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.

I Corinthians 14

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

²For 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.

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

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

⁵I 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.

⁶Now, 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?

⁷And 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?

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

⁹So 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.

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

¹¹Therefore 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.

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

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

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

¹⁵What 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.

¹⁶Else 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?

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

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

¹⁹Yet 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.

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

²¹In 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.

²²Wherefore 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.

²³If 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?

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

²⁵And 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.

²⁶How 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.

²⁷If 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.

²⁸But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

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

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

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

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

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

³⁴Let 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.

³⁵And 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.

³⁶What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?

³⁷If 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.

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

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

⁴⁰Let all things be done decently and in order.