1 Corinthians 14

1 Follow after love, and earnestly desire spiritual things, and especially that you may prophesy.

Be eager in your pursuit of this Love, and be earnestly ambitious for spiritual gifts, but let it be chiefly so in order that you may prophesy.

2 For the one who speaks in another language speaks not to people, but to God; for no one understands; but in the Spirit he speaks mysteries.

For he who speaks in an unknown tongue is not speaking to men, but to God; for no one understands him. Yet in the Spirit he is speaking secret truths.

3 But he who prophesies speaks to people for their encouragement, strengthening, and comfort.

But he who prophesies speaks to men words of edification, encouragement and comfort.

4 He who speaks in another language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.

He who speaks in an unknown tongue does good to himself, but he who prophesies does good to the Church.

5 Now I would like you all to speak in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy, and he is greater who prophesies than he who speaks with other languages, unless he interprets, that the church may be built up.

I should be right glad were you all to speak in 'tongues,' but yet more glad were you all to prophesy. And, in fact, the man who prophesies is superior to him who speaks in 'tongues,' except when the latter can interpret in order that the Church may get a blessing.

6 But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking with other languages, what would I profit you, unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching?

But, brethren, as things are, if I come to you speaking in 'tongues,' what benefit shall I confer on you, if the utterance is neither in the form of a revelation nor of additional knowledge nor of prophecy nor of teaching?

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

Even inanimate things--flutes or harps, for instance--when yielding a sound, if they make no distinction in the notes, how shall the tune which is played on the flute or the harp be known?

8 For if the trumpet gave an uncertain sound, who would prepare himself for war?

If the bugle--to take another example--gives an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle?

9 So also you, unless you uttered by the tongue words easy to understand, how would it be known what is spoken? For you would be speaking into the air.

And so with you; if with the living voice you fail to utter intelligible words, how will people know what you are saying? You will be talking to the winds.

10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none is without meaning.

There are, we will suppose, a great number of languages in the world, and no creature is without a language.

11 If then I do not know the meaning of the sound, I would be to him who speaks a foreigner, and he who speaks would be a foreigner to me.

If, however, I do not know the meaning of the particular language, I shall seem to the speaker of it, and he to me, to be merely talking some foreign tongue.

12 So also you, since you are zealous for spiritual things, seek that you may abound to the building up of the church.

Therefore, seeing that you are ambitious for spiritual gifts, seek to excel in them so as to benefit the Church.

13 Therefore let him who speaks in another language pray that he may interpret.

Therefore let a man who has the gift of tongues pray for the power of interpreting them.

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

For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is barren.

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.

How then does the matter stand? I will pray in spirit, and I will pray with my understanding also. I will praise God in spirit, and I will praise Him with my understanding also.

16 Otherwise if you bless with the spirit, how will he who fills the place of the unlearned say the "Amen" at your giving of thanks, seeing he does not know what you say?

Otherwise, if you bless God in spirit only, how shall he who is in the position of an ungifted man say the 'Amen' to your giving of thanks, when he does not know what your words mean?

17 For you truly give thanks well, but the other person is not built up.

Rightly enough you are giving thanks, and yet your neighbor is not benefited.

18 I thank God I speak in tongues more than you all.

I speak in a tongue, thank God, more than all of you;

19 However in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in another language.

but in the Church I would rather speak five words with my understanding--so as to instruct others also--than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

20 Brothers, do not be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature.

Brethren, do not prove yourselves to be children in your minds. As regards evil, indeed, be utter babes, but as regards your minds prove yourselves to be men of ripe years.

21 In the law it is written, "By people of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people; but even then they will not listen to me," says the Lord.

In the Law it stands written, "'By men of unknown tongues and by the lips of an unknown nation will I speak to this People, but even then they will not listen to Me', says the Lord."

22 Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to the unbelieving; but prophesying is for a sign, not to the unbelieving, but to those who believe.

This shows that the gift of tongues is intended as a sign not to those who believe but to unbelievers, but prophecy is intended not for unbelievers but for those who believe.

23 If therefore the whole church is assembled together and all speak in tongues, and unlearned or unbelieving people come in, won't they say that you are crazy?

Accordingly if the whole Church has assembled and all are speaking in 'tongues,' and there come in ungifted men, or unbelievers, will they not say that you are all mad?

24 But if all prophesy, and someone unbelieving or unlearned comes in, he is reproved by all, and he is judged by all.

If, on the other hand, every one is prophesying and an unbeliever or an ungifted man comes in, he is convicted by all and closely examined by all,

25 And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed. So he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeed.

and the hidden evils of his heart are brought to light. And, as the result, he will fall on his face and worship God, and will report to others that of a truth God is among you.

26 What is it then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has another language, has an interpretation. Let all things be done to build each other up.

What then, brethren? Whenever you assemble, there is not one of you who is not ready either with a song of praise, a sermon, a revelation, a 'tongue,' or an interpretation. Let everything be done with a view to the building up of faith and character.

27 If anyone speaks in another language, let it be two, or at the most three, and in turn; and let one interpret.

If there is speaking in an unknown tongue, only two or at the most three should speak, and they should do so one at a time, and one should interpret;

28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in the church, and let him speak to himself, and to God.

or if there is no interpreter, let the man with the gift be silent in the Church, speaking to himself and to God.

29 Let the prophets speak, two or three, and let the others discern.

But if there are Prophets, let two or three speak and let the rest judge.

30 But if a revelation is made to another sitting by, let the first keep silent.

And if anything is revealed to some one else who is seated there, let the first be silent.

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

For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged:

32 The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets,

and the spirits of Prophets yield submission to Prophets.

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

For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace, as He is in all the Churches of His people.

34 let the women keep silent in the churches, for it has not been permitted for them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as the Law also says.

Let married women be silent in the Churches, for they are not permitted to speak. They must be content with a subordinate place, as the Law also says;

35 If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for a woman to chatter in the church.

and if they wish to ask questions, they should ask their own husbands at home. For it is disgraceful for a married woman to speak at a Church assembly.

36 What? Was it from you that the word of God went out? Or did it come to you alone?

Was it from you that God's Message first went forth, or is it to you only that it has come?

37 If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him recognize the things which I write to you, that they are the commandment of the Lord.

If any one deems himself to be a Prophet or a man with spiritual gifts, let him recognize as the Lord's command all that I am now writing to you.

38 But if someone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.

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

39 Therefore, my brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

The conclusion, my brethren, is this. Be earnestly ambitious to prophesy, and do not check speaking with tongues;

40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

only let everything be done in a becoming and orderly manner.