1 Corinthians 14

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

Pursue love, and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but even more 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 who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he speaks mysteries in the Spirit.

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

But he who prophesies speaks edification, encouragement, and comfort to others.

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

He who speaks in a tongue 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 would like all of you to speak in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy. For greater is he who prophesies than he who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.

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?

Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you with a revelation or knowledge or prophecy 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?

It is the same way with lifeless instruments that produce sound, such as the flute or harp. If they do not produce distinct notes, how will anyone recognize what is being played?

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

And if the trumpet does not produce a distinct sound, who will 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.

It is the same with you. If you do not produce intelligible speech with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.

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

There are undoubtedly many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them 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 a particular language, I will be a foreigner to him who is speaking, and he who is speaking will 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.

It is the same with you. Since you earnestly desire spiritual gifts, seek to abound in them for the edification of the church.

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

Therefore anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray for the ability to interpret what he says.

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 prays, 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 then should I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also. I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing praise with my mind 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 yoʋ bless with yoʋr spirit, how will anyone in the position of an outsider say “Amen” when yoʋ give thanks, since he does not know what yoʋ are saying?

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

For yoʋ may very well be giving thanks, but the other person is not edified.

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

I give thanks to my God speaking 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.

Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind to instruct others, 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.

Brothers, do not be childish in your way of thinking. Rather, as to malice be infants, but in your way of thinking 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, “With foreign tongues and with foreign lips I will speak to this people, and 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.

So then, tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign 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?

So if the whole church comes together and everyone is speaking in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds?

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 an unbeliever or outsider comes in while everyone is prophesying, he will be convicted by all and called to account 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 will thus be revealed, and he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring 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 then should you do, brothers? When you come together, each one of you has a psalm, a teaching, a tongue, a revelation, or an interpretation. Everything must 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 speak in a tongue, only two, or at the most three, should speak; they should each speak in turn, and someone must 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, they should keep quiet in the church and speak in tongues privately to God.

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

Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should evaluate what they say.

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

But if something is revealed to another who is seated, the first speaker should be 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, so that all may learn and all may be encouraged.

32 The spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.

Remember that the spirits of 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 disorder but of peace; this is true 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.

Your women should be silent in the churches, for they have not been permitted to speak, but must be in submission, just as the law 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 want to learn anything, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.

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

Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached?

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 that he is a prophet or spiritual person, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are commandments of the Lord.

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

But if anyone ignores this, let him be ignorant.

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

So then, brothers, earnestly desire 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.