1 Corinthians 14:6-28
New American Standard Bible
6 But now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you either by way of (A)revelation, or of (B)knowledge, or of (C)prophecy, or of (D)teaching? 7 Yet even lifeless instruments, whether 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 (E)the trumpet produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle? 9 So you too, unless you produce intelligible speech by the tongue, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will just be (F)talking to the air. 10 There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of [a]languages in the world, and none is incapable of meaning. 11 So if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be (G)unintelligible to the one who speaks, and the one who speaks will be unintelligible [b]to me. 12 So you too, since you are eager to possess [c]spiritual gifts, strive to excel for the (H)edification of the church.
13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue is to pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive. 15 (I)What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray with the mind also; I will (J)sing with the spirit, but I will sing with the mind also. 16 For otherwise, if you bless God [d]in the spirit only, how will the one who occupies the place of the [e]outsider know to say (K)the “Amen” at your (L)giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you are saying? 17 For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not (M)edified. 18 I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all; 19 nevertheless, in church I prefer 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 (N)Brothers and sisters, (O)do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil (P)be infants, but in your thinking be mature. 21 In (Q)the [f]Law it is written: “(R)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 (S)prophecy is not for unbelievers, but for those who believe. 23 Therefore if the whole church gathers together and all the people speak in tongues, and [g]outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that (T)you are insane? 24 But if all (U)prophesy, and an unbeliever or an [h]outsider enters, he is (V)convicted by all, he is called to account by all; 25 (W)the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will (X)fall on his face and worship God, (Y)declaring that God is certainly among you.
26 (Z)What is the outcome then, (AA)brothers and sisters? When you assemble, (AB)each one has a (AC)psalm, has a (AD)teaching, has a (AE)revelation, has a (AF)tongue, has an (AG)interpretation. (AH)All things are to be done for edification. 27 If anyone speaks in a (AI)tongue, it must be by two or at the most three, and each one in turn, and one is to (AJ)interpret; 28 but if there is no interpreter, he is to keep silent in church; and have him speak to himself and to God.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Corinthians 14:10 Lit voices
- 1 Corinthians 14:11 Or in my estimation
- 1 Corinthians 14:12 Lit spirits
- 1 Corinthians 14:16 Or with the
- 1 Corinthians 14:16 Lit private person
- 1 Corinthians 14:21 I.e., Old Testament, Isaiah
- 1 Corinthians 14:23 See note 2 v 16
- 1 Corinthians 14:24 See note 2 v 16
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