1 Corinthians 14

1 Pursue the love, and seek earnestly the spiritual things, and rather that ye may prophecy,

Pursue love, and desire the spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

2 for he who is speaking in an [unknown] tongue — to men he doth not speak, but to God, for no one doth hearken, and in spirit he doth speak secrets;

Because he who speaks in a ‘language’ is not speaking to people but to God, since no one understands; in spirit he speaks mysteries.

3 and he who is prophesying to men doth speak edification, and exhortation, and comfort;

But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to people.

4 he who is speaking in an [unknown] tongue, himself doth edify, and he who is prophesying, an assembly doth edify;

The one speaking in a ‘language’ edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the congregation.

5 and I wish you all to speak with tongues, and more that ye may prophecy, for greater is he who is prophesying than he who is speaking with tongues, except one may interpret, that the assembly may receive edification.

I could wish that you all spoke in ‘languages’, but even more that you might prophesy; because the one prophesying is greater than the one speaking in ‘languages’ (unless he interprets), so that the congregation may receive edification.

6 And now, brethren, if I may come unto you speaking tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either in revelation, or in knowledge, or in prophesying, or in teaching?

Now then, brothers, what good will I do you if I come to you speaking in ‘languages’ instead of addressing you with revelation, or with knowledge, or with prophecy, or with teaching?

7 yet the things without life giving sound — whether pipe or harp — if a difference in the sounds they may not give, how shall be known that which is piped or that which is harped?

Take lifeless things like a flute or a harp; if they make no distinction in the notes when they produce sound, how will it be known what is being piped or harped?

8 for if also an uncertain sound a trumpet may give, who shall prepare himself for battle?

Also a trumpet; if it gives an indistinct sound, who will prepare for battle?

9 so also ye, if through the tongue, speech easily understood ye may not give — how shall that which is spoken be known? for ye shall be speaking to air.

So it is with you: if you do not deliver an intelligible message with the ‘language’, how will it be known what is being said? You will just be speaking into the air.

10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is unmeaning,

There are probably a great many kinds of sounds in the world, and none of them is without significance.

11 if, then, I do not know the power of the voice, I shall be to him who is speaking a foreigner, and he who is speaking, is to me a foreigner;

But if I do not know the force of the sound, I will be a foreigner to the speaker, and he will be a foreigner to me.

12 so also ye, since ye are earnestly desirous of spiritual gifts, for the building up of the assembly seek that ye may abound;

And you too: since you are zealous for spiritual things, aim at the edification of the congregation, that you may all grow.

13 wherefore he who is speaking in an [unknown] tongue — let him pray that he may interpret;

Therefore the one speaking in a ‘language’ should pray that he may interpret.

14 for if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit doth pray, and my understanding is unfruitful.

For if I pray in a ‘language’, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.

15 What then is it? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray also with the understanding; I will sing psalms with the spirit, and I will sing psalms also with the understanding;

So what then? I will pray with the spirit, but I will also pray with the mind; I will sing with the spirit, but I will also sing with the mind.

16 since, if thou mayest bless with the spirit, he who is filling the place of the unlearned, how shall he say the Amen at thy giving of thanks, since what thou dost say he hath not known?

Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the outsider say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying?

17 for thou, indeed, dost give thanks well, but the other is not built up!

You, of course, give thanks quite well, but the other is not edified.

18 I give thanks to my God — more than you all with tongues speaking —

I thank my God speaking in ‘languages’ more than you all,

19 but in an assembly I wish to speak five words through my understanding, that others also I may instruct, rather than myriads of words in an [unknown] tongue.

but in the congregation I would rather speak five words with my understanding, precisely so as to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a ‘language’.

20 Brethren, become not children in the understanding, but in the evil be ye babes, and in the understanding become ye perfect;

Brothers, stop thinking like children—well, in malice be ‘infants’, but in thinking be adults.

21 in the law it hath been written, that, 'With other tongues and with other lips I will speak to this people, and not even so will they hear Me, saith the Lord;'

In the law it stands written: “I will speak to this people in foreign languages and with different ‘lips’, but not even then will they listen to me,” says the Lord.

22 so that the tongues are for a sign, not to the believing, but to the unbelieving; and the prophesy [is] not for the unbelieving, but for the believing,

Therefore the ‘languages’ are for a sign, not to believers but to unbelievers; while prophesying is not for unbelievers but for believers.

23 If, therefore, the whole assembly may come together, to the same place, and all may speak with tongues, and there may come in unlearned or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

So if the whole congregation comes together and all are speaking in ‘languages’, but outsiders or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are raving?

24 and if all may prophecy, and any one may come in, an unbeliever or unlearned, he is convicted by all, he is discerned by all,

But if everyone is prophesying, and an unbeliever or outsider comes in, he is reproved by all, he is examined by all.

25 and so the secrets of his heart become manifest, and so having fallen upon [his] face, he will bow before God, declaring that God really is among you.

And thus the secrets of his heart are exposed, and so, falling on his face he will worship God, affirming, “Truly God is among you!”

26 What then is it, brethren? whenever ye may come together, each of you hath a psalm, hath a teaching, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation? let all things be for building up;

So what goes on, brothers? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a ‘language’, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.

27 if an [unknown] tongue any one do speak, by two, or at the most, by three, and in turn, and let one interpret;

If anyone speaks in a ‘language’, let it be two—at the most three—and in turn, and let one interpret.

28 and if there may be no interpreter, let him be silent in an assembly, and to himself let him speak, and to God.

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

29 And prophets — let two or three speak, and let the others discern,

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

30 and if to another sitting [anything] may be revealed, let the first be silent;

But if another who is sitting by receives a revelation, the first should stop speaking.

31 for ye are able, one by one, all to prophesy, that all may learn, and all may be exhorted,

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

32 and the spiritual gift of prophets to prophets are subject,

Yes, spirits of prophets are subordinate to prophets.

33 for God is not [a God] of tumult, but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the saints.

Further, God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the congregations of the saints,

34 Your women in the assemblies let them be silent, for it hath not been permitted to them to speak, but to be subject, as also the law saith;

your wives should keep silent in the assemblies, for they are not permitted to speak, but to be in subordination, as the law also says.

35 and if they wish to learn anything, at home their own husbands let them question, for it is a shame to women to speak in an assembly.

If they want to learn about something, let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for women to speak in church.

36 From you did the word of God come forth? or to you alone did it come?

Or was it from you that the Word of God went forth? Or was it only to you that it came?

37 if any one doth think to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge the things that I write to you — that of the Lord they are commands;

If anyone thinks that he is a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things I write to you are the Lord's commands.

38 and if any one is ignorant — let him be ignorant;

But if anyone is ignorant, let him remain so.

39 so that, brethren, earnestly desire to prophesy, and to speak with tongues do not forbid;

So then, brothers, seek to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in ‘languages’.

40 let all things be done decently and in order.

Let all things be done properly and in order.