?

Accordingly, when the whole church assemblies, and everybody is speaking "with tongues," if there enter men unlearned or unbelieving, will they not say that you are mad?

24 But if all prophesy, and someone unbelieving or unlearned comes in, he is reproved by all, and he is judged by all.

But if all are prophesying when an unlearned or unbelieving man enters, he is convicted in conscience by your speaker, he feels himself judged by all,

25 And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed. So he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeed.

and the secret depths of his heart are laid open. So he will fall upon his face and worship God, saying, "Of a truth, God is with you."

26 What is it then, brothers? When you come together, each one of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has another language, or has an interpretation. Let all things be done to build each other up.

What follows, then, brothers? Whenever you meet together, each contributes something; a psalm, a sermon, a revelation, a tongue, an interpretation. Let all be done for edification.

27 If any man speaks in another language, let there be two, or at the most three, and in turn; and let one interpret.

If any one speaks in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that in turn, and let some one interpret.

28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in the assembly, and let him speak to himself and to God.

But if there is no one to interpret, let them keep silence in the church, and speak to themselves and to God.

29 Let two or three of the prophets speak, and let the others discern.

Let the prophets speak by two or three, and let the others exercise their judgment.

30 But if a revelation is made to another sitting by, let the first keep silent.

But if to one as he sits there some revelation is made, let the first be silent.

31 For you all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be exhorted.

For you can all prophesy one by one; so that all may be learning, and all may be encouraged.

32 The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets,

The spirits of prophets are subject to prophets,

33 for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the saints.

for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. This custom prevails in all the churches of the saints.

34 Let the wives be quiet in the assemblies, for it has not been permitted for them to be talking except in submission, as the law also says,

"In your congregation" you write, "as in all the churches of the saints, let the women keep silence in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak. On the contrary let them be subordinate, as also says the law.

35 if they desire to learn anything. “Let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for a wife to be talking in the assembly.”

And if they want to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for a women to speak in church."

36 What!? Was it from you that the word of God went out? Or did it come to you alone?

What, was it from you that the word of God went forth, or to you only did it come?

37 If any man thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize the things which I write to you, that they are the commandment of the Lord.

If any one thinks himself a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that what I am now writing you is a command of the Lord.

38 But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

But if any one disregard it he will be disregarded.

39 Therefore, brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking with other languages.

So, my brothers, be ambitious for the gift of prophecy, and speak not against the gifts of tongues.

40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

Let everything be done decently and in order.