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.
Follow after love, and be emulous of spiritual [manifestations], but rather that ye 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 he that speaks with a tongue does not speak to men but to God: for no one hears; but in spirit he speaks mysteries.
3 However, the words of those who speak for God build people up—they provide encouragement and comfort.
But he that prophesies speaks to men [in] edification, and encouragement, 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.
He that speaks with a tongue edifies himself; but he that prophesies edifies [the] assembly.
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 desire that ye should all speak with tongues, but rather that ye should prophesy. But greater is he that prophesies than he that speaks with tongues, unless he interpret, that the assembly 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?
And now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I shall speak to you either in revelation, or in knowledge, or in prophecy, or in teaching?
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 lifeless things giving a sound, whether pipe or harp, if they give not distinction to the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
8 Similarly, if the trumpet doesn't give a clear sound, who will get ready for battle?
For also, if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself for war?
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.
Thus also ye with the tongue, unless ye give a distinct speech, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye will be speaking to the air.
10 There are surely many languages in this world, and there is meaning in every one of them.
There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of undistinguishable sound.
11 If I don't understand the language, those who speak make no sense to me, and I make no sense to them.
If therefore I do not know the power of the sound, I shall be to him that speaks a barbarian, and he that speaks a barbarian for 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.
Thus ye also, since ye are desirous of spirits, seek that ye may abound for the edification of the assembly.
13 Anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that they're able to translate what they say.
Wherefore let him that speaks with a tongue pray that he may interpret.
14 For if I pray out loud in a tongue, my spirit is praying, but it does nothing for my understanding!
For if I pray with a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
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 it then? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray also with the understanding; I will sing with the spirit, but I will sing also with the understanding.
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?
Since otherwise, if thou blessest with [the] spirit, how shall he who fills the place of the simple [Christian] say Amen, at thy giving of thanks, since he does not know what thou sayest?
17 You might have said a great prayer of thanks, but the other hasn't been helped!
For thou indeed givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
18 I thank God that I can speak in tongues more than all of you.
I thank God I speak in a tongue more than 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] assembly I desire to speak five words with my understanding, that I may instruct others also, [rather] than ten thousand words in a tongue.
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.
Brethren, be not children in [your] minds, but in malice be babes; but in [your] minds be grown [men].
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, By people of other tongues, and by strange lips, will I speak to this people; and neither thus will they hear me, saith 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.
So that tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to unbelievers; but prophecy, not to unbelievers, but to those who believe.
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 therefore the whole assembly come together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and simple [persons] enter in, or unbelievers, will not they say ye are mad?
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 all prophesy, and some unbeliever or simple [person] come in, he is convicted of all, he is judged of 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 manifested; and thus, falling upon [his] face, he will do homage to God, reporting that God is indeed amongst 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 it then, brethren? whenever ye come together, each [of you] has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done to 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 any one speak with a tongue, [let it be] two, or at the most three, and separately, and let one 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 be no interpreter, let him be silent in [the] assembly, and let him speak to himself and to 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 two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.
30 However, if a special revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, then the first speaker should give way to them.
But if there be a revelation to another sitting [there], let the first be silent.
31 You can all speak for God, one at a time, so that everyone can learn and be encouraged.
For ye can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all be encouraged.
32 It is for those who speak for God to control their prophetic inspiration,
And spirits of prophets are subject to 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.
For God is not [a God] of disorder but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the saints.
34 “Women should stay quiet in the churches—they shouldn't speak. They should respect their situation, as the laws states.
Let [your] women be silent in the assemblies, for it is not permitted to them to speak; but to be in subjection, 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.”
But if they wish to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is a shame for a woman to speak in assembly.
36 What? Did the word of God begin with you? Are you the only ones it came to?
Did the word of God go out from you, or did it come to you only?
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 any one thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him recognise the things that I write to you, that it is [the] Lord's commandment.
38 Those who ignore this will themselves be ignored.
But if any be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39 So my brothers and sisters, make it your aim to speak for God. Don't prohibit speaking in tongues.
So that, brethren, desire to prophesy, and do not forbid the speaking with tongues.
40 Just make sure everything done is done properly and in an orderly manner.
But let all things be done comelily and with order.
