1 Corinthians 14

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

Follow after love, and earnestly desire spiritual things, and especially 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 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 edification and encouragement and comfort.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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 So also ye, since ye are zealots of spirits, seek so that ye may excel for the edification 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 let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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 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.

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

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

If anyone speaks in another language, let it be two, or at the most three, and in turn; and let one 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 interpreter, let him keep silent in the church, and let him speak to himself, and to God.

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

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

31 For ye can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn, and all may 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 are subject to prophets,

The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets,

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

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

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 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.

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

What? Was it from you that the word of God went out? Or did it come 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 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 man is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

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

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

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

40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

Let all things be done decently and in order.