1 Corinthians 14
1 Followe after loue, and couet spirituall giftes, and rather that ye may prophecie.
Seek this love earnestly, and strive for spiritual gifts, above all for the gift of preaching.
2 For hee that speaketh a strange tongue, speaketh not vnto men, but vnto God: for no man heareth him: howbeit in the spirit he speaketh secret things.
The person who, when speaking, uses the gift of ‘tongues’ is speaking, not to people, but to God, for no one understands them; yet in spirit they are speaking of hidden truths.
3 But he that prophecieth, speaketh vnto me to edifying, and to exhortation, and to comfort.
But those who preach are speaking to their fellow men and women words that will build up faith, and give them comfort and encouragement.
4 He that speaketh strange language, edifieth himselfe: but hee that prophecieth, edifieth the Church.
Those who, when speaking, use the gift of ‘tongues’ builds up their own faith, while those who preach build up the faith of the church.
5 I would that ye all spake strange languages, but rather that ye prophecied: for greater is hee that prophecieth, then hee that speaketh diuers tongues, except hee expound it, that the Church may receiue edification.
Now I want you all to speak in ‘tongues,’ but much more I wish that you should preach. A preacher is worth more than one who speaks in ‘tongues,’ unless they interprets their words, so that the faith of the church may be built up.
6 And nowe, brethren, if I come vnto you speaking diuers tongues, what shall I profite you, except I speake to you, either by reuelation, or by knowledge, or by prophecying, or by doctrine?
This being so, friends, what good will I do you, if I come to you and speak in ‘tongues,’ unless my words convey some revelation, or knowledge, or take the form of preaching or teaching?
7 Moreouer things without life which giue a sounde, whether it be a pipe or an harpe, except they make a distinction in the soundes, how shall it be knowen what is piped or harped?
Even with inanimate things, such as a flute or a harp, though they produce sounds, yet unless the notes are quite distinct, how can the tune played on the flute or the harp be recognized?
8 And also if the trumpet giue an vncertaine sound, who shall prepare himselfe to battell?
If the bugle sounds a doubtful call, who will prepare for battle?
9 So likewise you, by the tongue, except yee vtter wordes that haue signification, howe shall it be vnderstand what is spoken? for ye shall speake in the ayre.
And so with you; unless, in using the gift of ‘tongues,’ you utter intelligible words, how can what you say be understood? You will be speaking to the winds!
10 There are so many kindes of voyces (as it commeth to passe) in the world, and none of them is dumme.
There are, for instance, a certain number of different languages in the world, and not one of them fails to convey meaning.
11 Except I know then the power of ye voyce, I shall be vnto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh, shalbe a barbarian vnto me.
If, however, I do not happen to know the language, I will be a foreigner to those who speak it, and they will be foreigners to me.
12 Euen so, forasmuch as ye couet spirituall giftes, seeke that ye may excell vnto the edifying of the Church.
And so with you; since you are striving for spiritual gifts, be eager to excel in such as will build up the faith of the church.
13 Wherefore, let him that speaketh a strange tongue, pray, that he may interprete.
Therefore anyone who, when speaking, uses the gift of ‘tongues’ should pray for ability to interpret them.
14 For if I pray in a strange togue, my spirit prayeth: but mine vnderstading is without fruite.
If, when praying, I use the gift of ‘tongues,’ my spirit indeed prays, but my mind is a blank.
15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, but I wil pray with the vnderstanding also: I wil sing with the spirite, but I will sing with the vnderstanding also.
What, then, is my conclusion? Simply this – I will pray with my spirit, but with my mind as well; I will sing with my spirit, but with my mind as well.
16 Else, when thou blessest with the spirit, howe shall hee that occupieth the roome of the vnlearned, say Amen, at thy giuing of thankes, seeing he knoweth not what thou sayest?
If you bless God with your spirit only, how can people in the congregation who are without your gift say ‘Amen’ to your thanksgiving? They do not know what you are saying!
17 For thou verely giuest thankes well, but the other is not edified.
Your thanksgiving may be excellent, but the other is not helped by it.
18 I thanke my God, I speake languages more then ye all.
Thank God, I use the gift of ‘tongues’ more than any of you.
19 Yet had I rather in the Church to speake fiue wordes with mine vnderstanding, that I might also instruct others, then ten thousande wordes in a strange tongue.
But at a meeting of the church I would rather speak five words with my mind, and so teach others, than ten thousand words when using the gift of ‘tongues.’
