1 Corinthians 14

1 Seek this Love earnestly, and strive for spiritual gifts, above all for the gift of preaching.

Follow after charity, and desire spiritual [gifts], but rather that ye may prophesy.

2 He who, when speaking, uses the gift of ‘tongues’ is speaking, not to men, but to God, for no one understands him; yet in spirit he is speaking of hidden truths.

For he that speaketh in an [unknown] language, speaketh not to men, but to God: for no man understandeth [him]; yet in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

3 But he who preaches is speaking to his fellow men words that will build up faith, and give them comfort and encouragement.

But he that prophesieth, speaketh to men [to] edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

4 He who, when speaking, uses the gift of ‘tongues’ builds up his own faith, while he who preaches builds up the faith of the Church.

He that speaketh in an [unknown] language edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

5 Now I want you all to speak in ‘tongues,’ but much more I wish that you should preach. A Preacher is of more account than he who speaks in ‘tongues,’ unless he interprets his words, so that the faith of the Church may be built up.

I would that ye all spoke in languages, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater [is] he that prophesieth than he that speaketh in languages, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

6 This being so, Brothers, what good shall 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?

Now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in languages, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by 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?

And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

8 If the bugle sounds a doubtful call, who will prepare for battle?

For if the trumpet shall give 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 likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye will speak into the air.

10 There is, for instance, a certain number of different languages in the world, and not one of them fails to convey meaning.

There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them [is] without signification.

11 If, however, I do not happen to know the language, I shall be a foreigner to those who speak it, and they will be foreigners to me.

Therefore, if 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 to me.

12 And so with you; since your are striving for spiritual gifts, be eager to excel in such as will build up the faith of the Church.

Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual [gifts], seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

13 Therefore let him who, when speaking, uses the gift of ‘tongues’ pray for ability to interpret them.

Wherefore, let him that speaketh in an [unknown] language, 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 an [unknown] language, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding 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 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 If you bless God with your spirit only, how can the man in the congregation who is without your gift say ‘Amen’ to your thanksgiving? He does not know what you are saying!

Else, when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?

17 Your thanksgiving may be excellent, but the other is not helped by it.

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

18 Thank God, I use the gift of ‘tongues’ more than any of you.

I thank my God, I speak in languages more than ye all:

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 the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that [by my voice] I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in an [unknown] language.

20 Brothers, do not show yourselves children in understanding. In wickedness be infants, but in understanding show yourselves men.

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

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, With [men of] other tongues and other lips will I speak to this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith 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.

Wherefore languages are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying [serveth] not for them that believe not, but for them who believe.

23 So, when the whole Church meets, if all present use the gift of ‘tongues,’ and some men who are without the gift, or who are unbelievers, come in, will not they say that you are mad?

If therefore the whole church is assembled in one place, and all speak in languages, and there come in [those that are] unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are insane?

24 While, if all those present use the gift of preaching, and an unbeliever, or a man without the gift, comes in, he is convinced of his sinfulness by them all, he is called to account by them all;

But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or [one] unlearned, he is convinced by all, he is judged by all:

25 the secrets of his heart are revealed, and then, throwing himself on his face, he will worship God, and declare ‘God is indeed among you!’

And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on [his] face, he will worship God, and report that God is in you in truth.

26 What do I suggest, then, Brothers? 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.

How is it then, brethren? when ye are assembled, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a language, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done to 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 some one should interpret them.

If any man speaketh in an [unknown] language, [let it be] by two, or at the most [by] three, and [that] by course; 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 the church; 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.

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

30 But, if some revelation is made to another person as he sits there, the first speaker should stop.

If [any thing] is revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.

31 For you can all preach in turn, so that all may learn some lesson and all receive encouragement.

For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.

32 (The spirit that moves the preachers is within the preachers’ control;

And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the 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 [the author] of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

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.

Let your women keep silence in the churches; for it is not permitted to them to speak: but [they are commanded] to be under obedience, as also saith the law.

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 will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home; for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

36 What! did God’s Message to the world originate with you? or did it find its way to none but you?

What? came the word of God out from you? or came it to you only?

37 If any one thinks that he has the gift of preaching or any other spiritual gift, let him recognise that what I am now saying to you is a command from the Lord.

If any man thinketh himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.

38 Any one who ignores it may be ignored.

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

39 Therefore, my Brothers, strive for the gift of preaching, and yet do not forbid speaking in ‘tongues.’

Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak in languages.

40 Let everything be done in a proper and orderly manner.

Let all things be done decently, and in order.