1 Corinthians 14

1Follow after charity, be zealous for spiritual gifts; but rather that you may prophesy.

2For he that speaketh in a tongue, speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man heareth. Yet by the Spirit he speaketh mysteries.

3But he that prophesieth, speaketh to men unto edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

4He that speaketh in a tongue, edifieth himself: but he that prophesieth, edifieth the church.

5And I would have you all to speak with tongues, but rather to prophesy. For greater is he that prophesieth, than he that speaketh with tongues: unless perhaps he interpret, that the church may receive edification.

6But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak to you either in revelation, or in knowledge, or in prophecy, or in doctrine?

7Even things without life that give sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction of sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

8For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

9So likewise you, except you utter by the tongue plain speech, how shall it be known what is said? For you shall be speaking into the air.

10There are, for example, so many kinds of tongues in this world; and none is without voice.

11If then I know not the power of the voice, I shall be to him to whom I speak a barbarian; and he that speaketh, a barbarian to me.

12So you also, forasmuch as you are zealous of spirits, seek to abound unto the edifying of the church.

13And therefore he that speaketh by a tongue, let him pray that he may interpret.

14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is without fruit.

15What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, I will pray also with the understanding; I will sing with the spirit, I will sing also with the understanding.

16Else if thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that holdeth the place of the unlearned say, Amen, to thy blessing? because he knoweth not what thou sayest.

17For thou indeed givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

18I thank my God I speak with all your tongues.

19But in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may instruct others also; than ten thousand words in a tongue.

20Brethren, do not become children in sense: but in malice be children, and in sense be perfect.

21In the law it is written: In other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; and neither so will they hear me, saith the Lord.

22Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to believers, but to unbelievers; but prophecies not to unbelievers, but to believers.

23If therefore the whole church come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in unlearned persons or infidels, will they not say that you are mad?

24But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or an unlearned person, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all.

25The secrets of his heart are made manifest; and so, falling down on his face, he will adore God, affirming that God is among you indeed.

26How is it then, brethren? When you come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a revelation, hath a tongue, hath an interpretation: let all things be done to edification.

27If any speak with a tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and in course, and let one interpret.

28But if there be no interpreter, let him hold his peace in the church, and speak to himself and to God.

29And let the prophets speak, two or three; and let the rest judge.

30But if any thing be revealed to another sitting, let the first hold his peace.

31For you may all prophesy one by one; that all may learn, and all may be exhorted:

32And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

33For God is not the God of dissension, but of peace: as also I teach in all the churches of the saints.

34Let women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted them to speak, but to be subject, as also the law saith.

35But if they would learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is a shame for a woman to speak in the church.

36Or did the word of God come out from you? Or came it only unto you?

37If any seem to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him know the things that I write to you, that they are the commandments of the Lord.

38But if any man know not, he shall not be known.

39Wherefore, brethren, be zealous to prophesy; and forbid not to speak with tongues.

40But let all things be done decently, and according to order.

1Sectamini caritatem, æmulamini spiritualia: magis autem ut prophetetis.

2Qui enim loquitur lingua, non hominibus loquitur, sed Deo: nemo enim audit. Spiritu autem loquitur mysteria.

3Nam qui prophetat, hominibus loquitur ad ædificationem, et exhortationem, et consolationem.

4Qui loquitur lingua, semetipsum ædificat: qui autem prophetat, ecclesiam Dei ædificat.

5Volo autem omnes vos loqui linguis: magis autem prophetare. Nam major est qui prophetat, quam qui loquitur linguis; nisi forte interpretetur ut ecclesia ædificationem accipiat.

6Nunc autem, fratres, si venero ad vos linguis loquens: quid vobis prodero, nisi vobis loquar aut in revelatione, aut in scientia, aut in prophetia, aut in doctrina?

7Tamen quæ sine anima sunt vocem dantia, sive tibia, sive cithara; nisi distinctionem sonituum dederint, quomodo scietur id quod canitur, aut quod citharizatur?

8Etenim si incertam vocem det tuba, quis parabit se ad bellum?

9Ita et vos per linguam nisi manifestum sermonem dederitis: quomodo scietur id quod dicitur? eritis enim in aëra loquentes.

10Tam multa, ut puta genera linguarum sunt in hoc mundo: et nihil sine voce est.

11Si ergo nesciero virtutem vocis, ero ei, cui loquor, barbarus: et qui loquitur, mihi barbarus.

12Sic et vos, quoniam æmulatores estis spirituum, ad ædificationem ecclesiæ quærite ut abundetis.

13Et ideo qui loquitur lingua, oret ut interpretetur.

14Nam si orem lingua, spiritus meus orat, mens autem mea sine fructu est.

15Quid ergo est? Orabo spiritu, orabo et mente: psallam spiritu, psallam et mente.

16Ceterum si benedixeris spiritu, qui supplet locum idiotæ, quomodo dicet: Amen, super tuam benedictionem? quoniam quid dicas, nescit.

17Nam tu quidem bene gratias agis, sed alter non ædificatur.

18Gratias ago Deo meo, quod omnium vestrum lingua loquor.

19Sed in ecclesia volo quinque verba sensu meo loqui, ut et alios instruam: quam decem millia verborum in lingua.

20Fratres, nolite pueri effici sensibus, sed malitia parvuli estote: sensibus autem perfecti estote.

21In lege scriptum est: Quoniam in aliis linguis et labiis aliis loquar populo huic: et nec sic exaudient me, dicit Dominus.

22Itaque linguæ in signum sunt non fidelibus, sed infidelibus: prophetiæ autem non infidelibus, sed fidelibus.

