14:1 Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual {gifts,} but especially that you may prophesy. |
14:2 For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in {his} spirit he speaks mysteries. |
14:3 But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation. |
14:4 One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church. |
14:5 Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but {even} more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying. |
14:6 But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation or of knowledge or of prophecy or of teaching? |
14:7 Yet {even} lifeless things, either flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp? |
14:8 For if the bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle? |
14:9 So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. |
14:10 There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and no {kind} is without meaning. |
14:11 If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be to the one who speaks a barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a barbarian to me. |
14:12 So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual {gifts,} seek to abound for the edification of the church. |
14:13 Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. |
14:14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. |
14:15 What is {the outcome} then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also. |
14:16 Otherwise if you bless in the spirit {only,} how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say the "Amen at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying?" |
14:17 For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not edified. |
14:18 I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all; |
14:19 however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue. |
14:20 Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature. |
14:21 In the Law it is written, "BY MEN OF STRANGE TONGUES AND BY THE LIPS OF STRANGERS I WILL SPEAK TO THIS PEOPLE, AND EVEN SO THEY WILL NOT LISTEN TO ME, says the Lord." |
14:22 So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy {is for a sign,} not to unbelievers but to those who believe. |
14:23 Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad? |
14:24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; |
14:25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you. |
14:26 What is {the outcome} then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. |
14:27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, {it should be} by two or at the most three, and {each} in turn, and one must interpret; |
14:28 but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God. |
14:29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment. |
14:30 But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent. |
14:31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted; |
14:32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets; |
14:33 for God is not {a God} of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. |
14:34 The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. |
14:35 If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church. |
14:36 Was it from you that the word of God {first} went forth? Or has it come to you only? |
14:37 If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord's commandment. |
14:38 But if anyone does not recognize {this,} he is not recognized. |
14:39 Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues. |
14:40 But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner. |