1 Corinthians 14
1 Follow after love and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
Follow after charity, be zealous for spiritual gifts; but rather that you may prophesy.
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 that speaketh in a tongue, speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man heareth. Yet by the Spirit he speaketh mysteries.
3 But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, exhortation, and consolation.
But he that prophesieth, speaketh to men unto edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
4 He who speaks in another language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the assembly.
He that speaketh in a tongue, edifieth himself: but he that prophesieth, edifieth the church.
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 would have you all to speak with tongues, but rather to prophesy. For greater is he that prophesieth, than he that speaketh with tongues: unless perhaps he interpret, that the church 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?
But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak to you either in revelation, or in knowledge, or in prophecy, or in doctrine?
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?
Even things without life that give sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction of sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
8 For if the trumpet gave an uncertain sound, who would prepare himself for war?
For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the 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 likewise you, except you utter by the tongue plain speech, how shall it be known what is said? For you shall be speaking into the air.
10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without meaning.
There are, for example, so many kinds of tongues in this world; and none is without voice.
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 know not the power of the voice, I shall be to him to whom I speak a barbarian; and he that speaketh, a barbarian to me.
12 So also you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound to the building up of the assembly.
So you also, forasmuch as you are zealous of spirits, seek to abound unto the edifying of the church.
13 Therefore let him who speaks in another language pray that he may interpret.
And therefore he that speaketh by a 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 a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is without fruit.
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 is it then? I will pray with the spirit, I will pray also with the understanding; I will sing with the spirit, I will sing 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?
Else if thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that holdeth the place of the unlearned say, Amen, to thy blessing? because he knoweth not what thou sayest.
17 For you most certainly give thanks well, but the other person is not built up.
For thou indeed givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
18 I thank my God, I speak with other languages more than you all.
I thank my God I speak with all your tongues.
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 the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may instruct others also; than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20 Brothers, don’t be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature.
Brethren, do not become children in sense: but in malice be children, and in sense be 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 is written: In other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; and neither 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.
Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to believers, but to unbelievers; but prophecies not to unbelievers, but to believers.
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 church come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in unlearned persons or infidels, will they not say that you 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.
But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or an unlearned person, he is convinced of all, he is judged of 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.
The secrets of his heart are made manifest; and so, falling down on his face, he will adore God, affirming that God is among you indeed.
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.
How is it then, brethren? When you come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a revelation, hath a tongue, hath an interpretation: let all things be done to edification.
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 any speak with a tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and in course, 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.
But if there be no interpreter, let him hold his peace in the church, and speak to himself and to God.
29 Let two or three of the prophets speak, and let the others discern.
And let the prophets speak, two or three; and let the rest judge.
30 But if a revelation is made to another sitting by, let the first keep silent.
But if any thing be revealed to another sitting, let the first hold his peace.
31 For you all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be exhorted.
For you may all prophesy one by one; that all may learn, and all may be exhorted:
32 The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets,
And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
33 for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the saints.
For God is not the God of dissension, but of peace: as also I teach in all the churches 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,
Let women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted 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.”
But if they would learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is a shame for a woman to speak in the church.
36 What!? Was it from you that the word of God went out? Or did it come to you alone?
Or did the word of God come out from you? Or came it only unto you?
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 seem to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him know the things that I write to you, that they are the commandments of the Lord.
38 But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
But if any man know not, he shall not be known.
39 Therefore, brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking with other languages.
Wherefore, brethren, be zealous to prophesy; and forbid not to speak with tongues.
40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
But let all things be done decently, and according to order.
