1 Corinthians 14

1 Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.

Go after love; still desiring to have the things which the Spirit gives, but most of all that you may have the prophet's power.

2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries in the Spirit.

For he who makes use of tongues is not talking to men but to God; because no one has the sense of what he is saying; but in the Spirit he is talking of secret things.

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

But the word of the prophet gives men knowledge and comfort and strength.

4 The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.

He who makes use of tongues may do good to himself; but he who gives the prophet's word does good to the church.

5 I wish that all of you could speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be edified.

Now though it is my desire for you all to have the power of tongues, it would give me more pleasure to be hearing the prophet's word from you; for this is a greater thing than using tongues, if the sense is not given at the same time, for the good of the church.

6 Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?

But, now, my brothers, if I come to you using tongues, what profit will it be to you, if I do not give you a revelation, or knowledge, or the word of the prophet, or teaching?

7 Even in the case of lifeless instruments, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone recognize the tune they are playing unless the notes are distinct?

Even things without life, having a voice, such as a music-pipe or other instrument, if they do not give out different sounds, who may be certain what is being played?

8 Again, if the trumpet sounds a muffled call, who will prepare for battle?

For if the war-horn gives out an uncertain note, who will get ready for the fight?

9 So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.

So if you, in using a strange tongue, say words which have no sense, how will anyone take in what you are saying? for you will be talking to the air.

10 Assuredly, there are many different languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.

There are, it may be, a number of different voices in the world, and no voice is without sense.

11 If, then, I do not know the meaning of someone’s language, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me.

But if the sense of the voice is not clear to me, I am like a man from a strange country to him who is talking, and he will be the same to me.

12 It is the same with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, strive to excel in gifts that build up the church.

So if you are desiring the things which the Spirit gives, let your minds be turned first to the things which are for the good of the church.

13 Therefore, the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.

For this reason, let the man who has the power of using tongues make request that he may, at the same time, be able to give the sense.

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

For if I make use of tongues in my prayers, my spirit makes the prayer, but not my mind.

15 What then shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.

What then? let my prayer be from the spirit, and equally from the mind; let my song be from the spirit, and equally from mind.

16 Otherwise, if you speak a blessing in spirit, how can someone who is uninstructed say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?

For if you give a blessing with the spirit, how will the man who has no knowledge say, So be it, after your prayer, seeing that he has not taken in what you are saying?

17 You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other one is not edified.

For your giving of the blessing is certainly well done, but of no profit to the man without knowledge.

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

I give praise to God that I am able to make use of tongues more than you all:

19 But in the church, I would rather speak five coherent words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

But in the church it would be better for me to make use of five words of which the sense was clear, so that others might have profit, than ten thousand words in a strange tongue.

20 Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.

My brothers, do not be children in mind: in evil be as little children, but in mind be of full growth.

21 It is written in the Law: “By strange tongues and foreign lips I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to Me, says the Lord.”

In the law it is said, By men of other tongues and by strange lips will my words come to this people; and not even so will they give ear to me, says the Lord.

22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.

For this reason tongues are for a sign, not to those who have faith, but to those who have not: but the prophet's word is for those who have faith, and not for the rest who have not.

23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who are uninstructed or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds?

If, then, the church has come together, and all are using tongues, and there come in men without knowledge or faith, will they not say that you are unbalanced?

24 But if an unbeliever or uninstructed person comes in while everyone is prophesying, he will be convicted and called to account by all,

But if all are teaching as prophets, and a man without faith or knowledge comes in, he is tested by all, he is judged by all;

25 and the secrets of his heart will be made known. So he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is truly among you!”

The secrets of his heart are made clear; and he will go down on his face and give worship to God, saying that God is truly among you.

26 What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a psalm or a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All of these must be done to build up the church.

What is it then, my brothers? when you come together everyone has a holy song, or a revelation, or a tongue, or is giving the sense of it. Let everything be done for the common good.

27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two, or at most three, should speak in turn, and someone must interpret.

If any man makes use of a tongue, let it not be more than two, or at the most three, and in turn; and let someone give the sense:

28 But if there is no interpreter, he should remain silent in the church and speak only to himself and God.

But if there is no one to give the sense, let him keep quiet in the church; and let his words be to himself and to God.

29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.

And let the prophets give their words, but not more than two or three, and let the others be judges of what they say.

30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is seated, the first speaker should stop.

But if a revelation is given to another who is seated near, let the first be quiet.

31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.

For you may all be prophets in turn so that all may get knowledge and comfort;

32 The spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.

And the spirits of the prophets are controlled by the prophets;

33 For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace—as in all the churches of the saints.

For God is not a God whose ways are without order, but a God of peace; as in all the churches of the saints.

34 Women are to be silent in the churches. They are not permitted to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says.

Let women keep quiet in the churches: for it is not right for them to be talking; but let them be under control, as it says in the law.

35 If they wish to inquire about something, they are to ask their own husbands at home; for it is dishonorable for a woman to speak in the church.

And if they have a desire for knowledge about anything, let them put questions to their husbands privately: for talking in the church puts shame on a woman.

36 Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only ones it has reached?

What? was it from you that the word of God went out? or did it only come in to you?

37 If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, let him acknowledge that what I am writing you is the Lord’s command.

If any man seems to himself to be a prophet or to have the Spirit, let him take note of the things which I am writing to you, as being the word of the Lord.

38 But if anyone ignores this, he himself will be ignored.

But if any man is without knowledge, let him be so.

39 So, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

So then, my brothers, let it be your chief desire to be prophets; but let no one be stopped from using tongues.

40 But everything must be done in a proper and orderly manner.

Let all things be done in the right and ordered way.