14 So you must always want to love other people. Also, want very much to receive spiritual gifts from God. More than anything else, want to speak messages from God. 2 If someone speaks in a different language, he is speaking only to God. The people who hear him do not understand his message. God's Spirit is causing him to speak about secret things. It does not help people. 3 But if someone speaks a clear message from God, he helps the people who hear him. He helps them to become stronger as believers. He helps them to be happy and strong in their troubles. 4 Anyone who speaks in a different language only helps himself. But a person who speaks a message from God helps the believers in the church to become strong.
5 I would like all of you to speak in different kinds of languages. But even more, I want you to speak God's message clearly to people. Anyone who can speak a message from God is important in the church. He is more important than someone who speaks in different kinds of languages. That person only helps the church if someone can explain what he says. Only in that way will his message help the church to become stronger.
6 My Christian friends, if I come to visit you, then I want to help you. But if I speak to you in languages that you do not understand, that will not help you at all. I would need to explain to you what God has shown to me. I would need to help you to understand something. I would need to speak a clear message from God, or teach you something. Only that would help you. 7 Think about how people make music with flutes or harps. Those things are not alive. We have to use them to make clear sounds. If we do not use them properly, then nobody can recognize the music. 8 Soldiers will not prepare to fight unless they hear a clear sound from the trumpet.
9 It is the same for you. You must use your tongue to speak clearly. If not, nobody will understand what you are saying. You will only be speaking words into the air. 10 There are many different kinds of languages in this world. They all mean something to the people who speak them. 11 Perhaps somebody may speak to me in a language that I do not understand. Then we are like foreign people to each other. 12 So think about what is best for you. You really want the gifts that come from God's Spirit. Most of all, you should want the gifts that will help the whole church to become stronger.
13 So, if you speak a message in a different language, you should pray to God about it. Pray that you may be able to explain to people what the message means. 14 If I pray in a different language, only my spirit is praying. But I do not use my mind while I pray like that. 15 This is what I should do: I will not only pray with my spirit. I will also pray with my mind. I will sing to praise God with my spirit. And I will also do that with my mind. 16 If you are praising God only with your spirit, not everyone will understand. Believers who have not learned these things will not know what you are saying. They cannot agree and say ‘Amen’. 17 You may really be able to thank God very well in your spirit. But your words do not help those other believers to become strong.
18 I thank God that I speak in different kinds of languages more than all of you. 19 But when the church meets together, I want to help other believers and teach them. So I would rather say five words that people understand than thousands of words in a different language.
20 My Christian friends, do not continue to think like children think. Instead, think properly like men and women should think. The only way you should be like babies is to keep away from evil things. 21 This is written in the Bible:
‘I will send strangers to speak to my people.
They will speak my message to them in strange languages.
But even when I do this, my people will not listen to me.’
That is what the Lord God has said. [ a ]
22 So the gift to speak in different languages is like a sign. It shows God's power to people who do not believe in him. It is not a sign to help believers. But the gift to speak clear messages from God shows his power to believers. It is not a sign for those people who do not believe.
23 Think about what happens when the whole church meets together. Perhaps some people come in who do not believe in God. Or perhaps they have not learned much about God. If all of you are speaking in strange languages, those visitors would not understand. They would say that you are all crazy! 24 But if all of you are speaking clear messages from God, a visitor will understand you. He may not believe in God. He may not have learned much about God. But he will hear God's message. He will understand that he has done wrong things. He will know that God will judge him. He will learn this from what all of you are saying. 25 The visitor's secret thoughts will become clear. As a result, he will bend down to the ground and he will worship God. He will say, ‘God is really here among you!’
26 My Christian friends, this is what you should do when you meet together. Some of you may have a song to praise God. Some of you may have a lesson to teach about God. Other people may have a special thing that God has shown to them. Some people may have a message in a special language. Other people may explain what the message means. Do all these things to help the church become stronger.
27 If some people speak in special languages, it should only be two or three people. They should speak one person at a time. Then someone must explain what each person said. 28 But perhaps there is nobody among you who can explain like that. Then, anyone who wanted to speak in a special language must be quiet in your meeting. When they are on their own, they should speak to God.
