1 Corinthians

14 Pursue love; Nevertheless be envious of the spiritual gifts,—And rather that ye may be prophesying.

2 For he that speaketh with a tongue Not unto men doth speak but unto God,—For no one understandeth, Although in spirit he is speaking sacred secrets;

3 But he that prophesieth Unto men doth speak—edification and exhortation and comfort.

4 He that speaketh with a tongue Buildeth up himself, Whereas he that prophesieth Buildeth up an assembly.

5 Howbeit I wish you all to speak with tongues, But rather that ye may prophesy,—Moreover greater is he that prophesieth Than he that speaketh with tongues,—Unless indeed he translate That the assembly may receive upbuilding.

6 But now brethren—If I come unto you speaking with tongues What shall I profit you, Except I speak unto you either by way of revelation or knowledge or prophesying or teaching?

7 In like manner the things without life giving sound whether pipe or harp If a distinction in the sounds they do not give How shall it be known what is being piped or harped?

8 For if also an uncertain sound a trumpet should give Who shall prepare himself for battle?

9 So also ye through means of the tongue Except ye give intelligible discourse How shall it be known what is being spoken? For ye will be speaking to the air.

10 There may happen to be so many kinds of languages in the world, And not one unspoken:—

11 If then I do not know the meaning of the language I shall be unto him that is speaking a foreigner, And he that is speaking shall be in my case a foreigner.

12 So ye also—Since ye are envious of spirits Unto the upbuilding of the assembly seek to be pre-eminent.

13 Wherefore he that speaketh with a tongue Let him pray that he may translate;

14 [For] if I am praying in a tongue My spirit is praying, But my mind is unfruitful.

15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit But I will pray also with the mind,—I will strike the strings with the spirit [But] I will strike the strings also with the mind.

16 Else if thou be blessing in a spirit He that filleth up the place of the ungifted person How shall he say the Amen upon thy thanksgiving? Since indeed what thou art saying he knoweth not;

17 For thou indeed excellently art giving thanks, But the other is not being built up.

18 I give thanks unto God!—More than ye all am I speaking with tongues;

19 But in assembly I desire to speak five words with my mind That others also I may instruct Than myriads of words in a tongue.

20 Brethren! do not become children in your understandings; But in baseness become babes, While in your understandings ye become full-grown.

21 In the law it is written—With strange tongues And with lips of strangers Will I speak unto this people; And not even so will they hearken unto me,—Saith the Lord.

22 So that the tongues are for a sign—Not unto them that believe But unto them that believe not; Whereas prophesying is Not for them that believe not But for them that believe.

23 If then the whole assembly come together with one consent, And all are speaking with tongues,—And there come in persons unskilled or unbelieving Will they not say that ye are raving?

24 But if all be prophesying,—And there come in one who is unbelieving or unskilled He is convicted by all, He is searched by all, The secrets of his heart become manifest;

25 And so falling down upon his face he will do homage unto God, reporting that in reality God is among you.

26 What then is it, brethren? Whensoever ye are coming together Each one hath a psalm, hath a teaching, hath a revelation, hath a tongue, hath a translation:—Let all things be done unto building up.

27 If with a tongue one is speaking Let it be by two, or at the most three,—And by turns; And let one be translating;

28 But if there be none to translate Let him keep silence in assembly, And unto himself be speaking, and unto God.

29 Prophets moreover Let two or three speak, And let the others judge.

30 If however unto another a revelation be made as he is sitting Let the first be silent;

31 For one by one ye can all be prophesying,—That all may learn and all be encouraged.

32 And spirits of prophets unto prophets do submit themselves;

33 For God is not [a God] of confusion but of peace:—As in all the assemblies of the saints.

34 As for the women In the assemblies let them be silent, For it is not permitted them to be speaking; But let them be in submission,—Even as the law saith.

35 If however they are wishing to learn something At home their own husbands let them question; For it is a shame for a woman to be speaking in assembly.

36 Or from you did the word of God come forth? Or unto you alone did it extend?

37 If anyone thinketh himself to be a prophet or spiritually gifted Let him acknowledge the things which I am writing to you,—That they are a commandment of the Lord.

38 But if anyone knoweth not he is unknown!

39 So then, my brethren,—Be zealous to prophesy, And do not forbid to be speaking with tongues;

40 But let all things with comeliness and by arrangement be done.