1 Corinthians 14
1 Follow after love; yet desire earnestly spiritual [gifts], but rather that ye may prophesy.
Labour after charity, and be desirous of spiritual gifts: but especially that ye may prophesy.
2 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.
For he, that speaketh in an unknown tongue, speaketh not to men, but to God: for no one understandeth, though in spirit he speaketh mysteries.
3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men edification, and comfort, and consolation.
But he, that prophesieth, speaketh edification, and exhortation, and comfort to men.
4 He that speaketh in a tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
He, that speaketh in an unknown tongue, edifieth himself: but he, that prophesieth, edifieth the church.
5 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.
I could wish 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 edification.
6 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?
Now, my brethren, if I come to you speaking with many tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak intelligibly to you of revelation, or knowledge, or prophecy, or doctrine?
7 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?
As inanimate things which give a found, whether pipe or harp, unless they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall what is piped or harped be understood?
8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain voice, who shall prepare himself for war?
For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for the battle?
9 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.
So also unless ye utter by the tongue intelligible words, how shall what is spoken be understood? for thus ye will be only talking to the wind.
10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and no [kind] is without signification.
There are, it may be, as many kinds of voices in the world as people, and none of them insignificant.
11 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.
But if I know not the force of the words, I shall be to him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh will be a barbarian to me.
12 So also ye, since ye are zealous of spiritual [gifts], seek that ye may abound unto the edifying of the church.
So ye also, since ye are so desirous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound in them to the edification of the church.
13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in a tongue pray that he may interpret.
Wherefore let him, that speaketh in an unknown tongue, pray that he may interpret.
14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit indeed prayeth, but my meaning is fruitless.
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 is then to be done? I will pray with the Spirit, but I will pray to be understood: I will sing with the spirit, but I will sing to be understood.
16 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?
For if thou bless in the spirit, how shall the unlearned say Amen to thy thanksgiving, when he knoweth not what thou sayst?
17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
thou indeed givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
18 I thank God, I speak with tongues more than you all:
I thank God, I speak with tongues more than you all.
19 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.
But in a public assembly I had rather speak five words to be understood, that I may instruct others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
20 Brethren, be not children in mind: howbeit in malice be ye babes, but in mind be men.
My brethren, be not children in sense: but in malice be infants, and in your judgements shew yourselves to be men.
21 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.
It is written in the law, "By men of another language, and by other lips, will I speak to this people, and even so they will not listen to me, saith the Lord."
22 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.
So that tongues are for a sign, not to believers but to unbelievers: but prophecy not to unbelievers but to those that believe.
23 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?
If then the whole church be come together and all speak in unknown tongues, and there come in illiterate persons, or infidels, will they not say that ye are mad?
24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one unbelieving or unlearned, he is reproved by all, he is judged by all;
But if all prophesy, and there come in an unbeliever, or one unlearned, he is convinced by all, he is judged by all.
25 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.
And thus the secrets of his heart are made manifest; so that falling down upon his face he will worship God, declaring that God is indeed among you.
26 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.
What is then to be done, my brethren? when ye come together, if any of you hath a psalm, a doctrine, a tongue, a revelation, an interpretation, ---let all be done for edification.
27 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:
And if any one speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at most by three, and that by turns; 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.
But if there be no interpreter, let him be silent in the assembly; and let him speak to himself and to God.
29 And let the prophets speak [by] two or three, and let the others discern.
And let but two or three of the prophets speak, and the others judge.
30 But if a revelation be made to another sitting by, let the first keep silence.
And if any thing be revealed to another sitting by, let the first have done speaking before the other begins.
31 For ye all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted;
For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
32 and the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets;
And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the 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 the author of confusion, but of peace, as we see in all the assemblies of the saints.
34 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.
Let your women be silent in your assemblies: for it is not permitted to them to speak, but they are to be in subjection, as the law saith.
35 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.
And if they would learn any thing, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it does not become women to speak in a public assembly.
36 What? was it from you that the word of God went forth? or came it unto you alone?
Did the word of God come out first from you? or did it come to you only?
37 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.
If any one seem to be a prophet, or acted by the Spirit, let him acknowlege that what I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.
38 But if any man is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
But if any will be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39 Wherefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
Wherefore, my brethren, be most desirous to prophesy, and yet forbid not to speak with tongues:
40 But let all things be done decently and in order.
but let all things be done decently and in order.
