1 Corinthians 14

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

Follow after love; yet desire earnestly spiritual [gifts], but rather that ye may prophesy.

2 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.

For he that speaketh in a tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God; for no man understandeth; but in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

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

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

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

He that speaketh in a tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

5 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.

Now I would have you all speak with tongues, but rather that ye should prophesy: and greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

6 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?

But now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching?

7 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?

Even things without life, giving a voice, whether pipe or harp, if they give not a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

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

For if the trumpet give an uncertain voice, who shall prepare himself for war?

9 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.

So also ye, unless ye utter by the tongue speech easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye will be speaking into the air.

10 There are, for example, so many kinds of tongues in this world; and none is without voice.

There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and no [kind] is without signification.

11 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.

If then I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be to him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh will be a barbarian unto me.

12 So you also, forasmuch as you are zealous of spirits, seek to abound unto the edifying of the church.

So also ye, since ye are zealous of spiritual [gifts], seek that ye may abound unto the edifying of the church.

13 And therefore he that speaketh by a tongue, let him pray that he may interpret.

Wherefore let him that speaketh in a tongue pray that he may interpret.

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

For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

15 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.

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 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.

Else if thou bless with the spirit, how shall he that filleth the place of the unlearned say the Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he knoweth not what thou sayest?

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

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

18 I thank my God I speak with all your tongues.

I thank God, I speak with tongues more than you all:

19 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.

howbeit in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

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

Brethren, be not children in mind: howbeit in malice be ye babes, but in mind be men.

21 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.

In the law it is written, By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers will I speak unto this people; and not even thus will they hear me, saith the Lord.

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

Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to the unbelieving: but prophesying [is for a sign], not to the unbelieving, but to them that believe.

23 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?

If therefore the whole church be assembled together, and all speak with tongues, and there come in men unlearned or unbelieving, will they not say that ye are mad?

24 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.

But if all prophesy, and there come in one unbelieving or unlearned, he is reproved by all, he is judged by all;

25 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.

the secrets of his heart are made manifest; and so he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeed.

26 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.

What is it then, brethren? When ye come together, each one hath a psalm, hath a teaching, hath a revelation, hath a tongue, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

27 If any speak with a tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and in course, and let one interpret.

If any man speaketh in a tongue, [let it be] by two, or at the most three, and [that] in turn; and let one interpret:

28 But if there be no interpreter, let him hold his peace in the church, and speak to himself and to God.

but if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

29 And let the prophets speak, two or three; and let the rest judge.

And let the prophets speak [by] two or three, and let the others discern.

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

But if a revelation be made to another sitting by, let the first keep silence.

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

For ye all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted;

32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

and the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets;

33 For God is not the God of dissension, but of peace: as also I teach 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 Let women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted them to speak, but to be subject, as also the law saith.

Let the women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as also saith the law.

35 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.

And if they would learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home: for it is shameful for a woman to speak in the church.

36 Or did the word of God come out from you? Or came it only unto you?

What? was it from you that the word of God went forth? or came it unto you alone?

37 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.

If any man thinketh himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him take knowledge of the things which I write unto you, that they are the commandment of the Lord.

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

But if any man is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

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

Wherefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

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

But let all things be done decently and in order.