1 Corinthians 14
1 Follow after love and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
Make love your most important objective! But also do your best to gain spiritual gifts, especially the ability to speak God's message.
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.
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.
3 But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, exhortation, and consolation.
However, the words of those who speak for God build people up—they provide encouragement and comfort.
4 He who speaks in another language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the assembly.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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?
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?
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?
8 For if the trumpet gave an uncertain sound, who would prepare himself for war?
Similarly, if the trumpet doesn't give a clear sound, who will get ready 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.
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.
10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without meaning.
There are surely many languages in this world, and there is meaning in every one of them.
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 I don't understand the language, those who speak make no sense to me, and I make no sense to them.
12 So also you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound to the building up of the assembly.
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.
13 Therefore let him who speaks in another language pray that he may interpret.
Anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that they're able to translate what they say.
14 For if I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
For if I pray out loud in a tongue, my spirit is praying, but it does nothing for my understanding!
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.
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.
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?
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?
17 For you most certainly give thanks well, but the other person is not built up.
You might have said a great prayer of thanks, but the other hasn't been helped!
18 I thank my God, I speak with other languages more than you all.
I thank God that I can 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.
But in church I would rather speak five understandable words to teach others than ten thousand words in a tongue nobody understands.
20 Brothers, don’t be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature.
Brothers and sisters, don't think like children. Be as innocent as babies in regard to evil, but be grown up in your understanding.
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.”
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.”
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.
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.
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 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?
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 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.
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.
Their secrets throughts will be revealed, so they will fall to their knees and worship God, affirming that God is truly 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.
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.
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 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.
28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in the assembly, and let him speak to himself and to God.
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.
29 Let two or three of the prophets speak, and let the others discern.
Similarly, have two or three of those who give God's prophetic message speak, and let everyone else think about what was said.
30 But if a revelation is made to another sitting by, let the first keep silent.
However, if a special revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, then the first speaker should give way to them.
31 For you all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be exhorted.
You can all speak for God, one at a time, so that everyone can learn and be encouraged.
32 The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets,
It is for those who speak for God to control their prophetic inspiration,
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 disorder but of peace and quiet. This is the way it should be in all the churches of God's people.
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,
“Women should stay quiet in the churches—they shouldn't speak. They should respect their situation, as the laws states.
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.”
If they want to learn they can do so at home, asking their husbands. It is not proper for 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? Did the word of God begin with you? Are you the only ones it came to?
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.
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.
38 But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
Those who ignore this will themselves be ignored.
39 Therefore, brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking with other languages.
So my brothers and sisters, make it your aim to speak for God. Don't prohibit speaking in tongues.
40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
Just make sure everything done is done properly and in an orderly manner.
