1 Corinthians 14
1 Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
Pursue love; nevertheless be envious of the spiritual gifts, —and, rather, that ye may be 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 with a tongue, not unto men, doth speak, but, unto God, —for, no one, understandeth, although, in spirit, he is speaking sacred secrets;
3 But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, encouragement, and comfort.
But, be that prophesieth, unto men, doth speak—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 with a tongue, buildeth up, himself, whereas, he that prophesieth, buildeth up, an assembly.
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.
Howbeit I wish you all to speak with tongues, but, rather, that ye may prophesy, —moreover, greater, is he that prophesieth, than he that speaketh with tongues, —unless indeed he translate, that, the assembly, may receive upbuilding.
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 unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit, you, except I speak, unto you, either by way of revelation, or knowledge, or prophesying, 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?
In like manner, the things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, if, a distinction in the sounds, they do not give, how shall it be known, what is being piped or harped?
8 Again, if the trumpet sounds a muffled call, who will prepare for battle?
For, if also, an uncertain sound, a trumpet, should give, who shall prepare himself for 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, through means of the tongue, except ye give intelligible discourse, how shall it be known what is being spoken? for ye will be speaking, to the air.
10 Assuredly, there are many different languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.
There may happen to be so many kinds of languages in the world, and, not one, unspoken: —
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 language, I shall be, unto him that is speaking, a foreigner, and, he that is speaking, shall be, in my case, a foreigner.
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, ye, also—since ye are, envious, of spirits, unto the upbuilding of the assembly, seek to be pre-eminent.
13 Therefore, the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.
Wherefore, he that speaketh with a tongue, let him pray that he may translate;
14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
[For], if I am praying in a tongue, my spirit, is praying, but, my mind, 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, but I will pray also with the mind, —I will strike the strings with the spirit, [but] I will strike the strings also with the 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?
Else, if thou be blessing in a spirit, he that filleth up the place of the ungifted person, how shall he say the Amen upon thy thanksgiving? since indeed, what thou art saying, he knoweth not;
17 You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other one is not edified.
For, thou, indeed, excellently art giving thanks, but, the other, is not being built up.
18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
I give thanks unto God!—More than ye all, am I speaking with 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 assembly, I desire to speak five words with my mind, that, others also, I may instruct, than myriads of 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 your understandings; but, in baseness, become babes, while, in your understandings, ye become, full-grown.
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 strange tongues, and with lips of strangers, will I speak unto this people; and, not even so, will they hearken unto me, —saith the Lord.
22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.
So that, the tongues, are for a sign—not unto them that believe, but, unto them that believe not; whereas, prophesying, is not for them that believe not, but, for them that 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, then, the whole assembly come together with one consent, and, all, are speaking with tongues, —and there come in persons unskilled or unbelieving, will they not say that ye are raving?
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, be prophesying, —and there come in one who is unbelieving or unskilled, he is convicted by all, he is searched by all, the secrets of his heart, become manifest,
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, so, falling down upon his face, he will do homage unto God, reporting that, in reality, God is, 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, then, is it, brethren? Whensoever ye are coming together, each one, hath a psalm, hath a teaching, hath a revelation, hath a tongue, hath a translation: —let, all things, be done, unto building up.
27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two, or at most three, should speak in turn, and someone must interpret.
If, with a tongue, one is speaking, let it be by two, or, at the most, three, —and by turns; and let, one, be translating;
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 none to translate, let him keep silence in assembly, and, unto himself, be speaking, and, unto God!
29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.
Prophets, moreover, 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, however, unto another, a revelation be made, as he is sitting, let the first 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, be prophesying, —that, all, may learn, and, all, be encouraged.
32 The spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.
And, spirits of prophets, unto prophets, do submit themselves;
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 assemblies 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.
As for the women, in the assemblies, let them be silent, for it is not permitted them to be speaking; but let them be in submission, —even as, 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.
If, however, they are wishing to learn something, at home, their own husbands, let them question; for it is a shame for a woman to be speaking in assembly.
36 Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only ones it has reached?
Or, from you, did the word of God come forth? Or, unto you alone, did it extend?
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 thinketh himself to be a prophet, or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge the things which I am writing to you, —that they are, a commandment, of the Lord.
38 But if anyone ignores this, he himself will be ignored.
But, if anyone knoweth not, he is unknown!
39 So, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
So, then, my brethren, —be zealous to prophesy, and do not forbid, to be speaking with tongues;
40 But everything must be done in a proper and orderly manner.
But let, all things, with comeliness, and by arrangement, be done.
