1 Corinthians 14

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

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

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

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

He who speaks in another language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies 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 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 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, 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 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, 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 Again, if the trumpet sounds a muffled call, who will prepare for battle?

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

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

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

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 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 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 also you, since you are zealous for spiritual things, seek that you may abound to the building up of the church.

13 Therefore, the one who speaks in a tongue should 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 mind is unfruitful.

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

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, 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 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?

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

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

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

I thank God I speak in 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.

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

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

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

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 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 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 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 someone unbelieving or unlearned comes in, he is reproved by all, and 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!”

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

But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in the church, and let him speak to himself, and to God.

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

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

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

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

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

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

32 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 disorder, but of peace—as in all the churches of the saints.

for God is not a God of confusion, but 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 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 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.

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 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 come to you alone?

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 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 anyone ignores this, he himself will be ignored.

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

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

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

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

Let all things be done decently and in order.