1 Corinthians 14
1 Go after love; still desiring to have the things which the Spirit gives, but most of all that you may have the prophet's power.
Be eager in your pursuit of this Love, and be earnestly ambitious for spiritual gifts, but let it be chiefly so in order that you may prophesy.
2 For he who makes use of tongues is not talking to men but to God; because no one has the sense of what he is saying; but in the Spirit he is talking of secret things.
For he who speaks in an unknown tongue is not speaking to men, but to God; for no one understands him. Yet in the Spirit he is speaking secret truths.
3 But the word of the prophet gives men knowledge and comfort and strength.
But he who prophesies speaks to men words of edification, encouragement and comfort.
4 He who makes use of tongues may do good to himself; but he who gives the prophet's word does good to the church.
He who speaks in an unknown tongue does good to himself, but he who prophesies does good to the Church.
5 Now though it is my desire for you all to have the power of tongues, it would give me more pleasure to be hearing the prophet's word from you; for this is a greater thing than using tongues, if the sense is not given at the same time, for the good of the church.
I should be right glad were you all to speak in 'tongues,' but yet more glad were you all to prophesy. And, in fact, the man who prophesies is superior to him who speaks in 'tongues,' except when the latter can interpret in order that the Church may get a blessing.
6 But, now, my brothers, if I come to you using tongues, what profit will it be to you, if I do not give you a revelation, or knowledge, or the word of the prophet, or teaching?
But, brethren, as things are, if I come to you speaking in 'tongues,' what benefit shall I confer on you, if the utterance is neither in the form of a revelation nor of additional knowledge nor of prophecy nor of teaching?
7 Even things without life, having a voice, such as a music-pipe or other instrument, if they do not give out different sounds, who may be certain what is being played?
Even inanimate things--flutes or harps, for instance--when yielding a sound, if they make no distinction in the notes, how shall the tune which is played on the flute or the harp be known?
8 For if the war-horn gives out an uncertain note, who will get ready for the fight?
If the bugle--to take another example--gives an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle?
9 So if you, in using a strange tongue, say words which have no sense, how will anyone take in what you are saying? for you will be talking to the air.
And so with you; if with the living voice you fail to utter intelligible words, how will people know what you are saying? You will be talking to the winds.
10 There are, it may be, a number of different voices in the world, and no voice is without sense.
There are, we will suppose, a great number of languages in the world, and no creature is without a language.
11 But if the sense of the voice is not clear to me, I am like a man from a strange country to him who is talking, and he will be the same to me.
If, however, I do not know the meaning of the particular language, I shall seem to the speaker of it, and he to me, to be merely talking some foreign tongue.
12 So if you are desiring the things which the Spirit gives, let your minds be turned first to the things which are for the good of the church.
Therefore, seeing that you are ambitious for spiritual gifts, seek to excel in them so as to benefit the Church.
13 For this reason, let the man who has the power of using tongues make request that he may, at the same time, be able to give the sense.
Therefore let a man who has the gift of tongues pray for the power of interpreting them.
14 For if I make use of tongues in my prayers, my spirit makes the prayer, but not my mind.
For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is barren.
15 What then? let my prayer be from the spirit, and equally from the mind; let my song be from the spirit, and equally from mind.
How then does the matter stand? I will pray in spirit, and I will pray with my understanding also. I will praise God in spirit, and I will praise Him with my understanding also.
16 For if you give a blessing with the spirit, how will the man who has no knowledge say, So be it, after your prayer, seeing that he has not taken in what you are saying?
Otherwise, if you bless God in spirit only, how shall he who is in the position of an ungifted man say the 'Amen' to your giving of thanks, when he does not know what your words mean?
17 For your giving of the blessing is certainly well done, but of no profit to the man without knowledge.
Rightly enough you are giving thanks, and yet your neighbor is not benefited.
18 I give praise to God that I am able to make use of tongues more than you all:
I speak in a tongue, thank God, more than all of you;
19 But in the church it would be better for me to make use of five words of which the sense was clear, so that others might have profit, than ten thousand words in a strange tongue.
but in the Church I would rather speak five words with my understanding--so as to instruct others also--than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
20 My brothers, do not be children in mind: in evil be as little children, but in mind be of full growth.
Brethren, do not prove yourselves to be children in your minds. As regards evil, indeed, be utter babes, but as regards your minds prove yourselves to be men of ripe years.
