1 Corinthians 14:1-28

Prophecy and Tongues

1 ^aPursue love, and ^bearnestly desire the ^cspiritual gifts, especially that you may ^dprophesy. 2For ^eone who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. 3On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. 5Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but ^feven more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.

6Now, brothers, ▼

▼Or  brothers and sisters; also verses 20, 26, 39

if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some ^hrevelation or knowledge or prophecy or ⁱteaching? 7If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? 8And ^jif the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? 9So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be ^kspeaking into the air. 10There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, 11but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be ^la foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. 12So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.

13Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. 14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. 15What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; ^mI will sing praise with my spirit, but I will ⁿsing with my mind also. 16Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider ▼

▼Or  of him that is without gifts

say ^p“Amen” to ^qyour thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? 17For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up. 18I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

20Brothers, ^rdo not be children in your thinking. ^sBe infants in evil, but in your thinking be ^tmature. 21 ^uIn the Law it is written, ^v“By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” 22Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign ▼

▼Greek lacks  a sign

not for unbelievers but for believers. 23If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, ^xwill they not say that you are out of your minds? 24But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, 25 ^ythe secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, ^zfalling on his face, he will worship God and ^aadeclare that God is really among you.

Orderly Worship

26What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has ^aba hymn, ^aca lesson, ^ada revelation, ^aea tongue, or ^afan interpretation. ^agLet all things be done for building up. 27If any speak in ^aha tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. 28But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.