29 When you meet together, two or three people should speak a message from God. Then the other people there should think carefully about each message. 30 Someone who is sitting in your meeting may receive a special message from God. Then, the person who is already speaking should stop. 31 In that way, each person can speak a message from God, one person at a time. Then everyone will learn something that helps them. 32 All of you who speak messages from God have authority over your own spirits. 33 When we meet together as God's people, he wants there to be peace among us. He does not want to bring trouble.
This is what happens in all the churches where God's people meet together. 34 The women should be quiet during the meetings. They should not speak. They should remember that they are under authority. That is also what God's Law teaches. 35 If a woman wants to ask about something, she should ask her husband at home. Women should be ashamed if they speak in the church. [ b ] 36 Remember that God's message did not start from you in Corinth! You are not the only people who have heard it, either.
37 Someone may think that he has the gift to speak messages from God. Or he may think that he has received other spiritual gifts. Anyone who thinks like that should agree with what I have written to you. He should recognize that it is what the Lord himself is telling his people to do. 38 If anyone refuses to accept this, you should not accept that person.
39 My Christian friends, this is what I am saying to you: It is good when you want to speak clear messages from God. And if anyone has the gift to speak in a special language, do not stop them. 40 But you must do everything in a proper way that helps people.
14 Love should be the goal of your life, but you should also want to have the gifts that come from the Spirit. And the gift you should want most is to be able to prophesy. 2 I will explain why. Those who have the gift of speaking in a different language are not speaking to people. They are speaking to God. No one understands them—they are speaking secret things through the Spirit. 3 But those who prophesy are speaking to people. They help people grow stronger in faith, and they give encouragement and comfort. 4 Those who speak in a different language are helping only themselves. But those who prophesy are helping the whole church.
5 I would like all of you to have the gift of speaking in different languages. But what I want more is for you to prophesy. Anyone who prophesies is more important than those who can only speak in different languages. However, if they can also interpret those languages, they are as important as the one who prophesies. If they can interpret, then the church can be helped by what they say.
6 Brothers and sisters, will it help you if I come to you speaking in different languages? No, it will help you only if I bring you a new truth or some knowledge, prophecy, or teaching. 7 This is true even with lifeless things that make sounds—like a flute or a harp. If the different musical notes are not made clear, you can’t understand what song is being played. Each note must be played clearly for you to be able to understand the tune. 8 And in a war, if the trumpet does not sound clearly, the soldiers will not know it is time to prepare for fighting.
9 It is the same with you. If you don’t speak clearly in a language people know, they cannot understand what you are saying. You will be talking to the air! 10 It is true that there are many different languages in the world, and they all have meaning. 11 But if I don’t understand the meaning of what someone is saying, it will just be strange sounds to me, and I will sound just as strange to them. 12 That’s why you who want spiritual gifts so much should prefer those gifts that help the church grow stronger.
13 So those who have the gift of speaking in a different language should pray that they can also interpret what they say. 14 If I pray in a different language, my spirit is praying, but my mind does nothing. 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 You might be praising God with your spirit. But someone there without understanding cannot say “Amen” to your prayer of thanks, because they don’t know what you are saying. 17 You may be thanking God in a good way, but others are not helped.
18 I thank God that my gift of speaking in different kinds of languages is greater than any of yours. 19 But in the church meetings I would rather speak five words that I understand than thousands of words in a different language. I would rather speak with my understanding, so that I can teach others.
20 Brothers and sisters, don’t think like children. In evil things be like babies, but in your thinking you should be like full-grown adults. 21 As the Scriptures [ a ] say,
“Using those who speak a different language
and using the lips of foreigners,
I will speak to these people.
But even then, they will not obey me.” ( A )
This is what the Lord says.
