1 Corinthians 14

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

FOLLOW earnestly after love, and zealously seek spiritual gifts, but rather 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 that speaketh in an unknown tongue, speaketh not to men, but to God: for no man understandeth him; although in spirit he speaketh mysterious truths.

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

But he that prophesieth, addresseth men for edification, and exhortation, and consolation.

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

He that speaketh in an unknown tongue, edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth, edifieth 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 could wish that you all spake with tongues, but rather that ye should prophesy: for greater is he that prophesieth, than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret also, 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 I, brethren, if I should come unto you, speaking in unknown languages, what should I profit you, unless I should speak to you intelligibly by revelation, or by science, or by prophecy, or by 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?

In like manner things inanimate, giving sound, whether the pipe, or the harp, unless they express a distinction in their tones, how shall it be known what is piped, or what is harped?

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

For if the trumpet also 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 ye, unless with the tongue you speak an intelligible discourse, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye will speak to the air.

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

For though there are so many different kinds of languages in the world, yet is not one of them without its meaning.

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 expression, I shall be to him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh will be a barbarian unto 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, if ye zealously affect spiritual gifts, seek that ye may abound in them for the edification of the church.

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

Therefore let him who speaketh in an unknown tongue, pray that he may interpret also.

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 prayeth, but my mind produces no fruit.

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 is my object? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing psalms with the spirit, and I will sing psalms with the understanding 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?

Else, though thou bless God in spirit, how shall he who filleth the place of an illiterate man, say Amen after thy thanksgiving, seeing he knoweth not what thou sayest?

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

For thou indeed givest thanks to God well, but another man is not edified by it.

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

I thank my God, that I speak with different 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 had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may instruct others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

20 Brothers, don’t be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature.

Brethren, be not children in your minds: though in naughtiness be ye children, but in your minds be men complete.

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, “That with other tongues, and with other lips, will I speak to this people: and even thus will they not attend to me, saith 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.

Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to those that believe, but to those who do not believe: but the gift of prophecy is not for those who are infidels, 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 then the whole church assemble together in the same place, and all speak different tongues, and there come in illiterate persons, or infidels, will they not say 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 any infidel or illiterate person come in, he receives conviction from all, he is judged of 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; and so falling down on his face, he will worship God, declaring that God verily is 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.

How comes it then, brethren, that when ye assemble together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation? Let all things be done to 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 speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at most by three, and one after another; 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 be not an interpreter, let him be silent in the church; but let him speak to himself and to God.

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

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

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

But if any thing should be revealed to one sitting by, 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 may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all 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 assemblies of the saints.

For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all the churches of his 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,

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

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.”

But if they will learn any thing, let them ask their own husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

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

Went the word of God from you? or came it unto 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 thinketh that he is a prophet, or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that the things which I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

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

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

39 Therefore, brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking with other languages.

Wherefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

Let all things be done with propriety, and orderly.