1 Corinthians 14

Prophecy and Tongues

1 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.2 For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.

6 Now, brothers,t 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 If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played?8 And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle?9 So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air.10 There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning,11 but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me.12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.

13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray for the power to interpret.14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful.15 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.16 Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsidert say "Amen" to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying?17 For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up.18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.19 Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

20 Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.21 In the Law it is written, "By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord."22 Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a signt not for unbelievers but for believers.23 If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds?24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all,25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.

Orderly Worship

26 What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.27 If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret.28 But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.30 If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent.31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged,32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.

33 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.
As in all the churches of the saints, 34 the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says.35 If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.

36 Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached?37 If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord.38 If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.39 So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.40 But all things should be done decently and in order.

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.