22 And from this we see that the use of different languages shows how God deals with those who don’t believe, not with those who believe. And prophecy shows how God works through those who believe, not through unbelievers. 23 Suppose the whole church meets together and you all speak in different languages. If some people come in who are without understanding or don’t believe, they will say you are crazy. 24 But suppose you are all prophesying and someone comes in who does not believe or who is without understanding. Their sin will be shown to them, and they will be judged by everything you say. 25 The secret things in their heart will be made known. So they will bow down and worship God. They will say, “Without a doubt, God is here with you.” [ b ]
26 So, brothers and sisters, what should you do? When you meet together, one person has a song, another has a teaching, and another has a new truth from God. One person speaks in a different language, and another interprets that language. The purpose of whatever you do should be to help everyone grow stronger in faith. 27 When you meet together, if anyone speaks to the group in a different language, it should be only two or no more than three people who do this. And they should speak one after the other. And someone else should interpret what they say. 28 But if there is no interpreter, then anyone who speaks in a different language should be quiet in the church meeting. They should speak only to themselves and to God.
29 And only two or three prophets should speak. The others should judge what they say. 30 And if a message from God comes to someone who is sitting, the first speaker should be quiet. 31 You can all prophesy one after the other. This way everyone can be taught and encouraged. 32 The spirits of prophets are under the control of the prophets themselves. 33 God is not a God of confusion but a God of peace. This is the rule for all the meetings of God’s people.
34 The women should keep quiet in these church meetings. They are not allowed to speak out but should be under authority, as the Law of Moses says. 35 If there is something they want to know, they should ask their own husbands at home. It is shameful for a woman to speak up like that in the church meeting.
36 God’s teaching did not come from you, and you are not the only ones who have received it. 37 If you think you are a prophet or that you have a spiritual gift, you should understand that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command. 38 If you do not accept this, you will not be accepted.
39 So my brothers and sisters, continue to give your attention to prophesying. And don’t stop anyone from using the gift of speaking in different languages. 40 But everything should be done in a way that is right and orderly.
14 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
5 I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.
10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.
11 Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.
12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.
14 For if I pray in an unknown 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 when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?
17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:
19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
21 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.
22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; 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 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law.
35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?
37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
14 ( A ) Pursue love, yet earnestly ( B ) desire ( C ) spiritual gifts , but especially that you may ( D ) prophesy. 2 For the one who ( E ) speaks in a tongue does not speak to people, but to God; for no one [ a ] understands, but [ b ] in his spirit he speaks ( F ) mysteries. 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for ( G ) edification, [ c ] ( H ) exhortation, and consolation. 4 The one who ( I ) speaks in a tongue ( J ) edifies himself; but the one who ( K ) prophesies ( L ) edifies the church. 5 Now I wish that you all ( M ) spoke in tongues, but ( N ) rather that you would prophesy; and greater is the one who prophesies than the one who ( O ) speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive ( P ) edification.
6 But now, brothers and sisters , if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you either by way of ( Q ) revelation, or of ( R ) knowledge, or of ( S ) prophecy, or of ( T ) teaching? 7 Yet even lifeless instruments , whether 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? 8 For if ( U ) the trumpet produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle? 9 So you too, unless you produce intelligible speech by the tongue, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will just be ( V ) talking to the air. 10 There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of [ d ] languages in the world, and none is incapable of meaning. 11 So if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be ( W ) unintelligible to the one who speaks, and the one who speaks will be unintelligible [ e ] to me. 12 So you too, since you are eager to possess [ f ] spiritual gifts , strive to excel for the ( X ) edification of the church.
13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue is to pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive. 15 ( Y ) What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray with the mind also; I will ( Z ) sing with the spirit, but I will sing with the mind also. 16 For otherwise, if you bless God [ g ] in the spirit only , how will the one who occupies the place of the [ h ] outsider know to say ( AA ) the “Amen” at your ( AB ) giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you are saying? 17 For you are giving thanks well enough , but the other person is not ( AC ) edified. 18 I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all; 19 nevertheless, in church I prefer to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20 ( AD ) Brothers and sisters , ( AE ) do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil ( AF ) be infants, but in your thinking be mature. 21 In ( AG ) the [ i ] Law it is written: “ ( AH ) 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. 22 So then, tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but ( AI ) prophecy is not for unbelievers, but for those who believe. 23 Therefore if the whole church gathers together and all the people speak in tongues, and [ j ] outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that ( AJ ) you are insane? 24 But if all ( AK ) prophesy, and an unbeliever or an [ k ] outsider enters, he is ( AL ) convicted by all, he is called to account by all; 25 ( AM ) the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will ( AN ) fall on his face and worship God, ( AO ) declaring that God is certainly among you.
