1 Corinthians 14

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

Pursue the love, and seek earnestly the spiritual things, and rather that ye may prophecy,

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 is speaking in an [unknown] tongue — to men he doth not speak, but to God, for no one doth hearken, and in spirit he doth speak secrets;

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

and he who is prophesying to men doth speak edification, and exhortation, and comfort;

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

he who is speaking in an [unknown] tongue, himself doth edify, and he who is prophesying, an assembly doth edify;

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.

and I wish you all to speak with tongues, and more that ye may prophecy, for greater is he who is prophesying than he who is speaking with tongues, except one may interpret, that the assembly 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?

And now, brethren, if I may come unto you speaking tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either in revelation, or in knowledge, or in prophesying, or in 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?

yet the things without life giving sound — whether pipe or harp — if a difference in the sounds they may not give, how shall be known that which is piped or that which is harped?

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

for if also an uncertain sound a trumpet may give, who shall 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, if through the tongue, speech easily understood ye may not give — how shall that which is spoken be known? for ye shall be speaking to air.

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

There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is unmeaning,

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, then, I do not know the power of the voice, I shall be to him who is speaking a foreigner, and he who is speaking, is to me a foreigner;

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 earnestly desirous of spiritual gifts, for the building up of the assembly seek that ye may abound;

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

wherefore he who is speaking in an [unknown] tongue — let him 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 doth pray, and my understanding 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 then is it? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray also with the understanding; I will sing psalms with the spirit, and I will sing psalms also with the understanding;

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?

since, if thou mayest bless with the spirit, he who is filling the place of the unlearned, how shall he say the Amen at thy giving of thanks, since what thou dost say he hath not known?

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

for thou, indeed, dost give thanks well, but the other is not built up!

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

I give thanks to my God — more than you all with tongues speaking —

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 an assembly I wish to speak five words through my understanding, that others also I may instruct, rather than myriads of words in an [unknown] tongue.

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

Brethren, become not children in the understanding, but in the evil be ye babes, and in the understanding become ye perfect;

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 hath been written, that, 'With other tongues and with other lips I will speak to this people, and not even so will they hear 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.

so that the tongues are for a sign, not to the believing, but to the unbelieving; and the prophesy [is] not for the unbelieving, but for the believing,

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 assembly may come together, to the same place, and all may speak with tongues, and there may come in unlearned or unbelievers, 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.

and if all may prophecy, and any one may come in, an unbeliever or unlearned, he is convicted by all, he is discerned 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 become manifest, and so having fallen upon [his] face, he will bow before God, declaring that God really 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.

What then is it, brethren? whenever ye may come together, each of you hath a psalm, hath a teaching, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation? let all things be for building up;

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 an [unknown] tongue any one do speak, by two, or at the most, by three, and in turn, 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.

and if there may be no interpreter, let him be silent in an assembly, and to himself let him speak, and to God.

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

And prophets — let two or three speak, and let the others discern,

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

and if to another sitting [anything] may be revealed, 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 are able, one by one, all to prophesy, that all may learn, and all may be exhorted,

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

and the spiritual gift of prophets to prophets are subject,

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 tumult, but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the 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,

Your women in the assemblies let them be silent, for it hath not been permitted to them to speak, but to be subject, 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.”

and if they wish to learn anything, at home their own husbands let them question, for it is a shame to 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?

From you did the word of God come forth? or to you alone did it come?

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 one doth think to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge the things that I write to you — that of the Lord they are commands;

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

and if any one is ignorant — let him be ignorant;

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

so that, brethren, earnestly desire to prophesy, and to speak with tongues do not forbid;

40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

let all things be done decently and in order.