1 Corinthians 14
Common English Bible
Spiritual gifts and church order
14 Pursue love, and use your ambition to try to get spiritual gifts but especially so that you might prophesy. 2 This is because those who speak in a tongue don’t speak to people but to God; no one understands it—they speak mysteries by the Spirit. 3 Those who prophesy speak to people, building them up, and giving them encouragement and comfort. 4 People who speak in a tongue build up themselves; those who prophesy build up the church. 5 I wish that all of you spoke in tongues, but I’d rather you could prophesy. Those who prophesy are more important than those who speak in tongues, unless they are able to interpret them so that the church might be built up. 6 After all, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I help you unless I speak to you with a revelation, some knowledge, a prophecy, or a teaching? 7 Likewise, things that aren’t alive like a harp or a lyre can make a sound, but if there aren’t different notes in the sounds they make, how will the tune from the harp or the lyre be recognized? 8 And if a trumpet call is unrecognizable, then who will prepare for battle? 9 It’s the same way with you: If you don’t use language that is easy to understand when you speak in a tongue, then how will anyone understand what is said? 10 It will be as if you are speaking into the air! There are probably many language families in the world, and none of them are without meaning. 11 So if I don’t know the meaning of the language, then I will be like a foreigner to those who speak it, and they will be like foreigners to me. 12 The same holds true for you: since you are ambitious for spiritual gifts, use your ambition to try to work toward being the best at building up the church.
13 Therefore, those who speak in a tongue should pray to be able to interpret. 14 If I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind isn’t productive. 15 What should I do? I’ll pray in the Spirit, but I’ll pray with my mind too; I’ll sing a psalm in the Spirit, but I’ll sing the psalm with my mind too. 16 After all, if you praise God in the Spirit, how will the people who aren’t trained in that language say “Amen!” to your thanksgiving, when they don’t know what you are saying? 17 You may offer a beautiful prayer of thanksgiving, but the other person is not being built up. 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 But in the church I’d rather speak five words in my right mind than speak thousands of words in a tongue so that I can teach others.
20 Brothers and sisters, don’t be like children in the way you think. Well, be babies when it comes to evil, but be adults in your thinking. 21 In the Law it is written: I will speak to this people with foreign languages and foreigners’ lips, but they will not even listen to me this way,[a] says the Lord. 22 So then, tongues are a sign for those who don’t believe, not for those who believe. But prophecy is a sign for believers, not for those who don’t believe. 23 So suppose that the whole church is meeting and everyone is speaking in tongues. If people come in who are outsiders or unbelievers, won’t they say that you are out of your minds? 24 But if everyone is prophesying when an unbeliever or outsider comes in, they are tested by all and called to account by all. 25 The secrets of their hearts are brought to light. When that happens, they will fall on their faces and worship God, proclaiming out loud that truly God is among you!
26 What is the outcome of this, brothers and sisters? When you meet together, each one has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All these things must be done to build up the church. 27 If some speak in a tongue, then let two or at most three speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. 28 However, if there is no interpreter, then they should keep quiet in the meeting. They should speak privately to themselves and to God. 29 In the case of prophets, let two or three speak and have the rest evaluate what is said. 30 And if some revelation comes to someone else who is sitting down, the first one should be quiet. 31 You can all prophesy one at a time so that everyone can learn and be encouraged. 32 The spirits of prophets are under the control of the prophets. 33 God isn’t a God of disorder but of peace. Like in all the churches of God’s people, 34 the women should be quiet during the meeting. They are not allowed to talk. Instead, they need to get under control, just as the Law says. 35 If they want to learn something, they should ask their husbands at home. It is disgraceful for a woman to talk during the meeting.
36 Did the word of God originate with you? Has it come only to you? 37 If anyone thinks that they are prophets or “spiritual people,” then let them recognize that what I’m writing to you is the Lord’s command. 38 If someone doesn’t recognize this, they aren’t recognized. 39 So then, brothers and sisters, use your ambition to try to get the gift of prophecy, but don’t prevent speaking in tongues. 40 Everything should be done with dignity and in proper order.
