1 Corinthians 14
1 Make love your most important objective! But also do your best to gain spiritual gifts, especially the ability to speak God's message.
Hotly pursue this love, yet seek earnestly spiritual gifts, and chiefly that you may prophesy.
2 Those who speak in a tongue are not talking to people, but to God, because nobody can understand them as they speak mysteries in the Spirit.
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 However, the words of those who speak for God build people up—they provide encouragement and comfort.
But he who prophesies addresses words to men that build up, encourage, and console.
4 Those that speak in a tongue only build themselves up, but those who speak God's message build up the church. I would like it if you all spoke in tongues, but I'd prefer if you could speak God's message.
He who speaks in a tongue upbuilds himself; but he who prophesies upbuilds the church.
5 Those who speak for God are more important than those who speak in tongues, unless they interpret what's been said, so that the church can 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 Brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what benefit would I be to you unless I bring you some revelation, or knowledge, or prophetic message, or 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 when it comes to something non-living such as musical instruments like a flute or a harp: if they don't produce clear notes, how will you know what tune is being played?
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 Similarly, if the trumpet doesn't give a clear sound, who will get ready for battle?
Or, for example, if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, what soldier will be prepared for battle?
9 It's the same situation for you—unless you speak using words that are easy to understand, who will know what you're saying? What you say will be lost on the wind.
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 surely many languages in this world, and there is meaning in every one of them.
There are, let us say, so many languages in the world, and none without its meaning.
11 If I don't understand the language, those who speak make no sense to me, and I make no sense to them.
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 It's the same for you—if you are keen to have spiritual gifts, try to have many of those that will build up the church.
So also in your case, since you are ambitious for spiritual gifts, seek to excel in them for the upbuilding of the church.
13 Anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that they're able to translate what they say.
So let him who speaks with tongues pray that he may interpret.
14 For if I pray out loud in a tongue, my spirit is praying, but it does nothing for my understanding!
For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is barren.
15 So then, what should I do? I will pray “in the Spirit,” but I will pray with my mind too. I will sing “in the Spirit,” but I will sing with my mind too.
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 For if you only pray “in the Spirit,” how can ordinary people that don't have understanding say “Amen” after your prayer of thanks, since they haven't a clue what you said?
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 You might have said a great prayer of thanks, but the other hasn't been helped!
You on the one hand offer a good thanksgiving, but the other is not built up.
18 I thank God that I can speak in tongues more than all of you.
Thank God I speak with tongues more than you all,
19 But in church I would rather speak five understandable words to teach others than ten thousand words in a tongue nobody understands.
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 and sisters, don't think like children. Be as innocent as babies in regard to evil, but be grown up in your understanding.
Brothers, do not become children in understanding; be babes in malice, but in understanding become mature men.
21 As Scripture records, “‘I will speak to my people through other languages and the lips of foreigners, but even then they won't listen to me,’ 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 Speaking in tongues is a sign, not to believers, but those who don't believe. Speaking God's prophetic message is the opposite: it is not for those who don't believe, but for believers.
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 the whole church is meeting together and you are all speaking in tongues, and some people come in who don't understand, or people who don't believe, won't they say that you are insane?
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 everyone is speaking God's message, and someone comes in who isn't a believer, or someone who doesn't understand, they will be convinced and called to account by everyone's words.
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 Their secrets throughts will be revealed, so they will fall to their knees and worship God, affirming that God is truly among you.
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 So then, brothers and sisters, what should you do? When you meet together, different people will sing, or teach, or share a special message, or speak in a tongue, or give an interpretation. But everything should be done to build up and encourage the church.
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 anyone wants to speak in a tongue, make it just two, or three at the most, taking turns, and someone should interpret what is said.
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 If there's no one there to interpret, those who speak in tongues should keep quiet in church and only speak to themselves, and God.
But if there is no one to interpret, let them keep silence in the church, and speak to themselves and to God.
29 Similarly, have two or three of those who give God's prophetic message speak, and let everyone else think about what was said.
Let the prophets speak by two or three, and let the others exercise their judgment.
30 However, if a special revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, then the first speaker should give way to them.
But if to one as he sits there some revelation is made, let the first be silent.
31 You can all speak for God, one at a time, so that everyone can learn and be encouraged.
For you can all prophesy one by one; so that all may be learning, and all may be encouraged.
32 It is for those who speak for God to control their prophetic inspiration,
The spirits of prophets are subject to prophets,
33 for God is not a God of disorder but of peace and quiet. This is the way it should be in all the churches of God's people.
for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. This custom prevails in all the churches of the saints.
34 “Women should stay quiet in the churches—they shouldn't speak. They should respect their situation, as the laws states.
"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 want to learn they can do so at home, asking their husbands. It is not proper for women to speak in church.”
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? Did the word of God begin with you? Are you the only ones it came to?
What, was it from you that the word of God went forth, or to you only did it come?
37 Anyone who thinks they are a prophet, or that they have some spiritual gift, should be aware that what I'm writing to you is a command 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 Those who ignore this will themselves be ignored.
But if any one disregard it he will be disregarded.
39 So my brothers and sisters, make it your aim to speak for God. Don't prohibit speaking in tongues.
So, my brothers, be ambitious for the gift of prophecy, and speak not against the gifts of tongues.
40 Just make sure everything done is done properly and in an orderly manner.
Let everything be done decently and in order.
