1 Corinthians 14

1 Pursue love, and be zealous for the spiritual things, but more that ye may prophesy.

Pursue charity. Be zealous for spiritual things, but only so that you may prophesy.

2 For he who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men, but to God, for no man hears, but in spirit he speaks mysteries.

For whoever speaks in tongues, speaks not to men, but to God. For no one understands. Yet by the Spirit, he speaks mysteries.

3 But he who prophesies speaks to men edification and encouragement and comfort.

But whoever prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation.

4 He who speaks in a tongue builds himself up, but he who prophesies builds up the congregation.

Whoever speaks in tongues edifies himself. But whoever prophesies edifies the Church.

5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but more that ye may prophesy. For greater is he who prophesies than he who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the congregation may receive edification.

Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but more so to prophesy. For he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks in tongues, unless perhaps he interprets, so that the Church may receive edification.

6 But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I benefit you, unless I would speak to you either in a revelation, or in knowledge, or in prophesying, or in doctrine?

But now, brothers, if I were to come to you speaking in tongues, how would it benefit you, unless instead I speak to you in revelation, or in knowledge, or in prophecy, or in doctrine?

7 Likewise lifeless things that give a sound, whether flute or harp, if they give no distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is being piped or harped?

Even those things that are without a soul can make sounds, whether it is a wind or a stringed instrument. But unless they present a distinction within the sounds, how will it be known which is from the pipe and which is from the string?

8 For also if a trumpet gives an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for battle?

For example, if the trumpet made an uncertain sound, who would prepare himself for battle?

9 So also ye, unless ye give understandable speech by the tongue, how will that which is spoken be known? For ye will be talking into the air.

So it is with you also, for unless you utter with the tongue in plain speech, how will it be known what is said? For then you would be speaking into the air.

10 Since there are perhaps, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without significance.

Consider that there are so many different kinds of languages in this world, and yet none is without a voice.

11 If therefore I know not the force of the voice, I will be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me.

Therefore, if I do not understand the nature of the voice, then I shall be like a foreigner to the one with whom I am speaking; and he who is speaking will be like a foreigner to me.

12 So also ye, since ye are zealots of spirits, seek so that ye may excel for the edification of the church.

So it is with you also. And since you are zealous for what is spiritual, seek the edification of the Church, so that you may abound.

13 Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.

For this reason, too, whoever speaks in tongues, let him pray for the interpretation.

14 For if I pray in a tongue my spirit prays, but my intellect is unfruitful.

So, if I pray in tongues, my spirit prays, but my mind is without fruit.

15 What is it therefore? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the intellect also. I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the intellect also.

What is next? I should pray with the spirit, and also pray with the mind. I should sing psalms with the spirit, and also recite psalms with the mind.

16 Otherwise if thou would bless with the spirit, how will the man who fills the place of the unlearned, say the Truly at thy thanksgiving, since he knows not what thou say?

Otherwise, if you have blessed only with the spirit, how can someone, in a state of ignorance, add an “Amen” to your blessing? For he does not know what you are saying.

17 For thou indeed express thanks well, but the other man is not edified.

In this case, certainly, you give thanks well, but the other person is not edified.

18 I thank my God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.

I thank my God that I speak in tongues for all of you.

19 Yet in an assembly I would rather speak five words with my intellect, so that I might also make others understand, than countless words in a tongue.

But in the Church, I prefer to speak five words from my mind, so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in tongues.

20 Brothers, become not children in your thoughts. Instead be childlike in wickedness, but in your thoughts become mature.

Brothers, do not choose to have the minds of children. Instead, be free of malice like infants, but be mature in your minds.

21 In the law it is written, In other tongues and in other lips I will speak to this people, and not even so will they hear me, says the Lord.

It is written in the law: “I will speak to this people with other tongues and other lips, and even so, they will not heed me, says the Lord.”

22 Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to the unbelieving. But prophesying is not to the unbelieving, but to those who believe.

And so, tongues are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers; and prophecies are not for unbelievers, but for believers.

23 If therefore the whole congregation comes together in the same place, and all speak in tongues, and unlearned or unbelieving men come in, will they not say that ye are mad?

If then, the entire Church were to gather together as one, and if all were to speak in tongues, and then ignorant or unbelieving persons were to enter, would they not say that you were insane?

24 But if all prophesy, and some unbelieving or unlearned man comes in, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all.

But if everyone prophesies, and one who is ignorant or unbelieving enters, he may be convinced by it all, because he understands it all.

25 And so the secrets of his heart are made manifest. And so having fallen down on his face he will worship God, declaring that God is really among you.

The secrets of his heart are then made manifest. And so, falling to his face, he would adore God, proclaiming that God is truly among you.

26 What is it therefore, brothers? When ye come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.

What is next, brothers? When you gather together, each one of you may have a psalm, or a doctrine, or a revelation, or a language, or an interpretation, but let everything be done for edification.

27 If any man speaks in a tongue, be according to two, or at the most three, and in succession. And let one interpret.

If anyone is speaking in tongues, let there be only two, or at most three, and then in turn, and let someone interpret.

28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silence in an assembly, and let him speak to himself and to God.

But if there is no one to interpret, he should remain silent in the church, then he may speak when he is alone with God.

29 And let two or three prophets speak, and let the other men pass judgment.

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

30 But if it should be revealed to another man who is seated, let the first be silent.

But then, if something is revealed to another who is sitting, let the first one become silent.

31 For ye can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn, and all may be encouraged.

For you are all able to prophesy one at a time, so that all may learn and all may be encouraged.

32 And the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets,

For the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

33 for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace.

And God is not of dissension, but of peace, just as I also teach in all the churches of the saints.

34 As in all the churches of the sanctified, let the women keep silent in the churches. For it is not permitted for them to speak, but to be subordinate, as the law also says.

Women should be silent in the churches. For it is not permitted for them to speak; but instead, they should be subordinate, as the law also says.

35 And if they want to learn anything, let them question their own husbands at home, for it is an ugly thing for women to speak in an assembly.

And if they want to learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in church.

36 Or did the word of God come forth from you? Or did it come to you only?

So now, did the Word of God proceed from you? Or was it sent to you alone?

37 If any man presumes to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge what I write to you, that they are commandments of the Lord.

If anyone seems to be a prophet or a spiritual person, he should understand these things which I am writing to you, that these things are the commandments of the Lord.

38 But if any man is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

If anyone does not recognize these things, he should not be recognized.

39 Therefore brothers, be zealous for prophesying, and do not forbid to speak in tongues.

And so, brothers, be zealous to prophesy, and do not prohibit speaking in tongues.

40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

But let everything be done respectfully and according to proper order.