1 Corinthians 14
1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual [gifts], but rather that ye may prophesy.
Pursue love, and earnestly seek the spiritual things, and rather that you may prophesy,
2 For he that speaketh in an [unknown] tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth [him]; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
for he who is speaking in an [unknown] tongue—he does not speak to men, but to God, for no one listens, and he speaks secrets in spirit;
3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men [to] edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
and he who is prophesying to men speaks edification, and exhortation, and comfort;
4 He that speaketh in an [unknown] tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
he who is speaking in an [unknown] tongue, edifies himself, and he who is prophesying, edifies the Assembly;
5 I would 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 edifying.
and I wish you all to speak with tongues, and more that you may prophesy, for greater is he who is prophesying than he who is speaking with tongues, except one may interpret, that the Assembly may receive edification.
6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
And now, brothers, if I may come to you speaking tongues, what will I profit you, except I will speak to you either in revelation, or in knowledge, or in prophesying, or in teaching?
7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
Yet the things without life giving sound—whether pipe or harp—if they may not give a difference in the sounds, how will be known that which is piped or that which is harped?
8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
For also, if a trumpet may give an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for battle?
9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.
So also you, if you may not give speech easily understood through the tongue—how will that which is spoken be known? For you will be speaking to air.
10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them [is] without signification.
There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is unmeaning.
11 Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh [shall be] a barbarian unto me.
If, then, I do not know the power of the voice, I will be a foreigner to him who is speaking, and he who is speaking is a foreigner to me;
12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual [gifts], seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
so you also, since you are earnestly desirous of spiritual gifts, seek for the building up of the Assembly that you may abound;
13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an [unknown] tongue pray that he may interpret.
for this reason he who is speaking in an [unknown] tongue—let him pray that he may interpret;
14 For if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
for if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit prays, and my understanding is unfruitful.
15 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.
What then is it? I will pray [in] the spirit, and I will also pray [with] understanding; I will sing psalms [in] the spirit, and I will also sing psalms [with] understanding;
16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?
since, if you may bless in spirit, he who is filling the place of the commoner, how will he say the Amen at your giving of thanks, since he has not known what you say?
17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
For you, indeed, give thanks well, but the other is not built up!
18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:
I give thanks to my God—more than you all with tongues speaking—
19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that [by my voice] I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an [unknown] tongue.
but I wish to speak five words in an assembly through my understanding, that I also may instruct others, rather than myriads of words in an [unknown] tongue.
20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
Brothers, do not become children in the understanding, but in the evil be children, and in the understanding become perfect;
21 In the law it is written, With [men of] other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.
in the Law it has been written, that, “With other tongues and with other lips I will speak to this people, and even so they will not hear Me, says the LORD”;
22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying [serveth] not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
so that the tongues are for a sign, not to the believing, but to the unbelieving; and the prophecy [is] not for the unbelieving, but for the believing.
23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in [those that are] unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
If, therefore, the whole assembly may come together to the same place, and all may speak with tongues, and there may come in commoners or unbelievers, will they not say that you are mad?
24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or [one] unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
And if all may prophesy, and anyone may come in, an unbeliever or commoner, he is convicted by all, he is discerned by all,
25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on [his] face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
and so the secrets of his heart become visible, and so having fallen on [his] face, he will worship God, declaring that God really is among you.
26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
What then is it, brothers? Whenever you may come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be for building up;
27 If any man speak in an [unknown] tongue, [let it be] by two, or at the most [by] three, and [that] by course; and let one interpret.
if anyone speaks an [unknown] tongue, by two, or at the most, by three, and in turn, and let one interpret;
28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
and if there may be no interpreter, let him be silent in an assembly, and let him speak to himself, and to God.
29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
And prophets—let two or three speak, and let the others discern,
30 If [any thing] be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
and if [anything] may be revealed to another [who is] sitting, let the first be silent;
31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
for you are able, one by one, all to prophesy, that all may learn, and all may be exhorted,
32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
and the spiritual gift of prophets are subject to prophets,
33 For God is not [the author] of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
for God is not [a God] of tumult, but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the holy ones.
34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but [they are commanded] to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
Your women, let them be silent in the assemblies, for it has not been permitted to them to speak, but to be subject, as the Law also says;
35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
and if they wish to learn anything, let them question their own husbands at home, for it is a shame to women to speak in an assembly.
36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?
Did the word of God come forth from you? Or did it come to you alone?
37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
If anyone thinks to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge the things that I write to you—that they are commands of the LORD;
38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
and if anyone is ignorant—let him be ignorant;
39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
so that, brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues;
40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
let all things be done decently and in order.
