1Cor 14 | NASB1995 | STEP | Pursue love , yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts , but especially that you may prophesy .

1 Corinthians 14

Prophecy a Superior Gift

1 ^aPursue love, yet ^bdesire earnestly ^cspiritual gifts, but especially that you may ^dprophesy. 2 For one who ^espeaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one ^{▼▼ Lit hears}understands, but ^{▼▼ Or by the Spirit}in his spirit he speaks ^hmysteries. 3 But one who prophesies speaks to men for ⁱedification and ^jexhortation and consolation. 4 One who ^kspeaks in a tongue ^ledifies himself; but one who ^mprophesies ⁿedifies the church. 5 Now I wish that you all ^ospoke in tongues, but ^p even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who ^qspeaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive ^redifying.

6 But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of ^srevelation or of ^tknowledge or of ^uprophecy or of ^vteaching? 7 Yet even lifeless things, either 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? 8 For if ^wthe ^{▼▼ Lit trumpet}bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle? 9 So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be ^yspeaking into the air. 10 There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of ^{▼▼ Lit voices}languages in the world, and no kind is without meaning. 11 If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be to the one who speaks a ^{▼▼ Or foreigner
,} ^abbarbarian, and the one who speaks will be a ^{▼▼ Or foreigner}barbarian ^{▼▼ Or in my estimation}to me. 12 So also you, since you are zealous of ^{▼▼ Lit spirits}spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the ^afedification of the church.

13 Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15 ^agWhat is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will ^ahsing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also. 16 Otherwise if you bless ^{▼▼ Or with the}in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ^{▼▼ I.e. unversed in spiritual gifts}ungifted say ^akthe “Amen” at your ^algiving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? 17 For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not ^amedified. 18 I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all; 19 however, in the church I desire 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

20 ^anBrethren, ^aodo not be children in your thinking; yet in evil ^apbe infants, but in your thinking be mature. 21 In ^aqthe Law it is written, ^ar“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. 22 So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but ^asprophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those who believe. 23 Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ^{▼▼ V 16, note 2}ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that ^auyou are mad? 24 But if all ^avprophesy, and an unbeliever or an ^{▼▼ V 16, note 2}ungifted man enters, he is ^axconvicted by all, he is called to account by all; 25 ^aythe secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will ^azfall on his face and worship God, ^badeclaring that God is certainly among you.

26 ^bbWhat is the outcome then, ^bcbrethren? When you assemble, ^bdeach one has a ^bepsalm, has a ^bfteaching, has a ^bgrevelation, has a ^bhtongue, has an ^biinterpretation. Let ^bjall things be done for edification. 27 If anyone speaks in a ^bktongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must ^blinterpret; 28 but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three ^bmprophets speak, and let the others ^bnpass judgment. 30 But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted; 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets; 33 for God is not a God of ^boconfusion but of ^{▼▼ Or peace. As in all...saints, let}peace, as in ^bqall the churches of the ^brsaints.

34 The women are to ^bskeep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but ^btare to subject themselves, just as ^buthe Law also says. 35 If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is ^{▼▼ Or disgraceful}improper for a woman to speak in church. 36 ^{▼▼ Lit Or was}Was it from you that the word of God first went forth? Or has it come to you only?

37 ^bxIf anyone thinks he is a prophet or ^byspiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you ^bzare the Lord’s commandment. 38 But if anyone does not recognize this, he ^{▼▼ Two early mss read is not to be recognized}is not recognized.

39 Therefore, my brethren, ^cbdesire earnestly to ^ccprophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues. 40 But ^cdall things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.