1 Corinthians 14
14
Prophecy a Superior Gift
1Pursue love, yet earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2For the one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people, but to God; for no one #14:2 Lit hearsunderstands, but #14:2 Or by the Spiritin his spirit he speaks mysteries. 3But the one who prophesies speaks to people for edification, #14:3 Or encouragementexhortation, and consolation. 4The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but the one who prophesies edifies the church. 5Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but rather that you would prophesy; and greater is the one who prophesies than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edification.
6But 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 revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophecy, or of teaching? 7Yet 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? 8For if the trumpet produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle? 9So you too, unless you produce intelligible speech by the tongue, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will just be talking to the air. 10There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of #14:10 Lit voiceslanguages in the world, and none is incapable of meaning. 11So if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be unintelligible to the one who speaks, and the one who speaks will be unintelligible #14:11 Or in my estimationto me. 12So you too, since you are eager to possess #14:12 Lit spiritsspiritual gifts, strive to excel for the edification of the church.
13Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue is to pray that he may interpret. 14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive. 15What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit, but I will sing with the mind also. 16For otherwise, if you bless God #14:16 Or with thein the spirit only, how will the one who occupies the place of the #14:16 Lit private personoutsider know to say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you are saying? 17For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not edified. 18I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all; 19nevertheless, 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.
Instruction for the Church
20Brothers and sisters, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature. 21In the #14:21 I.e., Old Testament, IsaiahLaw it is written: “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. 22So then, tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is not for unbelievers, but for those who believe. 23Therefore if the whole church gathers together and all the people speak in tongues, and #14:23 See note 2 v 16outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are insane? 24But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an #14:24 See note 2 v 16outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; 25the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you.
26What is the outcome then, brothers and sisters? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. All things are to be done for edification. 27If anyone speaks in a tongue, it must be by two or at the most three, and each one in turn, and one is to interpret; 28but if there is no interpreter, he is to keep silent in church; and have him speak to himself and to God. 29Have two or three prophets speak, and have the others pass judgment. 30But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, then the first one is to keep silent. 31For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be #14:31 Or encouragedexhorted; 32and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets; 33for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace.
As in all the churches of the #14:33 I.e., God’s peoplesaints, 34the women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. 35If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is #14:35 Or disgracefulimproper for a woman to speak in church. 36Or was it from you that the word of God first went out? Or has it come to you only?
37If anyone thinks that he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment. 38But if anyone does not recognize this, #14:38 Two early mss let him continue not to recognize ithe is not recognized.
39Therefore, my brothers and sisters, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40But all things must be done properly and in an orderly way.
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1 Corinthians 14: NASB2020
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1 Corinthians 14
14
1Follow after love and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2For he who speaks in another language speaks not to men, but to God, for no one understands, but in the Spirit he speaks mysteries. 3But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, exhortation, and consolation. 4He who speaks in another language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the assembly. 5Now I desire to have you all speak with other languages, but even more 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.
6But now, brothers,#14:6 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? 7Even lifeless things that make a sound, whether pipe or harp, if they didn’t give a distinction in the sounds, how would it be known what is piped or harped? 8For if the trumpet gave an uncertain sound, who would prepare himself for war? 9So 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. 10There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without meaning. 11If then I don’t know the meaning of the language, I would be to him who speaks a foreigner, and he who speaks would be a foreigner to me. 12So also you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound to the building up of the assembly.
13Therefore let him who speaks in another language pray that he may interpret. 14For if I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
15What should I do? 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. 16Otherwise, 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? 17For you most certainly give thanks well, but the other person is not built up. 18I thank my God, I speak with other languages more than you all. 19However, 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.
20Brothers, don’t be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature. 21In the law it is written, “By men of strange languages and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people. They won’t even listen to me that way, says the Lord.”#Isaiah 28:11-12 22Therefore 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. 23If 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? 24But if all prophesy, and someone unbelieving or unlearned comes in, he is reproved by all, and he is judged by all. 25And 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.
26What is it then, brothers? When you come together, each one of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has another language, or has an interpretation. Let all things be done to build each other up. 27If any man speaks in another language, let there be two, or at the most three, and in turn; and let one interpret. 28But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in the assembly, and let him speak to himself and to God. 29Let two or three of the prophets speak, and let the others discern. 30But if a revelation is made to another sitting by, let the first keep silent. 31For you all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be exhorted. 32The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets, 33for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the saints. 34Let the wives be quiet in the assemblies, for it has not been permitted for them to be talking except in submission, as the law also says,#Deuteronomy 27:9 35if they desire to learn anything. “Let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for a wife to be talking in the assembly.” 36What!? Was it from you that the word of God went out? Or did it come to you alone?
37If 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. 38But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39Therefore, brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking with other languages. 40Let all things be done decently and in order.
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