1 Corinthians 14
World English Bible (WEB)
1 Ref Follow after love, and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
2 Ref For he who speaks in another language speaks not to men, but to God; for no one understands; but in the Spirit he speaks mysteries.
3 Ref But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, exhortation, and consolation.
4 Ref He who speaks in another language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the assembly.
5 Ref Now I desire to have you all speak with other languages, but rather that you would prophesy. For he is greater who prophesies than he who speaks with other languages, unless he interprets, that the assembly may be built up.
6 Ref But now, brothers,{The word for "brothers" here and where context allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."} if I come to you speaking with other languages, what would I profit you, unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching?
7 Ref Even things without life, giving a voice, whether pipe or harp, if they didn't give a distinction in the sounds, how would it be known what is piped or harped?
8 Ref For if the trumpet gave an uncertain sound, who would prepare himself for war?
9 Ref So also you, unless you uttered by the tongue words easy to understand, how would it be known what is spoken? For you would be speaking into the air.
10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of sounds in the world, and none of them is without meaning.
11 Ref If then I don't know the meaning of the sound, I would be to him who speaks a foreigner, and he who speaks would be a foreigner to me.
12 Ref So also you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound to the building up of the assembly.
13 Ref Therefore let him who speaks in another language pray that he may interpret.
14 Ref For if I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
15 Ref 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 Ref Otherwise if you bless with the spirit, how will he who fills the place of the unlearned say the "Amen" at your giving of thanks, seeing he doesn't know what you say?
17 Ref For you most assuredly give thanks well, but the other person is not built up.
18 Ref I thank my God, I speak with other languages more than you all.
19 Ref However in the assembly I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in another language.
20 Ref Brothers, don't be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature.
21 Ref In the law it is written, "By men of strange languages and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people. Not even thus will they hear me, says the Lord."
22 Ref Therefore other languages are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to the unbelieving; but prophesying is for a sign, not to the unbelieving, but to those who believe.
23 Ref If therefore the whole assembly is assembled together and all speak with other languages, and unlearned or unbelieving people come in, won't they say that you are crazy?
24 Ref But if all prophesy, and someone unbelieving or unlearned comes in, he is reproved by all, and he is judged by all.
25 Ref And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed. So he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeed.
26 Ref What is it then, brothers? When you come together, each one of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has another language, has an interpretation. Let all things be done to build each other up.
27 Ref If any man speaks in another language, let it be two, or at the most three, and in turn; and let one interpret.
28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in the assembly, and let him speak to himself, and to God.
29 Ref Let the prophets speak, two or three, and let the others discern.
30 Ref But if a revelation is made to another sitting by, let the first keep silent.
31 Ref For you all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be exhorted.
32 Ref The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets,
33 Ref for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. As in all the assemblies of the saints,
34 Ref let your wives keep silent in the assemblies, for it has not been permitted for them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as the law also says.
35 Ref If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for a woman to chatter in the assembly.
36 Ref What? Was it from you that the word of God went out? Or did it come to you alone?
37 Ref If any man thinks himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him recognize the things which I write to you, that they are the commandment of the Lord.
38 Ref But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39 Ref Therefore, brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy, and don't forbid speaking with other languages.
American Standard-ASV1901 (ASV)
1 Ref Follow after love; yet desire earnestly spiritual `gifts', but rather that ye may prophesy.
2 Ref 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 Ref But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men edification, and exhortation, and consolation.
4 Ref He that speaketh in a tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
5 Ref 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 Ref 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 Ref 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 Ref For if the trumpet give an uncertain voice, who shall prepare himself for war?
9 Ref So also ye, unless ye utter by the tongue speech easy to 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 Ref 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 Ref So also ye, since ye are zealous of spiritual `gifts', seek that ye may abound unto the edifying of the church.
13 Ref Wherefore let him that speaketh in a tongue pray that he may interpret.
14 Ref For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
15 Ref 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 Ref 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 Ref For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
18 Ref I thank God, I speak with tongues more than you all:
19 Ref 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 Ref Brethren, be not children in mind: yet in malice be ye babes, but in mind be men.
21 Ref 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 Ref 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 Ref 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 Ref But if all prophesy, and there come in one unbelieving or unlearned, he is reproved by all, he is judged by all;
25 Ref 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 Ref 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 Ref 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 Ref And let the prophets speak `by' two or three, and let the others discern.
30 Ref But if a revelation be made to another sitting by, let the first keep silence.
31 Ref For ye all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be exhorted;
32 Ref and the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets;
33 Ref for God is not `a God' of confusion, but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,
34 Ref 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 Ref 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 Ref What? was it from you that the word of God went forth? or came it unto you alone?
37 Ref 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 Ref But if any man is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39 Ref Wherefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
