1 Corinthians 14

1 Pursue love, and earnestly desire spiritual gifts; but especially that you may prophesy.

Follow after love; yet desire earnestly spiritual [gifts], but rather that ye may prophesy.

2 For he who speaks in a foreign language, speaks not to men, but to God; for no one understands him: nevertheless, by the Spirit he speaks secrets.

For he that speaketh in a tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God; for no man understandeth; but in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

3 But he who prophesies, speaks to men for edification, and exhortation, and consolation.

But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men edification, and exhortation, and consolation.

4 He who speaks in a foreign language, edifies himself: but he who prophesies, edifies the congregation.

He that speaketh in a tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

5 I wish, indeed, that you all spoke in foreign languages; but rather that you prophesied: for greater is he who prophesies, than he who speaks in foreign languages, unless, indeed, he interpret, that the congregation may receive edification.

Now I would have you all speak with tongues, but rather that ye should prophesy: and greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

6 For now, brethren, if I should come to you speaking in foreign languages, what shall I profit you, unless I shall speak to you intelligibly; either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophecy, or by doctrine?

But now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching?

7 In like manner, things without life, giving sound; whether pipe, or harp; unless they give a difference to the notes, how shall it be known what is piped, or harped?

Even things without life, giving a voice, whether pipe or harp, if they give not a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

8 And, therefore, if the trumpet give and unintelligible sound, who will prepare himself for battle?

For if the trumpet give an uncertain voice, who shall prepare himself for war?

9 So, also, you, unless with the tongue you give intelligible speech, how shall it be known what is spoken? Therefore, you will be speaking to the air.

So also ye, unless ye utter by the tongue speech easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye will be speaking into the air.

10 There are, perhaps, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without signification.

There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and no [kind] is without signification.

11 Yet, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be to him who speaks, a foreigner; and he who speaks, will be a foreigner to me.

If then I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be to him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh will be a barbarian unto me.

12 Wherefore, you, also, since you are earnestly desirous of spiritual gifts, seek them, that you may abound for the edification of the congregation.

So also ye, since ye are zealous of spiritual [gifts], seek that ye may abound unto the edifying of the church.

13 For which cause, let him who prays in a foreign language, pray that he may interpret.

Wherefore let him that speaketh in a tongue pray that he may interpret.

14 For if I pray in a foreign language, my spirit prays; but my understanding is unfruitful.

For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

15 What, then, is to be done? I will pray with the Spirit, but I will pray also with understanding: I will sing with the Spirit; but I will sing also with understanding.

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.

16 Else, when you shall bless with the spirit, how shall he who fills up the place of the unlearned, say the Amen to your thanksgiving, since he knows not what you say?

Else if thou bless with the spirit, how shall he that filleth the place of the unlearned say the Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he knoweth not what thou sayest?

17 For you, indeed, give thanks well; but the other is not edified.

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

18 I give thanks to God, speaking in more foreign languages than all of you;

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

19 yet, in the congregation, I would rather speak five sentences with my meaning understood, that I may instruct others, also, than ten thousand sentences in a foreign language.

howbeit in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

20 Brethren, be not children in understanding; but in evil be children, and in understanding be full grown men.

Brethren, be not children in mind: yet in malice be ye babes, but in mind be men.

21 In the law it is written, "Surely, with other tongues, and with other lips, I will speak to this people; yet not even then will they hearken to me, says the Lord."

In the law it is written, By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers will I speak unto this people; and not even thus will they hear me, saith the Lord.

22 So that foreign languages are for a sign; not to believers, but to unbelievers: but prophecy is for a sign; not to unbelievers, but to believers.

Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to the unbelieving: but prophesying [is for a sign], not to the unbelieving, but to them that believe.

23 If, then, the whole congregation be come together in one place, and all speak in foreign languages; and there come in unlearned persons, or unbelievers, will they not say that you are mad?

If therefore the whole church be assembled together and all speak with tongues, and there come in men unlearned or unbelieving, will they not say that ye are mad?

24 But if all prophesy, and there come in an unbeliever, or an unlearned person, he is corrected by all, he is examined by all;

But if all prophesy, and there come in one unbelieving or unlearned, he is reproved by all, he is judged by all;

25 the hidden things of his heart are made manifest: and so, falling on his face, he will worship God, publishing that God is actually among you.

the secrets of his heart are made manifest; and so he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeed.

26 What is it, then, brethren? When you are come together, each of you has a psalm, has a discourse, has a foreign language, has a revelation, has an interpretation! Let all things be done to edification.

What is it then, brethren? When ye come together, each one hath a psalm, hath a teaching, hath a revelation, hath a tongue, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

27 And if any one speak in a foreign language, let it be by two, or at most by three sentences, and separately; and let one interpret.

If any man speaketh in a tongue, [let it be] by two, or at the most three, and [that] in turn; and let one interpret:

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

but if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

29 Now, let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.

And let the prophets speak [by] two or three, and let the others discern.

30 But, if to another, sitting by, anything be revealed, let the first be silent.

But if a revelation be made to another sitting by, let the first keep silence.

31 For you all can prophesy, one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.

For ye all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be exhorted;

32 For the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

and the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets;

33 Besides, God is not the author of confusion, but of peace. As in all the assemblies of the saints,

for God is not [a God] of confusion, but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,

34 let your women be silent in the congregations: for it has not been permitted to them to speak, but they must be in subjection; as the law also commands.

let the women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as also saith the law.

35 And if they wish to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands, at home: for it is an indecent thing for women to speak in the congregation.

And if they would learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home: for it is shameful for a woman to speak in the church.

36 What! went the word of God forth from you? or did it come to you only?

What? was it from you that the word of God went forth? or came it unto you alone?

37 If any one be really a prophet, or spiritual person, let him acknowledge the things I write to you, that they are the commandments of the Lord.

If any man thinketh himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him take knowledge of the things which I write unto you, that they are the commandment of the Lord.

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

But if any man is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

39 Wherefore, brethren, earnestly desire to prophesy; and hinder not to speak in foreign languages.

Wherefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

But let all things be done decently and in order.