1 Corinthians 14
1 Follow after love and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
Pursue love, and be zealous for the spiritual things, but more that ye 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 men, but to God, for no man hears, but in spirit he speaks mysteries.
3 But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, exhortation, and consolation.
But he who prophesies speaks to men edification and encouragement and comfort.
4 He who speaks in another language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the assembly.
He who speaks in a tongue builds himself up, but he who prophesies builds up the congregation.
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 want you all to speak in tongues, but more that ye may prophesy. For greater is he who prophesies than he who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the congregation 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?
But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I benefit you, unless I would speak to you either in a revelation, or in knowledge, or in prophesying, or in doctrine?
7 Even lifeless things that make a sound, whether pipe or harp, if they didn’t give a distinction in the sounds, how would it be known what is piped or harped?
Likewise lifeless things that give a sound, whether flute or harp, if they give no distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is being piped or harped?
8 For if the trumpet gave an uncertain sound, who would prepare himself for war?
For also if a trumpet gives an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself 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.
So also ye, unless ye give understandable speech by the tongue, how will that which is spoken be known? For ye will be talking into the air.
10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without meaning.
Since there are perhaps, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without significance.
11 If then I don’t 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 therefore I know not the force of the voice, I will be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner 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 ye, since ye are zealots of spirits, seek so that ye may excel for the edification of the church.
13 Therefore let him who speaks in another language pray that he may interpret.
Therefore let him who speaks in a 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 a tongue my spirit prays, but my intellect is unfruitful.
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 is it therefore? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the intellect also. I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the intellect 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 doesn’t know what you say?
Otherwise if thou would bless with the spirit, how will the man who fills the place of the unlearned, say the Truly at thy thanksgiving, since he knows not what thou say?
17 For you most certainly give thanks well, but the other person is not built up.
For thou indeed express thanks well, but the other man is not edified.
18 I thank my God, I speak with other languages more than you all.
I thank my God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
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.
Yet in an assembly I would rather speak five words with my intellect, so that I might also make others understand, than countless words in a tongue.
20 Brothers, don’t be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature.
Brothers, become not children in your thoughts. Instead be childlike in wickedness, but in your thoughts become mature.
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 won’t even listen to me that way, says the Lord.”
In the law it is written, In other tongues and in other lips I will speak to this people, and not even so will they hear 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.
Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to the unbelieving. But prophesying is not to the unbelieving, but to 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, won’t they say that you are crazy?
If therefore the whole congregation comes together in the same place, and all speak in tongues, and unlearned or unbelieving men come in, 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 some unbelieving or unlearned man comes in, he is convicted by all, he is called to account 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 so the secrets of his heart are made manifest. And so having fallen down on his face he will worship God, declaring that God is really among 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 is it therefore, brothers? When ye come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things 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 man speaks in a tongue, be according to two, or at the most three, and in succession. And let 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 interpreter, let him keep silence in an assembly, and let him speak to himself and to God.
29 Let two or three of the prophets speak, and let the others discern.
And let two or three prophets speak, and let the other men pass judgment.
30 But if a revelation is made to another sitting by, let the first keep silent.
But if it should be revealed to another man who is seated, let the first be silent.
31 For you all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be exhorted.
For ye can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn, and all may be encouraged.
32 The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets,
And 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.
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,
As in all the churches of the sanctified, let the women keep silent in the churches. For it is not permitted for them to speak, but to be subordinate, as the law also says.
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 question their own husbands at home, for it is an ugly thing for women to speak in an assembly.
36 What!? Was it from you that the word of God went out? Or did it come to you alone?
Or did the word of God come forth from you? Or did it come to you only?
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 man presumes to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge what I write to you, that they are commandments of the Lord.
38 But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
But if any man is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39 Therefore, brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking with other languages.
Therefore brothers, be zealous for prophesying, and do not forbid to speak in tongues.
40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
Let all things be done decently and in order.
