1 Corinthians 14

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

Labour after charity, and be desirous of spiritual gifts: but especially that ye may prophesy.

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

For he, that speaketh in an unknown tongue, speaketh not to men, but to God: for no one understandeth, though in spirit he speaketh mysteries.

3 But he who prophesies speaks to people for their encouragement, strengthening, and comfort.

But he, that prophesieth, speaketh edification, and exhortation, and comfort to men.

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

He, that speaketh in an unknown tongue, edifieth himself: but he, that prophesieth, edifieth the church.

5 Now I would like you all to speak in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy, and he is greater who prophesies than he who speaks with other languages, unless he interprets, that the church may be built up.

I could wish that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edification.

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, my brethren, if I come to you speaking with many tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak intelligibly to you of revelation, or knowledge, or prophecy, or doctrine?

7 Even things without life, giving a voice, whether pipe or harp, if they did not give a distinction in the sounds, how would it be known what is piped or harped?

As inanimate things which give a found, whether pipe or harp, unless they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall what is piped or harped be understood?

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

For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for the 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.

So also unless ye utter by the tongue intelligible words, how shall what is spoken be understood? for thus ye will be only talking to the wind.

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

There are, it may be, as many kinds of voices in the world as people, and none of them insignificant.

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

But if I know not the force of the words, I shall be to him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh will be a barbarian to me.

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

So ye also, since ye are so desirous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound in them to the edification of the church.

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

Wherefore let him, that speaketh in an unknown tongue, 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 indeed prayeth, but my meaning is fruitless.

15 What is it then? 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 is then to be done? I will pray with the Spirit, but I will pray to be understood: I will sing with the spirit, but I will sing to be understood.

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 thou bless in the spirit, how shall the unlearned say Amen to thy thanksgiving, when he knoweth not what thou sayst?

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

thou indeed givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

18 I thank God I speak in tongues more than you all.

I thank God, I speak with tongues more than you all.

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

But in a public assembly I had rather speak five words to be understood, that I may instruct others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

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

My brethren, be not children in sense: but in malice be infants, and in your judgements shew yourselves to be men.

21 In the law it is written, "By people of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people; but even then they will not listen to me," says the Lord.

It is written in the law, "By men of another language, and by other lips, will I speak to this people, and even so they will not listen to me, saith the Lord."

22 Therefore tongues 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 that tongues are for a sign, not to believers but to unbelievers: but prophecy not to unbelievers but to those that believe.

23 If therefore the whole church is assembled together and all speak in tongues, and unlearned or unbelieving people come in, won't they say that you are crazy?

If then the whole church be come together and all speak in unknown tongues, and there come in illiterate persons, or infidels, will they not say that ye 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 prophesy, and there come in an unbeliever, or one unlearned, he is convinced by all, he is 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 thus the secrets of his heart are made manifest; so that falling down upon his face he will worship God, declaring that God is indeed among you.

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

What is then to be done, my brethren? when ye come together, if any of you hath a psalm, a doctrine, a tongue, a revelation, an interpretation, ---let all be done for edification.

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

And if any one speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at most by three, and that by turns; and let one interpret.

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

But if there be no interpreter, let him be silent in the assembly; and let him speak to himself and to God.

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

And let but two or three of the prophets speak, and the others judge.

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

And if any thing be revealed to another sitting by, let the first have done speaking before the other begins.

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

For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.

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

And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets:

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

for God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as we see in all the assemblies of the saints.

34 let the women keep silent in the churches, for it has not been permitted for them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as the Law also says.

Let your women be silent in your assemblies: for it is not permitted to them to speak, but they are to be in subjection, as the law saith.

35 If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for a woman to chatter in the church.

And if they would learn any thing, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it does not become women to speak in a public assembly.

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

Did the word of God come out first from you? or did it come to you only?

37 If anyone 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 seem to be a prophet, or acted by the Spirit, let him acknowlege that what I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.

38 But if someone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.

But if any will be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

39 Therefore, my brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

Wherefore, my brethren, be most desirous to prophesy, and yet forbid not to speak with tongues:

40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

but let all things be done decently and in order.