1 Corinthians 14

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

Follow after charity, be zealous for spiritual gifts; but rather that you may prophesy.

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 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, encouragement, and comfort.

But he that prophesieth, speaketh to men unto edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

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

He that speaketh in a tongue, edifieth himself: but he that prophesieth, edifieth 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.

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

For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

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 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 Assuredly, there are many different languages in the world, yet 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 do not know the meaning of someone’s language, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is 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 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 you also, forasmuch as you are zealous of spirits, seek to abound unto the edifying of the church.

13 Therefore, the one who speaks in a tongue should 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 a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.

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

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 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 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?

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

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

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

I thank my God I speak with all your tongues.

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 I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may instruct others also; than ten thousand words in a tongue.

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

Brethren, do not become children in sense: but in malice be children, and in sense be perfect.

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 written: In other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; and neither so will they hear me, saith the Lord.

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

Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to believers, but to unbelievers; but prophecies not to unbelievers, but to believers.

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 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 an unbeliever or uninstructed person comes in while everyone is prophesying, he will be convicted and called to account 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 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 manifest; and so, falling down on his face, he will adore God, affirming that God is among you indeed.

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.

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 anyone speaks in a tongue, two, or at most three, should speak in turn, and someone must 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, he should remain silent in the church and speak only to himself and God.

But if there be no interpreter, let him hold his peace in the church, and speak 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 speak, two or three; and let the rest judge.

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

But if any thing be revealed to another sitting, let the first hold his peace.

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

For you may all prophesy one by one; that all may learn, and all may be exhorted:

32 The spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.

And the spirits of the prophets are subject to 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 the God of dissension, but of peace: as also I teach 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 silence in the churches: for it is not permitted them to speak, but to be subject, as also the law saith.

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.

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

Or did the word of God come out from you? Or came it only unto 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 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 ignores this, he himself will be ignored.

But if any man know not, he shall not be known.

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

Wherefore, brethren, be zealous to prophesy; and forbid not to speak with tongues.

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

But let all things be done decently, and according to order.