1 Corinthians 14

1 Labour after charity, and be desirous of spiritual gifts: but especially that ye may prophesy.

Follow after love; and be emulous of the gifts of the Spirit, and especially, that ye may prophesy.

2 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.

For he that speaketh in a tongue, speaketh not unto men, but unto God; for no one understandeth what is said; yet in the spirit, he speaketh a mystery.

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

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

4 He, that speaketh in an unknown tongue, edifieth himself: but he, that prophesieth, edifieth the church.

He that speaketh in a tongue, edifieth himself: and he that prophesieth, edifieth the church.

5 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.

Now I would that ye all spoke with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied; for greater is he that prophesieth, than he that speaketh in a tongue, unless he interpret; and if he interpret, he edifieth the church.

6 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?

And now, my brethren, if I should come among you, and speak to you in tongues, what should I profit you; unless I should speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophecy, or by doctrine?

7 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?

For even inanimate things that emit sound, whether pipe or harp, if they make no distinction between one sound and another, how will it be known, what is sung or what is harped?

8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for the battle?

And if the trumpet shall give an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for the battle?

9 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.

So likewise if ye utter a discourse in a tongue, and there is no interpretation given, how will it be known what ye have said? Ye will have been as if ye spoke into the air.

10 There are, it may be, as many kinds of voices in the world as people, and none of them insignificant.

For lo, there are many kinds of tongues in the world; and there is not one of them without meaning.

11 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.

But if I do not know the import of the sound, I shall be a barbarian to him that speaketh, and the speaker will be a barbarian to me.

12 So ye also, since ye are so desirous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound in them to the edification of the church.

So also ye, since ye are emulous of the gifts of the Spirit for the edification of the church, seek ye to excel.

13 Wherefore let him, that speaketh in an unknown tongue, pray that he may interpret.

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

14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit indeed prayeth, but my meaning is fruitless.

For if I should pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is without fruits.

15 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.

What then shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, and will pray with my understanding; and I will sing with my spirit, and will sing with my understanding.

16 For if thou bless in the spirit, how shall the unlearned say Amen to thy thanksgiving, when he knoweth not what thou sayst?

Otherwise, if thou blessest in the spirit, how shall he that filleth the place of one unlearned, say Amen, on thy giving thanks; for he knoweth not what thou sayest?

17 thou indeed givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

Thou blessest, indeed, very well; but thy neighbor is not edified.

18 I thank God, I speak with tongues more than you all.

I thank God, that I speak with tongues more than all of you.

19 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.

But in the church, I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others, than a myriad of words in a tongue.

20 My brethren, be not children in sense: but in malice be infants, and in your judgements shew yourselves to be men.

My brethren, be ye not children in your thoughts; but to evil things be ye infants; and in your thoughts be men.

21 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."

In the law it is written, With a foreign speech, and in another tongue, will I speak with this people; and even so also they will not hearken to me, saith the Lord.

22 So that tongues are for a sign, not to believers but to unbelievers: but prophecy not to unbelievers but to those that believe.

Wherefore, tongues are established for a sign, not to the believers, but to them that believe not. But prophesyings are not for those who believe not, but for them that believe.

23 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?

If therefore the whole church assemble, and they all speak with tongues, and there come in unlearned persons, or such as believe not, will they not say: These people are crazy?

24 But if all prophesy, and there come in an unbeliever, or one unlearned, he is convinced by all, he is judged by all.

But if ye should be all prophesying, and one unlearned or an unbeliever should come among you, he is explored by you all, and rebuked by you all;

25 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.

and the secrets of his heart are laid open to him: and so he will fall upon his face, and will worship God, and say: Verily, God is in you.

26 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.

I therefore say to you my brethren, that when ye assemble, whoever of you hath a psalm, let him speak; and whoever hath a doctrine, and whoever hath a revelation, and whoever hath a tongue, and whoever hath an interpretation. Let them all be for edification.

27 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.

And if any speak in a tongue, let two speak or at most, three; and let them speak one by one; and let some one interpret.

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

And if there is none to interpret, let him that speaketh in a tongue, be silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God.

29 And let but two or three of the prophets speak, and the others judge.

And as to prophets, let two or three speak, and let the rest judge.

30 And if any thing be revealed to another sitting by, let the first have done speaking before the other begins.

And if to another sitting by, there should be a revelation, let the first stop speaking.

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

For ye can all prophesy, one by one; so that every one may learn, and every one be comforted.

32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets:

For the spirit of the prophets is subject to the prophets.

33 for God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as we see in all the assemblies of the saints.

Because, God is not the author of tumult, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

34 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.

Let your women be silent in the church: for it is not permitted them to speak, but to be in subjection, as also the law saith.

35 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.

And if they wish to be informed on any subject, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is unbecoming for women to speak in the church.

36 Did the word of God come out first from you? or did it come to you only?

What! was it from you that the word of God came forth? Or did it reach only to you?

37 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.

And if any one among you thinketh that he is a prophet, or that he is spiritual, let him recognize the things which I write to you, as being the precepts of our Lord.

38 But if any will be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

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

39 Wherefore, my brethren, be most desirous to prophesy, and yet forbid not to speak with tongues:

Wherefore, my brethren, be emulous of prophesying: and to speak with tongues, prohibit not.

40 but let all things be done decently and in order.

But let every thing be done with decency and regularity.