1 Corinthians 14

1 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.

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

2 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.

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 he who prophesies speaks to men words of edification, encouragement and comfort.

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

4 He who speaks in an unknown tongue does good to himself, but he who prophesies does good to the Church.

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

5 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.

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 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?

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 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?

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--to take another example--gives an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle?

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

9 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.

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, we will suppose, a great number of languages in the world, and no creature is without a language.

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

11 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.

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 Therefore, seeing that you are ambitious for spiritual gifts, seek to excel in them so as to benefit 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 let a man who has the gift of tongues pray for the power of interpreting them.

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

14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is barren.

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

15 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.

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 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?

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 Rightly enough you are giving thanks, and yet your neighbor is not benefited.

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

18 I speak in a tongue, thank God, more than all of you;

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

19 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.

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 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.

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

21 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."

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 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.

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 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?

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 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,

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

25 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.

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 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.

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 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;

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

28 or if there is no interpreter, let the man with the gift be silent in the Church, speaking to himself 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 But if there are Prophets, let two or three speak and let the rest judge.

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

30 And if anything is revealed to some one else who is seated there, let the first be silent.

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

31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged:

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

32 and the spirits of Prophets yield submission to Prophets.

The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets,

33 For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace, as He is in all the Churches of His people.

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

34 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;

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 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.

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 Was it from you that God's Message first went forth, or is it to you only that it has come?

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

37 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.

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 But if any one is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

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

39 The conclusion, my brethren, is this. Be earnestly ambitious to prophesy, and do not check speaking with tongues;

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

40 only let everything be done in a becoming and orderly manner.

Let all things be done decently and in order.