14:1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
14:2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit.
14:3 But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort.
14:4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
14:5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified.
14:6 Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction?
14:7 Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes?
14:8 Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?
14:9 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.
14:10 Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.
14:11 If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me.
14:12 So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.
14:13 For this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says.
14:14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
14:15 So what shall 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.
14:16 If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?
14:17 You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified.
14:18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
14:19 But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
14:20 Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.
14:21 In the Law it is written: “Through men of strange tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me,” says the Lord.
14:22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.
14:23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who do not understand or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?
14:24 But if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all,
14:25 and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”
14:26 What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.
14:27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two–or at the most three–should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret.
14:28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God.
14:29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.
14:30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop.
14:31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.
14:32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.
14:33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the congregations of the saints,
14:34 women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says.
14:35 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.
14:36 Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached?
14:37 If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command.
14:38 If he ignores this, he himself will be ignored.
14:39 Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
14:40 But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.
14:1 Pursue love, and desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
14:2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one hears, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries.
14:3 But he who prophesies speaks building up and encouragement and consolation to men.
14:4 He who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but he who prophesies builds up the church.
14:5 I desire that you all speak in tongues, but especially that you would prophesy; and greater is he who prophesies than he who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, that the church may receive building up.
14:6 But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you, unless I speak to you either in revelation or in knowledge or in prophecy or in teaching?
14:7 Yet even lifeless things, whether flute or harp, in giving a sound, if they give no distinction in the tones, how will what is played on the flute or on the harp be known?
14:8 For also if the trumpet gives an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for battle?
14:9 So also you, unless you give with the tongue a word easy to understand, how will what is being said be known? For you will be speaking into the air.
14:10 There are perhaps many kinds of voices in the world, and not one is without significance.
14:11 If then I do not know the meaning of the voice, I will be to him who is speaking a barbarian, and he who is speaking a barbarian to me.
14:12 So also you, since you are zealous of spirits, seek that you may excel for the building up of the church.
14:13 Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.
14:14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
14:15 What then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray also with the mind; I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing also with the mind.
14:16 Otherwise if you bless with the spirit, how shall he who fills the place of the unlearned in tongues say the Amen at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying?
14:17 For you give thanks well, but the other is not built up.
14:18 I thank God, I speak in tongues more than all of you,
14:19 But in the church I would rather speak five words with my mind, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
14:20 Brothers, do not be children in your understanding, but in malice be babes and in your understanding be full-grown.
14:21 In the law it is written, By those of other tongues and with the lips of others I will speak to this people; even so they will not listen to Me, says the Lord.
14:22 So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to the unbelievers; but prophecy is for a sign not to the unbelievers but to those who believe.
14:23 If therefore the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak in tongues, and some unlearned in tongues or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are insane?
14:24 But if all prophesy and some unbeliever or unlearned person enters, he is convicted by all, he is examined by all;
14:25 The secrets of his heart become manifest; and so falling on his face, he will worship God, declaring that indeed God is among you.
14:26 What then, brothers? Whenever you come together, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.
14:27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two, or at the most three, and in turn, and one should interpret;
14:28 But if there is no interpreter, he should be silent in the church, and speak to himself and to God.
14:29 And as to prophets, two or three should speak, and the others discern.
14:30 But if something is revealed to another sitting by, the first should be silent.
14:31 For you can all prophesy one by one that all may learn and all may be encouraged.
14:32 And the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets;
14:33 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.
14:34 The women should be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they should be subject, even as the law also says.
14:35 But if they desire to learn anything, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is a shame for a woman to speak in the church.
14:36 Or was it from you that the word of God went forth? Or did it reach only to you?
14:37 If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him fully know the things which I write to you, that they are the commandment of the Lord.
14:38 But if anyone ignores this, let him ignore it.
14:39 So then, my brothers, desire earnestly the prophesying, and do not forbid the speaking in tongues.
14:40 But all things must be done becomingly and in order.