1 Corinthians 14
1 Pursue love, and earnestly seek the spiritual things, and rather that you may prophesy,
Make love your most important objective! But also do your best to gain spiritual gifts, especially the ability to speak God's message.
2 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;
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.
3 and he who is prophesying to men speaks edification, and exhortation, and comfort;
However, the words of those who speak for God build people up—they provide encouragement and comfort.
4 he who is speaking in an [unknown] tongue, edifies himself, and he who is prophesying, edifies the Assembly;
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.
5 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.
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.
6 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?
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?
7 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?
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?
8 For also, if a trumpet may give an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for battle?
Similarly, if the trumpet doesn't give a clear sound, who will get ready for battle?
9 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.
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.
10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is unmeaning.
There are surely many languages in this world, and there is meaning in every one of them.
11 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;
If I don't understand the language, those who speak make no sense to me, and I make no sense to them.
12 so you also, since you are earnestly desirous of spiritual gifts, seek for the building up of the Assembly that you may abound;
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.
13 for this reason he who is speaking in an [unknown] tongue—let him pray that he may interpret;
Anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that they're able to translate what they say.
14 for if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit prays, and my understanding is unfruitful.
For if I pray out loud in a tongue, my spirit is praying, but it does nothing for my understanding!
15 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;
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.
16 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?
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?
17 For you, indeed, give thanks well, but the other is not built up!
You might have said a great prayer of thanks, but the other hasn't been helped!
18 I give thanks to my God—more than you all with tongues speaking—
I thank God that I can speak in tongues more than all of you.
19 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.
But in church I would rather speak five understandable words to teach others than ten thousand words in a tongue nobody understands.
20 Brothers, do not become children in the understanding, but in the evil be children, and in the understanding become perfect;
Brothers and sisters, don't think like children. Be as innocent as babies in regard to evil, but be grown up in your understanding.
21 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”;
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.”
22 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.
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.
23 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?
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?
24 And if all may prophesy, and anyone may come in, an unbeliever or commoner, he is convicted by all, he is discerned by all,
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.
25 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.
Their secrets throughts will be revealed, so they will fall to their knees and worship God, affirming that God is truly among you.
26 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;
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.
27 if anyone speaks an [unknown] tongue, by two, or at the most, by three, and in turn, and let one interpret;
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.
28 and if there may be no interpreter, let him be silent in an assembly, and let him speak to himself, and to God.
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.
29 And prophets—let two or three speak, and let the others discern,
Similarly, have two or three of those who give God's prophetic message speak, and let everyone else think about what was said.
30 and if [anything] may be revealed to another [who is] sitting, let the first be silent;
However, if a special revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, then the first speaker should give way to them.
31 for you are able, one by one, all to prophesy, that all may learn, and all may be exhorted,
You can all speak for God, one at a time, so that everyone can learn and be encouraged.
32 and the spiritual gift of prophets are subject to prophets,
It is for those who speak for God to control their prophetic inspiration,
33 for God is not [a God] of tumult, but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the holy ones.
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.
34 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;
“Women should stay quiet in the churches—they shouldn't speak. They should respect their situation, as the laws states.
35 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.
If they want to learn they can do so at home, asking their husbands. It is not proper for women to speak in church.”
36 Did the word of God come forth from you? Or did it come to you alone?
What? Did the word of God begin with you? Are you the only ones it came to?
37 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;
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.
38 and if anyone is ignorant—let him be ignorant;
Those who ignore this will themselves be ignored.
39 so that, brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues;
So my brothers and sisters, make it your aim to speak for God. Don't prohibit speaking in tongues.
40 let all things be done decently and in order.
Just make sure everything done is done properly and in an orderly manner.