26 ( AP ) What is the outcome then, ( AQ ) brothers and sisters ? When you assemble, ( AR ) each one has a ( AS ) psalm, has a ( AT ) teaching, has a ( AU ) revelation, has a ( AV ) tongue, has an ( AW ) interpretation. ( AX ) All things are to be done for edification. 27 If anyone speaks in a ( AY ) tongue, it must be by two or at the most three, and each one in turn, and one is to ( AZ ) interpret; 28 but if there is no interpreter, he is to keep silent in church; and have him speak to himself and to God. 29 Have two or three ( BA ) prophets speak, and have the others ( BB ) pass judgment. 30 But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, then the first one is to keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be [ l ] exhorted; 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets; 33 for God is not a God of ( BC ) confusion, but of peace.
As in ( BD ) all the churches of the [ m ] ( BE ) saints, 34 the women are to ( BF ) keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but ( BG ) are to subject themselves, just as ( BH ) the Law also says. 35 If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is [ n ] improper for a woman to speak in church. 36 Or was it from you that the word of God first went out? Or has it come to you only?
37 ( BI ) If anyone thinks that he is a prophet or ( BJ ) spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you ( BK ) are the Lord’s commandment. 38 But if anyone does not recognize this , [ o ] he is not recognized.
39 Therefore, my brothers and sisters , ( BL ) earnestly desire to ( BM ) prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But ( BN ) all things must be done properly and in an orderly way.
14 Follow the way of love ( A ) and eagerly desire ( B ) gifts of the Spirit, ( C ) especially prophecy. ( D ) 2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue [ a ] ( E ) does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; ( F ) they utter mysteries ( G ) by the Spirit. 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, ( H ) encouraging ( I ) and comfort. 4 Anyone who speaks in a tongue ( J ) edifies ( K ) themselves, but the one who prophesies ( L ) edifies the church. 5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, [ b ] but I would rather have you prophesy. ( M ) The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, [ c ] unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified. ( N )
6 Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation ( O ) or knowledge ( P ) or prophecy or word of instruction? ( Q ) 7 Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? 8 Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? ( R ) 9 So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. 10 Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. 11 If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me. ( S ) 12 So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, ( T ) try to excel in those that build up ( U ) the church.
13 For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say. ( V ) 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, ( W ) but my mind is unfruitful. 15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, ( X ) but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing ( Y ) with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. 16 Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer, [ d ] say “Amen” ( Z ) to your thanksgiving, ( AA ) since they do not know what you are saying? 17 You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified. ( AB )
18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue. ( AC )
20 Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. ( AD ) In regard to evil be infants, ( AE ) but in your thinking be adults. 21 In the Law ( AF ) it is written:
“With other tongues
and through the lips of foreigners
I will speak to this people,
but even then they will not listen to me, ( AG )
says the Lord.” [ e ]
22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, ( AH ) however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? ( AI ) 24 But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, 25 as the secrets ( AJ ) of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!” ( AK )
26 What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? ( AL ) When you come together, each of you ( AM ) has a hymn, ( AN ) or a word of instruction, ( AO ) a revelation, a tongue ( AP ) or an interpretation. ( AQ ) Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. ( AR ) 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. 28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.
29 Two or three prophets ( AS ) should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. ( AT ) 30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. 31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. 32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. ( AU ) 33 For God is not a God of disorder ( AV ) but of peace ( AW ) —as in all the congregations ( AX ) of the Lord’s people. ( AY )
34 Women [ f ] should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, ( AZ ) but must be in submission, ( BA ) as the law ( BB ) says. 35 If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. [ g ]
36 Or did the word of God ( BC ) originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? 37 If anyone thinks they are a prophet ( BD ) or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, ( BE ) let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command. ( BF ) 38 But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored. [ h ]
39 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager ( BG ) to prophesy, ( BH ) and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly ( BI ) way.
