1 Corinthians 14

1 Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.

2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries in the Spirit.

3 But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, encouragement, and comfort.

4 The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.

5 I wish that all of you could speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. For he who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be edified.

6 Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?

7 Even in the case of lifeless instruments, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone recognize the tune they are playing unless the notes are distinct?

8 Again, if the trumpet sounds a muffled call, who will prepare for battle?

9 So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.

10 Assuredly, there are many different languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.

11 If, then, I do not know the meaning of someone’s language, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me.

12 It is the same with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, strive to excel in gifts that build up the church.

13 Therefore, the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.

14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.

15 What then shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.

16 Otherwise, if you speak a blessing in spirit, how can someone who is uninstructed say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?

17 You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other one is not edified.

18 I thank my God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.

19 But in the church, I would rather speak five coherent words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

20 Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.

21 It is written in the Law: “By strange tongues and foreign lips I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to Me, says the Lord.”

22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.

23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who are uninstructed or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds?

24 But if an unbeliever or uninstructed person comes in while everyone is prophesying, he will be convicted and called to account by all,

25 and so the secrets of his heart will be made known. So he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is truly among you!”

26 What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, each one of you has a psalm or a teaching, a tongue, a revelation, or an interpretation. All of these must be done to build up the church.

27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two, or at most three, should speak in turn, and someone must interpret.

28 But if there is no interpreter, he should remain silent in the church and speak only to himself and God.

29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.

30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is seated, the first speaker should stop.

31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.

32 The spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.

33 For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace—as in all the churches of the saints.

34 Your women are to be silent in the churches. They are not permitted to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says.

35 If they wish to inquire about something, they are to ask their own husbands at home; for it is dishonorable for a woman to speak in the church.

36 Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only ones it has reached?

37 If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, let him acknowledge that what I am writing you is the Lord’s command.

38 But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

39 So, brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

40 But everything must be done in a proper and orderly manner.

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

2 For he that speaketh in an [unknown] tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth [him]; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

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

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

5 I would 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 edifying.

6 ¶ Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?

7 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 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.

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

11 Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh [shall be] a barbarian unto me.

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

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

14 For if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

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.

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

18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

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

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

21 ¶ In the law it is written, With [men of] other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.

22 Wherefore tongues 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 which believe.

23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in [those that are] unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

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

25 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 of a truth.

26 ¶ How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

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

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

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

31 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.

33 For God is not [the author] of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

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

35 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? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?

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

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

39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

1 Strive after love. Diligence yourselves to spiritual gifts, but most of all to prophesy.

2 For he that speaketh with the tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God. For no man heareth unto him: but in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

3 But he that knoweth speaketh unto men for correction, and for exhortation, and for comfort.

4 He that speaketh with tongues correcteth himself: but he that knoweth correcteth the church.

5 I would that ye all spake with tongues, but much more that ye prophesied. For he that prophesieth is greater than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may be edified thereby.

6 But now, brethren, if I came unto you speaking with tongues, what profit was I to you, if I spake not unto you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophecy, or by teaching?

7 Even so in those things which sound, and live not, whether it be a whistle or a harp; if they utter not divers voices, how can we know what is whistled, or what is harped?

8 And if the trumpet sound an uncertain note, who will make ready for the battle?

9 So likewise ye, if ye speak with tongues, if ye give not plain speech, how shall it be known what is spoken? For ye shall speak into the wind.

10 Though there be divers kinds of voices in the world, yet none of them is uncertain.

11 If therefore I know not the interpretation of the voice, I shall be un-German unto him that speaketh, and he that speaketh shall be un-German unto me.

12 So likewise ye, being diligent for spiritual gifts, seek to improve the church, that ye may have all things abundantly.

13 Therefore let him that speaketh with tongues pray that he may interpret.

14 And if I pray with tongues, my spirit prayeth: but my mind bringeth forth no fruit. Fifteen. But how should it be? Namely, thus: I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray also with the mind: I will sing psalms with the spirit, and I will sing psalms with the mind.

16 But if thou bless in the spirit, how shall he that standeth instead of the laity say 'Amen' unto thy thanksgiving, seeing he knoweth not what thou sayest?

17 Thou hast given thanks well, but the other is not made better.

18 I thank my God that I speak with tongues more than ye all.

19 But I will rather speak five words with my mind in the church, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words with tongues.

20 Brethren, be not children in understanding, but in wickedness be children: but in understanding be ye perfect.

21 It is written in the law: With other tongues and with other lips will I speak unto this people, and they shall not hear me," saith the LORD.

22 Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not; and prophecy, not to them that believe, but to them that believe.

23 If therefore the whole church were gathered together in one place, and all spake with tongues, and there came in laymen or unbelievers, would they not say that ye were senseless?

24 And if they all prophesy, and an unbeliever or a layman come in, he shall be punished of them all, and judged of them all.

25 And so the secret of his heart would be revealed, and he would fall on his face and worship God and confess that God is truly in you.

26 How is it then, brethren? When ye come together, every one hath psalms, he hath doctrine, he hath tongues, he hath revelation, he hath interpretation. Let it all be done for the better!

27 If any man speak with the tongue, or two, or three, one by one; let one lay it out.

28 But if he be not an interpreter, let him hold his peace among the congregation, and speak unto himself, and unto God:

29 But let the prophets speak, two or three, and let the rest judge.

30 But if one revelation be to another that sitteth, let the first hold his peace.

31 Ye may all prophesy one by one, that they may all learn, and that they may all be instructed.

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

33 for God is not a God of disorder, but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

34 Let your wives keep silence among the congregation: for it shall not be lawful for them to speak, but to be subject, as also saith the law.

35 But if they would learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home. It is evil for women to speak among the congregation.

36 Or is the word of God come out from you, or is it come to you alone?

37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him know what I write unto you: for they are the commandments of the LORD.

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

39 Wherefore, brethren, be diligent to prophesy, and forbear not to speak with tongues.

40 Let everything be done honestly and properly!