23Si ergo conveniat universa ecclesia in unum, et omnes linguis loquantur, intrent autem idiotæ, aut infideles: nonne dicent quod insanitis?

24Si autem omnes prophetent, intret autem quis infidelis, vel idiota, convincitur ab omnibus, dijudicatur ab omnibus:

25occulta cordis ejus manifesta fiunt: et ita cadens in faciem adorabit Deum, pronuntians quod vere Deus in vobis sit.

26Quid ergo est, fratres? Cum convenitis, unusquisque vestrum psalmum habet, doctrinam habet, apocalypsim habet, linguam habet, interpretationem habet: omnia ad ædificationem fiant.

27Sive lingua quis loquitur, secundum duos, aut ut multum tres, et per partes, et unus interpretatur.

28Si autem non fuerit interpres, taceat in ecclesia: sibi autem loquatur, et Deo.

29Prophetæ autem duo, aut tres dicant, et ceteri dijudicent.

30Quod si alii revelatum fuerit sedenti, prior taceat.

31Potestis enim omnes per singulos prophetare: ut omnes discant, et omnes exhortentur:

32et spiritus prophetarum prophetis subjecti sunt.

33Non enim est dissensionis Deus, sed pacis: sicut et in omnibus ecclesiis sanctorum doceo.

34Mulieres in ecclesiis taceant, non enim permittitur eis loqui, sed subditas esse, sicut et lex dicit.

35Si quid autem volunt discere, domi viros suos interrogent. Turpe est enim mulieri loqui in ecclesia.

36An a vobis verbum Dei processit? aut in vos solos pervenit?

37Si quis videtur propheta esse, aut spiritualis, cognoscat quæ scribo vobis, quia Domini sunt mandata.

38Si quis autem ignorat, ignorabitur.

39Itaque fratres æmulamini prophetare: et loqui linguis nolite prohibere.

40Omnia autem honeste, et secundum ordinem fiant.

1Pursue charity. Be zealous for spiritual things, but only so that you may prophesy.

2For whoever speaks in tongues, speaks not to men, but to God. For no one understands. Yet by the Spirit, he speaks mysteries.

3But whoever prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation.

4Whoever speaks in tongues edifies himself. But whoever prophesies edifies the Church.

5Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but more so to prophesy. For he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks in tongues, unless perhaps he interprets, so that the Church may receive edification.

6But now, brothers, if I were to come to you speaking in tongues, how would it benefit you, unless instead I speak to you in revelation, or in knowledge, or in prophecy, or in doctrine?

7Even those things that are without a soul can make sounds, whether it is a wind or a stringed instrument. But unless they present a distinction within the sounds, how will it be known which is from the pipe and which is from the string?

8For example, if the trumpet made an uncertain sound, who would prepare himself for battle?

9So it is with you also, for unless you utter with the tongue in plain speech, how will it be known what is said? For then you would be speaking into the air.

10Consider that there are so many different kinds of languages in this world, and yet none is without a voice.

11Therefore, if I do not understand the nature of the voice, then I shall be like a foreigner to the one with whom I am speaking; and he who is speaking will be like a foreigner to me.

12So it is with you also. And since you are zealous for what is spiritual, seek the edification of the Church, so that you may abound.

13For this reason, too, whoever speaks in tongues, let him pray for the interpretation.

14So, if I pray in tongues, my spirit prays, but my mind is without fruit.

15What is next? I should pray with the spirit, and also pray with the mind. I should sing psalms with the spirit, and also recite psalms with the mind.

16Otherwise, if you have blessed only with the spirit, how can someone, in a state of ignorance, add an “Amen” to your blessing? For he does not know what you are saying.

17In this case, certainly, you give thanks well, but the other person is not edified.

18I thank my God that I speak in tongues for all of you.

19But in the Church, I prefer to speak five words from my mind, so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in tongues.

20Brothers, do not choose to have the minds of children. Instead, be free of malice like infants, but be mature in your minds.

21It is written in the law: “I will speak to this people with other tongues and other lips, and even so, they will not heed me, says the Lord.”

22And so, tongues are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers; and prophecies are not for unbelievers, but for believers.

23If then, the entire Church were to gather together as one, and if all were to speak in tongues, and then ignorant or unbelieving persons were to enter, would they not say that you were insane?

24But if everyone prophesies, and one who is ignorant or unbelieving enters, he may be convinced by it all, because he understands it all.

25The secrets of his heart are then made manifest. And so, falling to his face, he would adore God, proclaiming that God is truly among you.

26What is next, brothers? When you gather together, each one of you may have a psalm, or a doctrine, or a revelation, or a language, or an interpretation, but let everything be done for edification.

27If anyone is speaking in tongues, let there be only two, or at most three, and then in turn, and let someone interpret.

28But if there is no one to interpret, he should remain silent in the church, then he may speak when he is alone with God.

29And let the prophets speak, two or three, and let the others discern.

30But then, if something is revealed to another who is sitting, let the first one become silent.

31For you are all able to prophesy one at a time, so that all may learn and all may be encouraged.

32For the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

33And God is not of dissension, but of peace, just as I also teach in all the churches of the saints.

34Women should be silent in the churches. For it is not permitted for them to speak; but instead, they should be subordinate, as the law also says.

35And if they want to learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in church.

36So now, did the Word of God proceed from you? Or was it sent to you alone?

37If anyone seems to be a prophet or a spiritual person, he should understand these things which I am writing to you, that these things are the commandments of the Lord.

38If anyone does not recognize these things, he should not be recognized.

39And so, brothers, be zealous to prophesy, and do not prohibit speaking in tongues.

40But let everything be done respectfully and according to proper order.