1 Corinthians 14

1 Followe after loue, and couet spirituall giftes, and rather that ye may prophecie.

Labour after charity, and be desirous of spiritual gifts: but especially that ye may prophesy.

2 For hee that speaketh a strange tongue, speaketh not vnto men, but vnto God: for no man heareth him: howbeit in the spirit he speaketh secret things.

For he, that speaketh in an unknown tongue, speaketh not to men, but to God: for no one understandeth, though in spirit he speaketh mysteries.

3 But he that prophecieth, speaketh vnto me to edifying, and to exhortation, and to comfort.

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

4 He that speaketh strange language, edifieth himselfe: but hee that prophecieth, edifieth the Church.

He, that speaketh in an unknown tongue, edifieth himself: but he, that prophesieth, edifieth the church.

5 I would that ye all spake strange languages, but rather that ye prophecied: for greater is hee that prophecieth, then hee that speaketh diuers tongues, except hee expound it, that the Church may receiue edification.

I could wish that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edification.

6 And nowe, brethren, if I come vnto you speaking diuers tongues, what shall I profite you, except I speake to you, either by reuelation, or by knowledge, or by prophecying, or by doctrine?

Now, my brethren, if I come to you speaking with many tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak intelligibly to you of revelation, or knowledge, or prophecy, or doctrine?

7 Moreouer things without life which giue a sounde, whether it be a pipe or an harpe, except they make a distinction in the soundes, how shall it be knowen what is piped or harped?

As inanimate things which give a found, whether pipe or harp, unless they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall what is piped or harped be understood?

8 And also if the trumpet giue an vncertaine sound, who shall prepare himselfe to battell?

For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for the battle?

9 So likewise you, by the tongue, except yee vtter wordes that haue signification, howe shall it be vnderstand what is spoken? for ye shall speake in the ayre.

So also unless ye utter by the tongue intelligible words, how shall what is spoken be understood? for thus ye will be only talking to the wind.

10 There are so many kindes of voyces (as it commeth to passe) in the world, and none of them is dumme.

There are, it may be, as many kinds of voices in the world as people, and none of them insignificant.

11 Except I know then the power of ye voyce, I shall be vnto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh, shalbe a barbarian vnto me.

But if I know not the force of the words, I shall be to him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh will be a barbarian to me.

12 Euen so, forasmuch as ye couet spirituall giftes, seeke that ye may excell vnto the edifying of the Church.

So ye also, since ye are so desirous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound in them to the edification of the church.

13 Wherefore, let him that speaketh a strange tongue, pray, that he may interprete.

Wherefore let him, that speaketh in an unknown tongue, pray that he may interpret.

14 For if I pray in a strange togue, my spirit prayeth: but mine vnderstading is without fruite.

For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit indeed prayeth, but my meaning is fruitless.

15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, but I wil pray with the vnderstanding also: I wil sing with the spirite, but I will sing with the vnderstanding also.

What is then to be done? I will pray with the Spirit, but I will pray to be understood: I will sing with the spirit, but I will sing to be understood.

16 Else, when thou blessest with the spirit, howe shall hee that occupieth the roome of the vnlearned, say Amen, at thy giuing of thankes, seeing he knoweth not what thou sayest?

For if thou bless in the spirit, how shall the unlearned say Amen to thy thanksgiving, when he knoweth not what thou sayst?

17 For thou verely giuest thankes well, but the other is not edified.

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

18 I thanke my God, I speake languages more then ye all.

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

19 Yet had I rather in the Church to speake fiue wordes with mine vnderstanding, that I might also instruct others, then ten thousande wordes in a strange tongue.

But in a public assembly I had rather speak five words to be understood, that I may instruct others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

20 Brethren, be not children in vnderstanding, but as concerning maliciousnes be children, but in vnderstanding be of a ripe age.

My brethren, be not children in sense: but in malice be infants, and in your judgements shew yourselves to be men.

21 In the Lawe it is written, By men of other tongues, and by other languages will I speake vnto this people: yet so shall they not heare me, sayth the Lord.

It is written in the law, "By men of another language, and by other lips, will I speak to this people, and even so they will not listen to me, saith the Lord."

22 Wherefore strange tongues are for a signe, not to them that beleeue, but to them that beleeue not: but prophecying serueth not for them that beleeue not, but for them which beleeue.

So that tongues are for a sign, not to believers but to unbelievers: but prophecy not to unbelievers but to those that believe.

23 If therefore when the whole Church is come together in one, and all speake strange tongues, there come in they that are vnlearned, or they which beleeue not, will they not say, that ye are out of your wittes?

If then the whole church be come together and all speak in unknown tongues, and there come in illiterate persons, or infidels, will they not say that ye are mad?

24 But if all prophecie, and there come in one that beleeueth not, or one vnlearned, hee is rebuked of all men, and is iudged of all,

But if all prophesy, and there come in an unbeliever, or one unlearned, he is convinced by all, he is judged by all.

25 And so are the secrets of his heart made manifest, and so he will fall downe on his face and worship God, and say plainely that God is in you in deede.

And thus the secrets of his heart are made manifest; so that falling down upon his face he will worship God, declaring that God is indeed among you.

26 What is to be done then, brethren? when ye come together, according as euery one of you hath a Psalme, or hath doctrine, or hath a tongue, or hath reuelation, or hath interpretation, let all things be done vnto edifying.

What is then to be done, my brethren? when ye come together, if any of you hath a psalm, a doctrine, a tongue, a revelation, an interpretation, ---let all be done for edification.

27 If any man speake a strange tongue, let it be by two, or at the most, by three, and that by course, and let one interprete.

And if any one speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at most by three, and that by turns; and let one interpret.

28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keepe silence in the Church, which speaketh languages, and let him speake to himselfe, and to God.

But if there be no interpreter, let him be silent in the assembly; and let him speak to himself and to God.

29 Let the Prophets speake two, or three, and let the other iudge.

And let but two or three of the prophets speak, and the others judge.

30 And if any thing be reueiled to another that sitteth by, let the first holde his peace.

And if any thing be revealed to another sitting by, let the first have done speaking before the other begins.

31 For ye may all prophecie one by one, that all may learne, and all may haue comfort.

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

32 And the spirits of the Prophets are subiect to the Prophets.

And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets:

33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as we see in all ye Churches of the Saints.

for God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as we see in all the assemblies of the saints.

34 Let your women keepe silence in the Churches: for it is not permitted vnto them to speake: but they ought to be subiect, as also the Lawe sayth.

Let your women be silent in your assemblies: for it is not permitted to them to speak, but they are to be in subjection, as the law saith.

35 And if they will learne any thing, let them aske their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speake in the Church.

And if they would learn any thing, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it does not become women to speak in a public assembly.

36 Came the worde of God out from you? either came it vnto you onely?

Did the word of God come out first from you? or did it come to you only?

37 If any man thinke him selfe to be a Prophet, or spirituall, let him acknowledge, that the things, that I write vnto you, are the commandements of the Lord.

If any one seem to be a prophet, or acted by the Spirit, let him acknowlege that what I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.

38 And if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

But if any will be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

39 Wherefore, brethren, couet to prophecie, and forbid not to speake languages.

Wherefore, my brethren, be most desirous to prophesy, and yet forbid not to speak with tongues:

40 Let all things be done honestly, and by order.

but let all things be done decently and in order.