21 In the law it is said, By men of other tongues and by strange lips will my words come to this people; and not even so will they give ear to me, says the Lord.
In the Law it stands written, "'By men of unknown tongues and by the lips of an unknown nation will I speak to this People, but even then they will not listen to Me', says the Lord."
22 For this reason tongues are for a sign, not to those who have faith, but to those who have not: but the prophet's word is for those who have faith, and not for the rest who have not.
This shows that the gift of tongues is intended as a sign not to those who believe but to unbelievers, but prophecy is intended not for unbelievers but for those who believe.
23 If, then, the church has come together, and all are using tongues, and there come in men without knowledge or faith, will they not say that you are unbalanced?
Accordingly if the whole Church has assembled and all are speaking in 'tongues,' and there come in ungifted men, or unbelievers, will they not say that you are all mad?
24 But if all are teaching as prophets, and a man without faith or knowledge comes in, he is tested by all, he is judged by all;
If, on the other hand, every one is prophesying and an unbeliever or an ungifted man comes in, he is convicted by all and closely examined by all,
25 The secrets of his heart are made clear; and he will go down on his face and give worship to God, saying that God is truly among you.
and the hidden evils of his heart are brought to light. And, as the result, he will fall on his face and worship God, and will report to others that of a truth God is among you.
26 What is it then, my brothers? when you come together everyone has a holy song, or a revelation, or a tongue, or is giving the sense of it. Let everything be done for the common good.
What then, brethren? Whenever you assemble, there is not one of you who is not ready either with a song of praise, a sermon, a revelation, a 'tongue,' or an interpretation. Let everything be done with a view to the building up of faith and character.
27 If any man makes use of a tongue, let it not be more than two, or at the most three, and in turn; and let someone give the sense:
If there is speaking in an unknown tongue, only two or at the most three should speak, and they should do so one at a time, and one should interpret;
28 But if there is no one to give the sense, let him keep quiet in the church; and let his words be to himself and to God.
or if there is no interpreter, let the man with the gift be silent in the Church, speaking to himself and to God.
29 And let the prophets give their words, but not more than two or three, and let the others be judges of what they say.
But if there are Prophets, let two or three speak and let the rest judge.
30 But if a revelation is given to another who is seated near, let the first be quiet.
And if anything is revealed to some one else who is seated there, let the first be silent.
31 For you may all be prophets in turn so that all may get knowledge and comfort;
For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged:
32 And the spirits of the prophets are controlled by the prophets;
and the spirits of Prophets yield submission to Prophets.
33 For God is not a God whose ways are without order, but a God of peace; as in all the churches of the saints.
For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace, as He is in all the Churches of His people.
34 Let women keep quiet in the churches: for it is not right for them to be talking; but let them be under control, as it says in the law.
Let married women be silent in the Churches, for they are not permitted to speak. They must be content with a subordinate place, as the Law also says;
35 And if they have a desire for knowledge about anything, let them put questions to their husbands privately: for talking in the church puts shame on a woman.
and if they wish to ask questions, they should ask their own husbands at home. For it is disgraceful for a married woman to speak at a Church assembly.
36 What? was it from you that the word of God went out? or did it only come in to you?
Was it from you that God's Message first went forth, or is it to you only that it has come?
37 If any man seems to himself to be a prophet or to have the Spirit, let him take note of the things which I am writing to you, as being the word of the Lord.
If any one deems himself to be a Prophet or a man with spiritual gifts, let him recognize as the Lord's command all that I am now writing to you.
38 But if any man is without knowledge, let him be so.
But if any one is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39 So then, my brothers, let it be your chief desire to be prophets; but let no one be stopped from using tongues.
The conclusion, my brethren, is this. Be earnestly ambitious to prophesy, and do not check speaking with tongues;
40 Let all things be done in the right and ordered way.
only let everything be done in a becoming and orderly manner.
