1 Corinthians 14

The Gifts the Holy Spirit Gives

1 Follow the way of love. You should also want the gifts the Holy Spirit gives. Most of all, you should want the gift of prophecy.
2 Anyone who speaks in a language he had not known before doesn't speak to people. He speaks only to God. In fact, no one understands that person. What he says with his spirit remains a mystery.3 But anyone who prophesies speaks to people. He says things to make them stronger, to give them hope and to comfort them.4 Those who speak in other languages build themselves up. But those who prophesy build up the church.
5 I would like all of you to speak in other languages. But I would rather have you prophesy. Those who prophesy are more helpful than those who speak in other languages. But that is not the case if those who speak in other languages explain what they have said. Then the whole church can be built up.
6 Brothers and sisters, suppose I were to come to you and speak in other languages. What good would I be to you? None! I would need to come with new truth or knowledge, or a prophecy or a teaching.
7 Here are some examples. Certain objects make sounds. Take a flute or a harp. No one will know what the tune is unless different notes are played.8 Also, if the trumpet call isn't clear, who will get ready for battle?
9 It's the same with you. You must speak words that people understand. If you don't, no one will know what you are saying. You will just be speaking into the air.
10 It is true that there are all kinds of languages in the world. And they all have meaning.11 But if I don't understand what someone is saying, I am a stranger to that person. And that person is a stranger to me.
12 It's the same with you. You want to have gifts of the Spirit. So try to do your best in using gifts that build up the church.
13 For that reason, those who speak in languages they had not known before should pray that they can explain what they say.14 If I pray in another language, my spirit prays. But my mind does not pray.15 So what should 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 Suppose you are praising God with your spirit. And suppose there are visitors among you who don't understand what's going on. How can they say "Amen" when you give thanks? They don't know what you are saying.17 You might be giving thanks well enough. But the others are not being built up.
18 I thank God that I speak in other languages more than all of you do.19 But in the church I would rather speak five words that people can understand than 10,000 words in another language. Then I would be teaching others.
20 Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. Be like babies as far as evil is concerned. But be grown up in your thinking.

21 In the Law it is written,
"Through people who speak unfamiliar languages
and through the lips of strangers
I will speak to these people.
But even then they will not listen to me." (Isaiah 28:11,12)
That is what the Lord says.
22 So speaking in other languages is a sign for those who don't believe. It is not a sign for those who do believe. But prophecy is for believers. It is not for those who don't believe.
23 Suppose the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in other languages. And suppose visitors or unbelievers come in. Won't they say you are out of your minds?24 But suppose unbelievers or visitors come in while everyone is prophesying. Then they will be shown by all who speak that they are sinners. They will be judged by all.25 The secrets of their hearts will be brought out into the open. They will fall down and worship God. They will exclaim, "God is really here among you!"

Proper Worship

26 Brothers and sisters, what should we say then? When you come together, every one of you brings something. You bring a hymn or a teaching or a word from God. You bring a message in another language or explain what was said. All of those things must be done to make the church strong.
27 No more than two or three people should speak in another language. And they should speak one at a time. Then someone must explain what was said.28 If there is no one to explain, the speakers should keep quiet in the church. They can speak to themselves and to God.
29 Only two or three prophets are supposed to speak. Others should decide if what is being said is true.30 What if a message from God comes to someone else who is sitting there? Then the one who is speaking should stop.
31 Those who prophesy can all take turns. In that way, everyone can be taught and be given hope.32 Those who prophesy should control their speaking.33 God is not a God of disorder. He is a God of peace.
As in all the churches of God's people,34 women should remain silent in the meetings. They are not allowed to speak. They must follow the lead of those who are in authority, as the Law says.35 If they have a question about something, they should ask their own husbands at home. It is shameful for women to speak in church meetings.
36 Did the word of God begin with you? Or are you the only people it has reached?37 Suppose some think they are prophets or have gifts of the Holy Spirit. They should agree that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command.38 Anyone who does not recognize that will not be recognized.
39 Brothers and sisters, you should want to prophesy. And don't stop people from speaking in languages they had not known before.40 But everything should be done in a proper and orderly way.

1 Corinthians 14

1 Follow after love; yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.2 For he that speaketh in a tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God; for no man understandeth; but in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men edification, and exhortation, and consolation.4 He that speaketh in a tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.5 Now I would have you all speak with tongues, but rather that ye should prophesy: and greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.6 But now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching?7 Even things without life, giving a voice, whether pipe or harp, if they give not a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain voice, who shall prepare himself for war?9 So also ye, unless ye utter by the tongue speech easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye will be speaking into the air.10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and no kind is without signification.11 If then I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be to him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh will be a barbarian unto me.12 So also ye, since ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may abound unto the edifying of the church.13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in a tongue pray that he may interpret.14 For if I pray in a 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 if thou bless with the spirit, how shall he that filleth the place of the unlearned say the Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he knoweth not what thou sayest?17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.18 I thank God, I speak with tongues more than you all:19 howbeit in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.20 Brethren, be not children in mind: yet in malice be ye babes, but in mind be men.21 In the law it is written, By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers will I speak unto this people; and not even thus will they hear me, saith the Lord.22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to the unbelieving: but prophesying is for a sign, not to the unbelieving, but to them that believe.23 If therefore the whole church be assembled together and all speak with tongues, and there come in men unlearned or unbelieving, will they not say that ye are mad?24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one unbelieving or unlearned, he is reproved by all, he is judged by all;25 the secrets of his heart are made manifest; and so he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeed.26 What is it then, brethren? When ye come together, each one hath a psalm, hath a teaching, hath a revelation, hath a tongue, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.27 If any man speaketh in a tongue, let it be by two, or at the most three, and that in turn; 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 And let the prophets speak by two or three, and let the others discern.30 But if a revelation be made to another sitting by, let the first keep silence.31 For ye all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be exhorted;32 and the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets;33 for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,34 let the women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as also saith the law.35 And if they would learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home: for it is shameful for a woman to speak in the church.36 What? was it from you that the word of God went forth? or came it unto you alone?37 If any man thinketh himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him take knowledge of the things which I write unto you, that they are the commandment of the Lord.38 But if any man is ignorant, let him be ignorant.39 Wherefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.40 But let all things be done decently and in order.