1Cor 14:5-27 | ESV | STEP | Now I want you all to speak in tongues , but even 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 .

1 Corinthians 14:5-27

5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but ^aeven 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.

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

13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. 15 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; ^hI will sing praise with my spirit, but I will ⁱsing with my mind also. 16 Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider ^{▼▼Or of him that is without gifts} say ^k“Amen” to ^lyour thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? 17 For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up. 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

20 Brothers, ^mdo not be children in your thinking. ⁿBe infants in evil, but in your thinking be ^omature. 21 ^pIn the Law it is written, ^q“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.” 22 Thus 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. 23 If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, ^swill they not say that you are out of your minds? 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, 25 ^tthe secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, ^ufalling on his face, he will worship God and ^vdeclare that God is really among you.

Orderly Worship

26 What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has ^wa hymn, ^xa lesson, ^ya revelation, ^za tongue, or ^aaan interpretation. ^abLet all things be done for building up. 27 If any speak in ^aca tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret.