1 Corinthians 14
1 Make love your most important objective! But also do your best to gain spiritual gifts, especially the ability to speak God's message.
Pursue charity. Be zealous for spiritual things, but only so that you may prophesy.
2 Those who speak in a tongue are not talking to people, but to God, because nobody can understand them as they speak mysteries in the Spirit.
For whoever speaks in tongues, speaks not to men, but to God. For no one understands. Yet by the Spirit, he speaks mysteries.
3 However, the words of those who speak for God build people up—they provide encouragement and comfort.
But whoever prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation.
4 Those that speak in a tongue only build themselves up, but those who speak God's message build up the church. I would like it if you all spoke in tongues, but I'd prefer if you could speak God's message.
Whoever speaks in tongues edifies himself. But whoever prophesies edifies the Church.
5 Those who speak for God are more important than those who speak in tongues, unless they interpret what's been said, so that the church can be built up.
Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but more so to prophesy. For he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks in tongues, unless perhaps he interprets, so that the Church may receive edification.
6 Brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what benefit would I be to you unless I bring you some revelation, or knowledge, or prophetic message, or teaching?
But now, brothers, if I were to come to you speaking in tongues, how would it benefit you, unless instead I speak to you in revelation, or in knowledge, or in prophecy, or in doctrine?
7 Even when it comes to something non-living such as musical instruments like a flute or a harp: if they don't produce clear notes, how will you know what tune is being played?
Even those things that are without a soul can make sounds, whether it is a wind or a stringed instrument. But unless they present a distinction within the sounds, how will it be known which is from the pipe and which is from the string?
8 Similarly, if the trumpet doesn't give a clear sound, who will get ready for battle?
For example, if the trumpet made an uncertain sound, who would prepare himself for battle?
9 It's the same situation for you—unless you speak using words that are easy to understand, who will know what you're saying? What you say will be lost on the wind.
So it is with you also, for unless you utter with the tongue in plain speech, how will it be known what is said? For then you would be speaking into the air.
10 There are surely many languages in this world, and there is meaning in every one of them.
Consider that there are so many different kinds of languages in this world, and yet none is without a voice.
11 If I don't understand the language, those who speak make no sense to me, and I make no sense to them.
Therefore, if I do not understand the nature of the voice, then I shall be like a foreigner to the one with whom I am speaking; and he who is speaking will be like a foreigner to me.
12 It's the same for you—if you are keen to have spiritual gifts, try to have many of those that will build up the church.
So it is with you also. And since you are zealous for what is spiritual, seek the edification of the Church, so that you may abound.
13 Anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that they're able to translate what they say.
For this reason, too, whoever speaks in tongues, let him pray for the interpretation.
14 For if I pray out loud in a tongue, my spirit is praying, but it does nothing for my understanding!
So, if I pray in tongues, my spirit prays, but my mind is without fruit.
15 So then, what should I do? I will pray “in the Spirit,” but I will pray with my mind too. I will sing “in the Spirit,” but I will sing with my mind too.
What is next? I should pray with the spirit, and also pray with the mind. I should sing psalms with the spirit, and also recite psalms with the mind.
16 For if you only pray “in the Spirit,” how can ordinary people that don't have understanding say “Amen” after your prayer of thanks, since they haven't a clue what you said?
Otherwise, if you have blessed only with the spirit, how can someone, in a state of ignorance, add an “Amen” to your blessing? For he does not know what you are saying.
17 You might have said a great prayer of thanks, but the other hasn't been helped!
In this case, certainly, you give thanks well, but the other person is not edified.
18 I thank God that I can speak in tongues more than all of you.
I thank my God that I speak in tongues for all of you.
19 But in church I would rather speak five understandable words to teach others than ten thousand words in a tongue nobody understands.
But in the Church, I prefer to speak five words from my mind, so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in tongues.
20 Brothers and sisters, don't think like children. Be as innocent as babies in regard to evil, but be grown up in your understanding.
Brothers, do not choose to have the minds of children. Instead, be free of malice like infants, but be mature in your minds.
21 As Scripture records, “‘I will speak to my people through other languages and the lips of foreigners, but even then they won't listen to me,’ says the Lord.”
It is written in the law: “I will speak to this people with other tongues and other lips, and even so, they will not heed me, says the Lord.”
22 Speaking in tongues is a sign, not to believers, but those who don't believe. Speaking God's prophetic message is the opposite: it is not for those who don't believe, but for believers.
And so, tongues are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers; and prophecies are not for unbelievers, but for believers.
23 If the whole church is meeting together and you are all speaking in tongues, and some people come in who don't understand, or people who don't believe, won't they say that you are insane?
If then, the entire Church were to gather together as one, and if all were to speak in tongues, and then ignorant or unbelieving persons were to enter, would they not say that you were insane?
24 But if everyone is speaking God's message, and someone comes in who isn't a believer, or someone who doesn't understand, they will be convinced and called to account by everyone's words.
But if everyone prophesies, and one who is ignorant or unbelieving enters, he may be convinced by it all, because he understands it all.
25 Their secrets throughts will be revealed, so they will fall to their knees and worship God, affirming that God is truly among you.
The secrets of his heart are then made manifest. And so, falling to his face, he would adore God, proclaiming that God is truly among you.
26 So then, brothers and sisters, what should you do? When you meet together, different people will sing, or teach, or share a special message, or speak in a tongue, or give an interpretation. But everything should be done to build up and encourage the church.
What is next, brothers? When you gather together, each one of you may have a psalm, or a doctrine, or a revelation, or a language, or an interpretation, but let everything be done for edification.
27 If anyone wants to speak in a tongue, make it just two, or three at the most, taking turns, and someone should interpret what is said.
If anyone is speaking in tongues, let there be only two, or at most three, and then in turn, and let someone interpret.
28 If there's no one there to interpret, those who speak in tongues should keep quiet in church and only speak to themselves, and God.
But if there is no one to interpret, he should remain silent in the church, then he may speak when he is alone with God.
29 Similarly, have two or three of those who give God's prophetic message speak, and let everyone else think about what was said.
And let the prophets speak, two or three, and let the others discern.
30 However, if a special revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, then the first speaker should give way to them.
But then, if something is revealed to another who is sitting, let the first one become silent.
31 You can all speak for God, one at a time, so that everyone can learn and be encouraged.
For you are all able to prophesy one at a time, so that all may learn and all may be encouraged.
32 It is for those who speak for God to control their prophetic inspiration,
For the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
33 for God is not a God of disorder but of peace and quiet. This is the way it should be in all the churches of God's people.
And God is not of dissension, but of peace, just as I also teach in all the churches of the saints.
34 “Women should stay quiet in the churches—they shouldn't speak. They should respect their situation, as the laws states.
Women should be silent in the churches. For it is not permitted for them to speak; but instead, they should be subordinate, as the law also says.
35 If they want to learn they can do so at home, asking their husbands. It is not proper for women to speak in church.”
And if they want to learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in church.
36 What? Did the word of God begin with you? Are you the only ones it came to?
So now, did the Word of God proceed from you? Or was it sent to you alone?
37 Anyone who thinks they are a prophet, or that they have some spiritual gift, should be aware that what I'm writing to you is a command of the Lord.
If anyone seems to be a prophet or a spiritual person, he should understand these things which I am writing to you, that these things are the commandments of the Lord.
38 Those who ignore this will themselves be ignored.
If anyone does not recognize these things, he should not be recognized.
39 So my brothers and sisters, make it your aim to speak for God. Don't prohibit speaking in tongues.
And so, brothers, be zealous to prophesy, and do not prohibit speaking in tongues.
40 Just make sure everything done is done properly and in an orderly manner.
But let everything be done respectfully and according to proper order.
