1 Corinthians 14

1 Seek this love earnestly, and strive for spiritual gifts, above all for the gift of preaching.

Follow after love, and earnestly desire spiritual things, and especially that you may prophesy.

2 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.

For the one who speaks in another language speaks not to people, but to God; for no one understands; but in the Spirit he speaks mysteries.

3 But those who preach are speaking to their fellow men and women words that will build up faith, and give them comfort and encouragement.

But he who prophesies speaks to people for their encouragement, strengthening, and comfort.

4 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.

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

5 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.

Now I desire to have you all speak with other languages, but rather that you would prophesy, and he is greater who prophesies than he who speaks with other languages, unless he interprets, that the church may be built up.

6 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?

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?

7 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 recognised?

Even things without life, giving a voice, whether pipe or harp, if they did not give a distinction in the sounds, how would it be known what is piped or harped?

8 If the bugle sounds a doubtful call, who will prepare for battle?

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

9 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!

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.

10 There are, for instance, a certain number of different languages in the world, and not one of them fails to convey meaning.

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

11 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.

If then I do not know the meaning of the sound, I would be to him who speaks a foreigner, and he who speaks would be a foreigner to me.

12 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.

So also you, since you are zealous for spiritual things, seek that you may abound to the building up of the church.

13 Therefore anyone who, when speaking, uses the gift of “tongues” should pray for ability to interpret them.

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

14 If, when praying, I use the gift of “tongues,” my spirit indeed prays, but my mind is a blank.

For if I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

15 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.

What is it then? 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.

16 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!

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 does not know what you say?

17 Your thanksgiving may be excellent, but the other is not helped by it.

For you truly give thanks well, but the other person is not built up.

18 Thank God, I use the gift of “tongues” more than any of you.

I thank God I speak in tongues more than you all.

19 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.”

However in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in another language.

20 My friends, do not show yourselves children in understanding. In wickedness be infants, but in understanding show yourselves adults.

Brothers, do not be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature.

21 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.”

In the law it is written, "By people of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people; but even then they will not listen to me," says the Lord.

22 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.

Therefore tongues 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.

23 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?

If therefore the whole church is assembled together and all speak in tongues, and unlearned or unbelieving people come in, won't they say that you are crazy?

24 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;

But if all prophesy, and someone unbelieving or unlearned comes in, he is reproved by all, and he is judged by all.

25 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!”

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.

26 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.

What is it then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has another language, has an interpretation. Let all things be done to build each other up.

27 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.

If anyone speaks in another language, let it be two, or at the most three, and in turn; and let one interpret.

28 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.

But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in the church, and let him speak to himself, and to God.

29 Of preachers two or three should speak, and the rest should weigh well what is said.

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

30 But, if some revelation is made to another person as he sits there, the first speaker should stop.

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

31 For you can all preach in turn, so that all may learn some lesson and all receive encouragement.

For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged.

32 (The spirit that moves the preachers is within the preachers’ control;

The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets,

33 for God is not a God of disorder, but of peace.) This custom prevails in all the churches of Christ’s people.

for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,

34 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.

let the women keep silent in the churches, for it has not been permitted for them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as the Law also says.

35 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.

If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for a woman to chatter in the church.

36 What! Did God’s message to the world originate with you? Or did it find its way to none but you?

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

37 If anyone thinks that he has the gift of preaching or any other spiritual gift, he should recognise that what I am now saying to you is a command from the Lord.

If anyone 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.

38 Anyone who ignores it may be ignored.

But if someone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.

39 Therefore, my friends, strive for the gift of preaching, and yet do not forbid speaking in “tongues.”

Therefore, my brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

40 Let everything be done in a proper and orderly manner.

Let all things be done decently and in order.