1 Corinthians 14, side by side

¹Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.

¹Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

²For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries in the Spirit.

²For 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.

³But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, encouragement, and comfort.

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

⁴The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.

⁴He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

⁵I wish that all of you could 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.

⁵I 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.

⁶Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?

⁶Now, 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?

⁷Even in the case of lifeless instruments, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone recognize the tune they are playing unless the notes are distinct?

⁷And 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?

⁸Again, if the trumpet sounds a muffled call, who will prepare for battle?

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

⁹So 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.

⁹So 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.

¹⁰Assuredly, there are many different languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.

¹⁰There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.

¹¹If, then, I do not know the meaning of someone’s language, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me.

¹¹Therefore 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.

¹²It is the same with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, strive to excel in gifts that build up the church.

¹²Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

¹³Therefore, the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.

¹³Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.

¹⁴For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.

¹⁴For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

¹⁵What then 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.

¹⁵What 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.

¹⁶Otherwise, if you speak a blessing in spirit, how can someone who is uninstructed say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?

¹⁶Else 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?

¹⁷You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other one is not edified.

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

¹⁸I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.

¹⁸I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

¹⁹But in the church, I would rather speak five coherent words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

¹⁹Yet 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.

²⁰Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.

²⁰Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

²¹It is written in the Law: “By strange tongues and foreign lips I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to Me, says the Lord.”

²¹In 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.

²²Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.

²²Wherefore 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.

²³So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who are uninstructed or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds?

²³If 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?

²⁴But if an unbeliever or uninstructed person comes in while everyone is prophesying, he will be convicted and called to account by all,

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

²⁵and the secrets of his heart will be made known. So he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is truly among you!”

²⁵And 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.

²⁶What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a psalm or a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All of these must be done to build up the church.

²⁶How 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.

²⁷If anyone speaks in a tongue, two, or at most three, should speak in turn, and someone must interpret.

²⁷If 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.

²⁸But if there is no interpreter, he should remain silent in the church and speak only to himself and God.

²⁸But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

²⁹Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.

²⁹Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.

³⁰And if a revelation comes to someone who is seated, the first speaker should stop.

³⁰If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.

³¹For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.

³¹For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.

³²The spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.

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

³³For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace—as in all the churches of the saints.

³³For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

³⁴Women are to be silent in the churches. They are not permitted to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says.

³⁴Let 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.

³⁵If they wish to inquire about something, they are to ask their own husbands at home; for it is dishonorable for a woman to speak in the church.

³⁵And 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.

³⁶Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only ones it has reached?

³⁶What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?

³⁷If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, let him acknowledge that what I am writing you is the Lord’s command.

³⁷If 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.

³⁸But if anyone ignores this, he himself will be ignored.

³⁸But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

³⁹So, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

³⁹Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

⁴⁰But everything must be done in a proper and orderly manner.

⁴⁰Let all things be done decently and in order.