Good Order in Worship

²⁶ What then shall we say, brothers and sisters?^(A) When you come together, each of you^(B) has a hymn,^(C) or a word of instruction,^(D) a revelation, a tongue^(E) or an interpretation.^(F) Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.^{(G) 27} If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. ²⁸ If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.

²⁹ Two or three prophets^(H) should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.^{(I) 30} And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. ³¹ For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. ³² The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.^{(J) 33} For God is not a God of disorder^(K) but of peace^(L)—as in all the congregations^(M) of the Lord’s people.^(N)

² At once I was in the Spirit,^(A) and there before me was a throne in heaven^(B) with someone sitting on it. ³ And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper^(C) and ruby.^(D) A rainbow^(E) that shone like an emerald^(F) encircled the throne. ⁴ Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders.^(G) They were dressed in white^(H) and had crowns of gold on their heads. ⁵ From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder.^(I) In front of the throne, seven lamps^(J) were blazing. These are the seven spirits^[a](K) of God. ⁶ Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass,^(L) clear as crystal.

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures,^(M) and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back.^{(N) 7} The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle.^{(O) 8} Each of the four living creatures^(P) had six wings^(Q) and was covered with eyes all around,^(R) even under its wings. Day and night^(S) they never stop saying:

⁹ Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne^(V) and who lives for ever and ever,^{(W) 10} the twenty-four elders^(X) fall down before him^(Y) who sits on the throne^(Z) and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: