1 Corinthians 14
1 Seek this love earnestly, and strive for spiritual gifts, above all for the gift of preaching.
Pursue love, and be zealous for the spiritual things, but more that ye may prophesy.
2 The person who, when speaking, uses the gift of “tongues” is speaking, not to people, but to God, for no one understands them; yet in spirit they are speaking of hidden truths.
For he who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men, but to God, for no man hears, but in spirit he speaks mysteries.
3 But those who preach are speaking to their fellow men and women words that will build up faith, and give them comfort and encouragement.
But he who prophesies speaks to men edification and encouragement and comfort.
4 Those who, when speaking, use the gift of “tongues” builds up their own faith, while those who preach build up the faith of the church.
He who speaks in a tongue builds himself up, but he who prophesies builds up the congregation.
5 Now I want you all to speak in “tongues,” but much more I wish that you should preach. A preacher is worth more than one who speaks in “tongues,” unless they interprets their words, so that the faith of the church may be built up.
Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but more that ye may prophesy. For greater is he who prophesies than he who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the congregation may receive edification.
6 This being so, friends, what good will I do you, if I come to you and speak in “tongues,” unless my words convey some revelation, or knowledge, or take the form of preaching or teaching?
But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I benefit you, unless I would speak to you either in a revelation, or in knowledge, or in prophesying, or in doctrine?
7 Even with inanimate things, such as a flute or a harp, though they produce sounds, yet unless the notes are quite distinct, how can the tune played on the flute or the harp be recognised?
Likewise lifeless things that give a sound, whether flute or harp, if they give no distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is being piped or harped?
8 If the bugle sounds a doubtful call, who will prepare for battle?
For also if a trumpet gives an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for battle?
9 And so with you; unless, in using the gift of “tongues,” you utter intelligible words, how can what you say be understood? You will be speaking to the winds!
So also ye, unless ye give understandable speech by the tongue, how will that which is spoken be known? For ye will be talking into the air.
10 There are, for instance, a certain number of different languages in the world, and not one of them fails to convey meaning.
Since there are perhaps, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without significance.
11 If, however, I do not happen to know the language, I will be a foreigner to those who speak it, and they will be foreigners to me.
If therefore I know not the force of the voice, I will be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me.
12 And so with you; since you are striving for spiritual gifts, be eager to excel in such as will build up the faith of the church.
So also ye, since ye are zealots of spirits, seek so that ye may excel for the edification of the church.
13 Therefore anyone who, when speaking, uses the gift of “tongues” should pray for ability to interpret them.
Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.
14 If, when praying, I use the gift of “tongues,” my spirit indeed prays, but my mind is a blank.
For if I pray in a tongue my spirit prays, but my intellect is unfruitful.
15 What, then, is my conclusion? Simply this – I will pray with my spirit, but with my mind as well; I will sing with my spirit, but with my mind as well.
What is it therefore? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the intellect also. I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the intellect also.
16 If you bless God with your spirit only, how can people in the congregation who are without your gift say “Amen” to your thanksgiving? They do not know what you are saying!
Otherwise if thou would bless with the spirit, how will the man who fills the place of the unlearned, say the Truly at thy thanksgiving, since he knows not what thou say?
17 Your thanksgiving may be excellent, but the other is not helped by it.
For thou indeed express thanks well, but the other man is not edified.
18 Thank God, I use the gift of “tongues” more than any of you.
I thank my God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
19 But at a meeting of the church I would rather speak five words with my mind, and so teach others, than ten thousand words when using the gift of “tongues.”
Yet in an assembly I would rather speak five words with my intellect, so that I might also make others understand, than countless words in a tongue.
20 My friends, do not show yourselves children in understanding. In wickedness be infants, but in understanding show yourselves adults.
Brothers, become not children in your thoughts. Instead be childlike in wickedness, but in your thoughts become mature.
21 It is said in the Law – “In strange tongues and by the lips of strangers will I speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.”
In the law it is written, In other tongues and in other lips I will speak to this people, and not even so will they hear me, says the Lord.
22 Therefore the gift of the “tongues” is intended as a sign, not for those who believe in Christ, but for those who do not, while the gift of preaching is intended as a sign, not for those who do not believe in Christ, but for those who do.
Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to the unbelieving. But prophesying is not to the unbelieving, but to those who believe.
23 So, when the whole church meets, if all present use the gift of “tongues,” and some people who are without the gift, or who are unbelievers, come in, will not they say that you are mad?
If therefore the whole congregation comes together in the same place, and all speak in tongues, and unlearned or unbelieving men come in, will they not say that ye are mad?
24 While, if all those present use the gift of preaching, and an unbeliever, or someone without the gift, comes in, they are convinced of their sinfulness by them all, they are called to account by them all;
But if all prophesy, and some unbelieving or unlearned man comes in, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all.
25 the secrets of their heart are revealed, and then, throwing themselves on their face, they will worship God, and declare “God is indeed among you!”
And so the secrets of his heart are made manifest. And so having fallen down on his face he will worship God, declaring that God is really among you.
26 What do I suggest, then, friends? Whenever you meet for worship, each of you comes, either with a hymn, or a lesson, or a revelation, or the gift of “tongues,” or the interpretation of them; let everything be directed to the building up of faith.
What is it therefore, brothers? When ye come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.
27 If any of you use the gift of “tongues,” not more than two, or at the most three, should do so – each speaking in his turn – and someone should interpret them.
If any man speaks in a tongue, be according to two, or at the most three, and in succession. And let one interpret.
28 If there is no one able to interpret what is said, they should remain silent at the meeting of the church, and speak to themselves and to God.
But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silence in an assembly, and let him speak to himself and to God.
29 Of preachers two or three should speak, and the rest should weigh well what is said.
And let two or three prophets speak, and let the other men pass judgment.
30 But, if some revelation is made to another person as he sits there, the first speaker should stop.
But if it should be revealed to another man who is seated, let the first be silent.
31 For you can all preach in turn, so that all may learn some lesson and all receive encouragement.
For ye can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn, and all may be encouraged.
32 (The spirit that moves the preachers is within the preachers’ control;
And the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets,
33 for God is not a God of disorder, but of peace.) This custom prevails in all the churches of Christ’s people.
for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace.
34 At the meetings of the church married women should remain silent, for they are not allowed to speak in public; they should take a subordinate place, as the Law itself directs.
As in all the churches of the sanctified, let the women keep silent in the churches. For it is not permitted for them to speak, but to be subordinate, as the law also says.
35 If they want information on any point, they should ask their husbands about it at home; for it is unbecoming for a married woman to speak at a meeting of the church.
And if they want to learn anything, let them question their own husbands at home, for it is an ugly thing for women to speak in an assembly.
36 What! Did God’s message to the world originate with you? Or did it find its way to none but you?
Or did the word of God come forth from you? Or did it come to you only?
37 If anyone thinks that he has the gift of preaching or any other spiritual gift, he should recognise that what I am now saying to you is a command from the Lord.
If any man presumes to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge what I write to you, that they are commandments of the Lord.
38 Anyone who ignores it may be ignored.
But if any man is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39 Therefore, my friends, strive for the gift of preaching, and yet do not forbid speaking in “tongues.”
Therefore brothers, be zealous for prophesying, and do not forbid to speak in tongues.
40 Let everything be done in a proper and orderly manner.
Let all things be done decently and in order.