20 Brethren, be not children in vnderstanding, but as concerning maliciousnes be children, but in vnderstanding be of a ripe age.
My friends, do not show yourselves children in understanding. In wickedness be infants, but in understanding show yourselves adults.
21 In the Lawe it is written, By men of other tongues, and by other languages will I speake vnto this people: yet so shall they not heare me, sayth the Lord.
It is said in the Law – ‘In strange tongues and by the lips of strangers will I speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.’
22 Wherefore strange tongues are for a signe, not to them that beleeue, but to them that beleeue not: but prophecying serueth not for them that beleeue not, but for them which beleeue.
Therefore the gift of the ‘tongues’ is intended as a sign, not for those who believe in Christ, but for those who do not, while the gift of preaching is intended as a sign, not for those who do not believe in Christ, but for those who do.
23 If therefore when the whole Church is come together in one, and all speake strange tongues, there come in they that are vnlearned, or they which beleeue not, will they not say, that ye are out of your wittes?
So, when the whole church meets, if all present use the gift of ‘tongues,’ and some people who are without the gift, or who are unbelievers, come in, will not they say that you are mad?
24 But if all prophecie, and there come in one that beleeueth not, or one vnlearned, hee is rebuked of all men, and is iudged of all,
While, if all those present use the gift of preaching, and an unbeliever, or someone without the gift, comes in, they are convinced of their sinfulness by them all, they are called to account by them all;
25 And so are the secrets of his heart made manifest, and so he will fall downe on his face and worship God, and say plainely that God is in you in deede.
the secrets of their heart are revealed, and then, throwing themselves on their face, they will worship God, and declare ‘God is indeed among you!’
26 What is to be done then, brethren? when ye come together, according as euery one of you hath a Psalme, or hath doctrine, or hath a tongue, or hath reuelation, or hath interpretation, let all things be done vnto edifying.
What do I suggest, then, friends? Whenever you meet for worship, each of you comes, either with a hymn, or a lesson, or a revelation, or the gift of ‘tongues,’ or the interpretation of them; let everything be directed to the building up of faith.
27 If any man speake a strange tongue, let it be by two, or at the most, by three, and that by course, and let one interprete.
If any of you use the gift of ‘tongues,’ not more than two, or at the most three, should do so – each speaking in his turn – and someone should interpret them.
28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keepe silence in the Church, which speaketh languages, and let him speake to himselfe, and to God.
If there is no one able to interpret what is said, they should remain silent at the meeting of the church, and speak to themselves and to God.
29 Let the Prophets speake two, or three, and let the other iudge.
Of preachers two or three should speak, and the rest should weigh well what is said.
30 And if any thing be reueiled to another that sitteth by, let the first holde his peace.
But, if some revelation is made to another person as he sits there, the first speaker should stop.
31 For ye may all prophecie one by one, that all may learne, and all may haue comfort.
For you can all preach in turn, so that all may learn some lesson and all receive encouragement.
32 And the spirits of the Prophets are subiect to the Prophets.
(The spirit that moves the preachers is within the preachers’ control;
33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as we see in all ye Churches of the Saints.
for God is not a God of disorder, but of peace.) This custom prevails in all the churches of Christ’s people.
34 Let your women keepe silence in the Churches: for it is not permitted vnto them to speake: but they ought to be subiect, as also the Lawe sayth.
At the meetings of the church married women should remain silent, for they are not allowed to speak in public; they should take a subordinate place, as the Law itself directs.
35 And if they will learne any thing, let them aske their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speake in the Church.
If they want information on any point, they should ask their husbands about it at home; for it is unbecoming for a married woman to speak at a meeting of the church.
36 Came the worde of God out from you? either came it vnto you onely?
What! Did God’s message to the world originate with you? Or did it find its way to none but you?
37 If any man thinke him selfe to be a Prophet, or spirituall, let him acknowledge, that the things, that I write vnto you, are the commandements of the Lord.
If anyone thinks that he has the gift of preaching or any other spiritual gift, he should recognize that what I am now saying to you is a command from the Lord.
38 And if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
Anyone who ignores it may be ignored.
39 Wherefore, brethren, couet to prophecie, and forbid not to speake languages.
Therefore, my friends, strive for the gift of preaching, and yet do not forbid speaking in ‘tongues.’
40 Let all things be done honestly, and by order.
Let everything be done in a proper and orderly manner.
