< 1 Corinthians 14 >
1 Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
Strive to possess love; and desire earnestly the spiritual gifts, but especially that of prophesying.
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 an [[unknown]] tongue speaketh not to men, but to God; for no one heareth; but in 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 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 an [[unknown]] 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.
I would that ye all spoke with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied; for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, unless 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 by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by 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?
And even things without life that give sound, whether pipe or harp, if they make no distinction in the sounds, how shall that be known which 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 will prepare himself for 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 also ye, unless ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall that be known which is spoken? For ye will 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 languages in the world, and not one 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 know not the meaning of the language, I shall be to him that speaketh a foreigner, and he that speaketh 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 ye, since ye are eager to possess spiritual gifts, be earnest to abound in them to the edification of the church.
13 Therefore, the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.
Wherefore let him that speaketh in an [[unknown]] tongue 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 an [[unknown]] tongue, my spirit prayeth, 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.
How stands 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?
Else, if thou bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the place of the unlearned say the Amen at thy giving of thanks, since he understandeth not what thou art saying?
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 God, I speak in an [[unknown]] tongue more than ye all;
19 But in the church, I would rather speak five coherent words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might also instruct others, than ten thousand words in an [[unknown]] 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 understanding; yet in malice be children, but in understanding be men.
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: “With men of other tongues and with other lips will I speak to this people,
22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.
and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.” Wherefore the tongues are for a sign, not to believers, but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers, but for 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 be assembled in one place, and all be speaking with tongues, and there come in those who are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye 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 is an unbeliever, or unlearned, he is convinced by all, he is searched through 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 become manifest; and so falling down on his face, he will worship God, and report that God is indeed within 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.
How is it then, brethren? When ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a lesson of instruction, hath a revelation, hath a tongue, hath an interpretation; let all things be done for edification.
27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two, or at most three, should speak in turn, and someone must interpret.
If any one speak in an [[unknown]] tongue, let it be by two, or, at the most, by 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 be no interpreter, let him keep silence 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.
And of the prophets let two or three speak, and let the others judge;
30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is seated, the first speaker should stop.
if anything be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first speaker be silent.
31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.
For one by one ye can all prophesy, that all may learn, and all may be exhorted.
32 The spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.
And spirits of prophets are subject to 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 your women keep silence in the churches; for it is not permitted them to speak, but they are to be in subjection, as also saith 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 desire to learn anything, let them ask their own 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?
What! Did the word of God come forth from you? 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 any one thinketh himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him know surely that the directions I am writing to you are the Lord's;
38 But if anyone ignores this, he himself will be ignored.
but if any one be ignorant, let him be ignorant!
39 So, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
Wherefore, brethren, desire earnestly 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 becomingly, and in order.