1 Corinthians 14
1 Follow after charity, be zealous for spiritual gifts; but rather that you may prophesy.
Be eager in your pursuit of this Love, and be earnestly ambitious for spiritual gifts, but let it be chiefly so in order that you 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 who speaks in an unknown tongue is not speaking to men, but to God; for no one understands him. Yet in the Spirit he is speaking secret truths.
3 But he that prophesieth, speaketh to men unto edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
But he who prophesies speaks to men words of edification, encouragement and comfort.
4 He that speaketh in a tongue, edifieth himself: but he that prophesieth, edifieth the church.
He who speaks in an unknown tongue does good to himself, but he who prophesies does good to 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.
I should be right glad were you all to speak in 'tongues,' but yet more glad were you all to prophesy. And, in fact, the man who prophesies is superior to him who speaks in 'tongues,' except when the latter can interpret in order that the Church may get a blessing.
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, brethren, as things are, if I come to you speaking in 'tongues,' what benefit shall I confer on you, if the utterance is neither in the form of a revelation nor of additional knowledge nor of prophecy nor 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 inanimate things--flutes or harps, for instance--when yielding a sound, if they make no distinction in the notes, how shall the tune which is played on the flute or the harp be known?
8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
If the bugle--to take another example--gives an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle?
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.
And so with you; if with the living voice you fail to utter intelligible words, how will people know what you are saying? You will be talking to the winds.
10 There are, for example, so many kinds of tongues in this world; and none is without voice.
There are, we will suppose, a great number of languages in the world, and no creature is without a language.
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, however, I do not know the meaning of the particular language, I shall seem to the speaker of it, and he to me, to be merely talking some foreign tongue.
12 So you also, forasmuch as you are zealous of spirits, seek to abound unto the edifying of the church.
Therefore, seeing that you are ambitious for spiritual gifts, seek to excel in them so as to benefit the Church.
13 And therefore he that speaketh by a tongue, let him pray that he may interpret.
Therefore let a man who has the gift of tongues pray for the power of interpreting them.
14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is without fruit.
For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is barren.
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.
How then does the matter stand? I will pray in spirit, and I will pray with my understanding also. I will praise God in spirit, and I will praise Him with my 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.
Otherwise, if you bless God in spirit only, how shall he who is in the position of an ungifted man say the 'Amen' to your giving of thanks, when he does not know what your words mean?
17 For thou indeed givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
Rightly enough you are giving thanks, and yet your neighbor is not benefited.
18 I thank my God I speak with all your tongues.
I speak in a tongue, thank God, more than all of you;
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.
but in the Church I would rather speak five words with my understanding--so as to instruct others also--than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
20 Brethren, do not become children in sense: but in malice be children, and in sense be perfect.
Brethren, do not prove yourselves to be children in your minds. As regards evil, indeed, be utter babes, but as regards your minds prove yourselves to be men of ripe years.
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 stands written, "'By men of unknown tongues and by the lips of an unknown nation will I speak to this People, but even then they will not listen to Me', says the Lord."
22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to believers, but to unbelievers; but prophecies not to unbelievers, but to believers.
This shows that the gift of tongues is intended as a sign not to those who believe but to unbelievers, but prophecy is intended not for unbelievers but for those who 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?
Accordingly if the whole Church has assembled and all are speaking in 'tongues,' and there come in ungifted men, or unbelievers, will they not say that you are all 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.
If, on the other hand, every one is prophesying and an unbeliever or an ungifted man comes in, he is convicted by all and closely examined 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.
and the hidden evils of his heart are brought to light. And, as the result, he will fall on his face and worship God, and will report to others that of a truth God is among you.
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 then, brethren? Whenever you assemble, there is not one of you who is not ready either with a song of praise, a sermon, a revelation, a 'tongue,' or an interpretation. Let everything be done with a view to the building up of faith and character.
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 there is speaking in an unknown tongue, only two or at the most three should speak, and they should do so one at a time, and one should interpret;
28 But if there be no interpreter, let him hold his peace in the church, and speak to himself and to God.
or if there is no interpreter, let the man with the gift be silent in the Church, speaking to himself and to God.
29 And let the prophets speak, two or three; and let the rest judge.
But if there are Prophets, let two or three speak and let the rest judge.
30 But if any thing be revealed to another sitting, let the first hold his peace.
And if anything is revealed to some one else who is seated there, let the first be silent.
31 For you may all prophesy one by one; that all may learn, and all may be exhorted:
For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged:
32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
and the spirits of Prophets yield submission to 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 disorder, but of peace, as He is in all the Churches of His people.
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 married women be silent in the Churches, for they are not permitted to speak. They must be content with a subordinate place, as the Law also says;
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 wish to ask questions, they should ask their own husbands at home. For it is disgraceful for a married woman to speak at a Church assembly.
36 Or did the word of God come out from you? Or came it only unto you?
Was it from you that God's Message first went forth, or is it to you only that it has come?
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 one deems himself to be a Prophet or a man with spiritual gifts, let him recognize as the Lord's command all that I am now writing to you.
38 But if any man know not, he shall not be known.
But if any one is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39 Wherefore, brethren, be zealous to prophesy; and forbid not to speak with tongues.
The conclusion, my brethren, is this. Be earnestly ambitious to prophesy, and do not check speaking with tongues;
40 But let all things be done decently, and according to order.
only let everything be done in a becoming and orderly manner.
