1Cor 14
1
Follow after love; yet desire earnestly spiritual [gifts], but rather that you may
prophesy.
2
For he who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men, but to God; for no man understands;
but in the spirit he speaks mysteries.
3
But he who prophesies speaks to men edification, and exhortation, and consolation.
4
He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but he who prophesies edifies the church.
5
Now I would have you all speak with tongues, but rather that you should prophesy:
and greater is he who prophesies than he who speaks with tongues, except he interpret,
that the church may receive edifying.
6
But now, brethren, if I come to 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 you, unless you utter by the tongue speech easy to understood, how shall it
be known what is spoken? for you 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 whom speaks a barbarian,
and he who speaks will be a barbarian to me.
12
So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual [gifts], seek that you may abound
to the edifying of the church.
13
Wherefore let him whom speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.
14
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, 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 you bless with the spirit, how shall he who fills the place of the unlearned
say the Amen at your giving of thanks, seeing he knows not what you say?
17
For you truly give thanks well, but the other is not edified.
18
I thank God, I speak with tongues more than you all:
19
nevertheless 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 you 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 to this people; and not even thus will they hear me, says 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 you 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 you come together, each one has a psalm, has a teaching,
has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done to edifying.
27
If any man speaks 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 you 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 to them to speak;
but let them be in subjection, as also says 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 to you alone?
37
If any man thinks himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him take knowledge of
the things which I write to 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.