1 Corinthians 14

1 Follow after love and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

Follow after love; and be emulous of the gifts of the Spirit, and especially, that ye 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 one understandeth what is said; yet in the spirit, he speaketh a mystery.

3 But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, exhortation, and consolation.

But he that prophesieth, speaketh unto men, for edification, and exhortation, and consolation.

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

He that speaketh in a tongue, edifieth himself: and 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.

Now I would that ye all spoke with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied; for greater is he that prophesieth, than he that speaketh in a tongue, unless he interpret; and if he interpret, he edifieth the church.

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?

And now, my brethren, if I should come among you, and speak to you in tongues, what should I profit you; unless I should speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophecy, or by 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?

For even inanimate things that emit sound, whether pipe or harp, if they make no distinction between one sound and another, how will it be known, what is sung or what is harped?

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

And if the trumpet shall give an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for 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 if ye utter a discourse in a tongue, and there is no interpretation given, how will it be known what ye have said? Ye will have been as if ye spoke into the air.

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

For lo, there are many kinds of tongues in the world; and there is not one of them without meaning.

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.

But if I do not know the import of the sound, I shall be a barbarian to him that speaketh, and the speaker will be 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 also ye, since ye are emulous of the gifts of the Spirit for the edification of the church, seek ye to excel.

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

And let him that speaketh in a tongue, pray that he may interpret.

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

For if I should pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is without fruits.

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 then shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, and will pray with my understanding; and I will sing with my spirit, and will sing with my 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?

Otherwise, if thou blessest in the spirit, how shall he that filleth the place of one unlearned, say Amen, on thy giving thanks; for he knoweth not what thou sayest?

17 For you most certainly give thanks well, but the other person is not built up.

Thou blessest, indeed, very well; but thy neighbor is not edified.

18 I thank my God, I speak with other languages more than you all.

I thank God, that I speak with tongues more than all of you.

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 would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others, than a myriad of words in a tongue.

20 Brothers, don’t be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature.

My brethren, be ye not children in your thoughts; but to evil things be ye infants; and in your thoughts be men.

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, With a foreign speech, and in another tongue, will I speak with this people; and even so also they will not hearken to 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 established for a sign, not to the believers, but to them that believe not. But prophesyings are not for those who believe not, but for them that believe.

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 assemble, and they all speak with tongues, and there come in unlearned persons, or such as believe not, will they not say: These people are crazy?

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 ye should be all prophesying, and one unlearned or an unbeliever should come among you, he is explored by you all, and rebuked by you 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.

and the secrets of his heart are laid open to him: and so he will fall upon his face, and will worship God, and say: Verily, God is in you.

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.

I therefore say to you my brethren, that when ye assemble, whoever of you hath a psalm, let him speak; and whoever hath a doctrine, and whoever hath a revelation, and whoever hath a tongue, and whoever hath an interpretation. Let them all be for 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.

And if any speak in a tongue, let two speak or at most, three; and let them speak one by one; and let some 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.

And if there is none to interpret, let him that speaketh in a tongue, be silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God.

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

And as to prophets, let two or three speak, and let the rest judge.

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

And if to another sitting by, there should be a revelation, let the first stop speaking.

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

For ye can all prophesy, one by one; so that every one may learn, and every one be comforted.

32 The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets,

For the spirit of the prophets is subject to the prophets.

33 for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the saints.

Because, God is not the author of tumult, but of peace, as in all 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 your women be silent in the church: for it is not permitted them to speak, but to be in subjection, 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.”

And if they wish to be informed on any subject, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is unbecoming for women 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?

What! was it from you that the word of God came forth? Or did it reach only to 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.

And if any one among you thinketh that he is a prophet, or that he is spiritual, let him recognize the things which I write to you, as being the precepts of our Lord.

38 But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

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

39 Therefore, brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking with other languages.

Wherefore, my brethren, be emulous of prophesying: and to speak with tongues, prohibit not.

40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

But let every thing be done with decency and regularity.