I Corinthians 14

¹Pursue charity. Be zealous for spiritual things, but only so that you may prophesy.

²For whoever speaks in tongues, speaks not to men, but to God. For no one understands. Yet by the Spirit, he speaks mysteries.

³But whoever prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation.

⁴Whoever speaks in tongues edifies himself. But whoever prophesies edifies the Church.

⁵Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but more so to prophesy. For he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks in tongues, unless perhaps he interprets, so that the Church may receive edification.

⁶But now, brothers, if I were to come to you speaking in tongues, how would it benefit you, unless instead I speak to you in revelation, or in knowledge, or in prophecy, or in doctrine?

⁷Even those things that are without a soul can make sounds, whether it is a wind or a stringed instrument. But unless they present a distinction within the sounds, how will it be known which is from the pipe and which is from the string?

⁸For example, if the trumpet made an uncertain sound, who would prepare himself for battle?

⁹So it is with you also, for unless you utter with the tongue in plain speech, how will it be known what is said? For then you would be speaking into the air.

¹⁰Consider that there are so many different kinds of languages in this world, and yet none is without a voice.

¹¹Therefore, if I do not understand the nature of the voice, then I shall be like a foreigner to the one with whom I am speaking; and he who is speaking will be like a foreigner to me.

¹²So it is with you also. And since you are zealous for what is spiritual, seek the edification of the Church, so that you may abound.

¹³For this reason, too, whoever speaks in tongues, let him pray for the interpretation.

¹⁴So, if I pray in tongues, my spirit prays, but my mind is without fruit.

¹⁵What is next? I should pray with the spirit, and also pray with the mind. I should sing psalms with the spirit, and also recite psalms with the mind.

¹⁶Otherwise, if you have blessed only with the spirit, how can someone, in a state of ignorance, add an “Amen” to your blessing? For he does not know what you are saying.

¹⁷In this case, certainly, you give thanks well, but the other person is not edified.

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

¹⁹But in the Church, I prefer to speak five words from my mind, so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in tongues.

²⁰Brothers, do not choose to have the minds of children. Instead, be free of malice like infants, but be mature in your minds.

²¹It is written in the law: “I will speak to this people with other tongues and other lips, and even so, they will not heed me, says the Lord.”

²²And so, tongues are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers; and prophecies are not for unbelievers, but for believers.

²³If then, the entire Church were to gather together as one, and if all were to speak in tongues, and then ignorant or unbelieving persons were to enter, would they not say that you were insane?

²⁴But if everyone prophesies, and one who is ignorant or unbelieving enters, he may be convinced by it all, because he understands it all.

²⁵The secrets of his heart are then made manifest. And so, falling to his face, he would adore God, proclaiming that God is truly among you.

²⁶What is next, brothers? When you gather together, each one of you may have a psalm, or a doctrine, or a revelation, or a language, or an interpretation, but let everything be done for edification.

²⁷If anyone is speaking in tongues, let there be only two, or at most three, and then in turn, and let someone interpret.

²⁸But if there is no one to interpret, he should remain silent in the church, then he may speak when he is alone with God.

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

³⁰But then, if something is revealed to another who is sitting, let the first one become silent.

³¹For you are all able to prophesy one at a time, so that all may learn and all may be encouraged.

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

³³And God is not of dissension, but of peace, just as I also teach in all the churches of the saints.

³⁴Women should be silent in the churches. For it is not permitted for them to speak; but instead, they should be subordinate, as the law also says.

³⁵And if they want to learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in church.

³⁶So now, did the Word of God proceed from you? Or was it sent to you alone?

³⁷If anyone seems to be a prophet or a spiritual person, he should understand these things which I am writing to you, that these things are the commandments of the Lord.

³⁸If anyone does not recognize these things, he should not be recognized.

³⁹And so, brothers, be zealous to prophesy, and do not prohibit speaking in tongues.

⁴⁰But let everything be done respectfully and according to proper order.

I Corinthians 14

¹Follow after charity, be zealous for spiritual gifts; but rather that you may prophesy.

²For he that speaketh in a tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man heareth. Yet by the Spirit he speaketh mysteries.

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

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

⁵And I would have you all to speak with tongues, but rather to prophesy. For greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues: unless perhaps he interpret, that the church may receive edification.

⁶But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak to you either in revelation or in knowledge or in prophecy or in doctrine?

⁷Even things without life that give sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction of sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

⁸For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

⁹So likewise you, except you utter by the tongue plain speech, how shall it be known what is said? For you shall be speaking into the air.

¹⁰There are, for example, so many kinds of tongues in this world: and none is without voice.

¹¹If then I know not the power of the voice, I shall be to him to whom I speak a barbarian: and he that speaketh a barbarian to me.

¹²So you also, forasmuch as you are zealous of spirits, seek to abound unto the edifying of the church.

¹³And therefore he that speaketh by a tongue, let him pray that he may interpret.

¹⁴For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth: but my understanding is without fruit.

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

¹⁶Else, if thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that holdeth the place of the unlearned say, Amen, to thy blessing? Because he knoweth not what thou sayest.

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

¹⁸I thank my God I speak with all your tongues.

¹⁹But in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may instruct others also: than ten thousand words in a tongue.

²⁰Brethren, do not become children in sense. But in malice be children: and in sense be perfect.

²¹In the law it is written: In other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people: and neither so will they hear me, saith the Lord.

²²Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to believers but to unbelievers: but prophecies, not to unbelievers but to believers.

²³If therefore the whole church come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in unlearned persons or infidels, will they not say that you are mad?

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

²⁵The secrets of his heart are made manifest. And so, falling down on his face, he will adore God, affirming that God is among you indeed.

²⁶How is it then, brethren? When you come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a revelation, hath a tongue, hath an interpretation: let all things be done to edification.

²⁷If any speak with a tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and in course: and let one interpret.

²⁸But if there be no interpreter, let him hold his peace in the church and speak to himself and to God.

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

³⁰But if any thing be revealed to another sitting, let the first hold his peace.

³¹For you may all prophesy, one by one, that all may learn and all may be exhorted.

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

³³For God is not the God of dissension, but of peace: as also I teach in all the churches of the saints.

³⁴Let women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted them to speak but to be subject, as also the law saith.

³⁵But if they would learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is a shame for a woman to speak in the church.

³⁶Or did the word of God come out from you? Or came it only unto you?

³⁷If any seem to be a prophet or spiritual, let him know the things that I write to you, that they are the commandments of the Lord.

³⁸But if any man know not, he shall not be known.

³⁹Wherefore, brethren, be zealous to prophesy: and forbid not to speak with tongues.

⁴⁰But let all things be done decently and according to order.