Footnotes
哥林多前书 14
Revised Chinese Union Version (Simplified Script) Shen Edition
说方言和作先知讲道
14 你们要追求爱，也要切慕属灵的恩赐，尤其是作先知讲道[a]。 2 那说方言[b]的，不是对人说，而是对 神说，因为没有人听得懂；他是藉着圣灵说各样的奥秘。 3 但作先知讲道的，是对人说，要造就、安慰、劝勉人。 4 说方言的，是造就自己；作先知讲道的，是造就教会。 5 我希望你们都说方言，更希望你们作先知讲道；因为说方言的，若不解释出来，使教会得造就，那作先知讲道的就比他强了。
6 弟兄们，我到你们那里去，若只说方言，不用启示，或知识，或预言，或教导，给你们讲解，我对你们有什么益处呢？ 7 就连那有声而没有生命的东西，如箫，如琴，发出来的音若没有分别，怎能知道所吹所弹的是什么呢？ 8 号角吹出来的音若不清楚，谁会预备打仗呢？ 9 你们也是如此；若用舌头说听不懂的信息，怎能知道所说的是什么呢？你们就是向空气说话了。 10 世上有许多种语言，却没有一样是无意思的。 11 我若不明白那语言的意思，说话的人必以我为未开化的人，我也以他为未开化的人。 12 你们也是如此，既然你们切慕属灵的恩赐，就当追求多得造就教会的恩赐。
13 所以，那说方言的，就当祈求有翻方言的恩赐。 14 我若用方言祷告，是我的灵在祷告；但我的理智没有效果。 15 我应该怎么做呢？我要用灵祷告，也要用理智祷告；我要用灵歌唱，也要用理智歌唱。 16 不然，你用灵祝谢，那在座不通方言的人，既然不明白你的话，怎能在你感谢的时候说“阿们”呢？ 17 你的感谢固然是好，不过不能造就别人。 18 我感谢 神，我说方言比你们众人还多； 19 但在教会中，我宁可用理智说五句教导人的话，强过说万句方言。
20 弟兄们，在心志上不要作小孩子。但是，在恶事上要作婴孩，而在心志上总要作大人。 21 律法上记着：“主说：
我要用外邦人的舌头
和外邦人的嘴唇
向这百姓说话；
虽然如此，他们还是不听从我。”
22 这样看来，说方言不是为信的人作标记，而是为不信的人；作先知讲道不是为不信的人作标记，而是为信的人。 23 所以，全教会聚在一处的时候，若都说方言，偶然有不通方言的或是不信的人进来，岂不会说你们疯了吗？ 24 若个个都作先知讲道，偶然有不信的或是不懂方言的人进来，就被众人劝戒，被众人审问， 25 他心里的隐情被显露出来，就必将脸伏地，敬拜 神，宣告说：“ 神真的是在你们中间了。”
凡事都要按次序行
26 弟兄们，那么，你们该怎么做呢？你们聚会的时候，各人或有诗歌，或有教导，或有启示，或有方言，或有翻出来，凡事都应当造就人。 27 若有说方言的，只可有两个人，至多三个人，且要轮流着说，也要有一个人翻出来。 28 若没有人翻，就当在会中闭口，只对自己和 神说就是了。 29 至于作先知讲道的，只可有两个人或是三个人，其余的人当慎思明辨。 30 假如旁边坐着的得了启示，那先说话的就当闭口不言。 31 因为你们都可以一个一个地作先知讲道，使众人都可以学习，使众人都得劝勉。 32 先知的灵是顺服先知的， 33 因为 神不是叫人混乱，而是叫人和谐的 神。
在圣徒的众教会中， 34 妇女应该闭口不言；因为，不准她们说话，总要顺服，正如律法所说的。 35 她们若要学什么，应该在家里问自己的丈夫，因为妇女在会中说话是可耻的。 36 难道 神的话是从你们出来的吗？难道是单临到你们的吗？
37 若有人自以为是先知，或是属灵的，就应该知道，我所写给你们的是主的命令。 38 若有不理会的，你们也不必理会他。 39 所以，我的弟兄们，你们要切慕作先知讲道的恩赐，不要禁止说方言。 40 凡事都要规规矩矩地按着次序行。
1 Corinthians 14
King James Version
14 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
5 I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.
10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.
11 Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.
12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.
14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?
17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:
19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
21 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.
22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.
28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law.
35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?
37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible
和合本修訂版經文 © 2006, 2010, 2017 香港聖經公會。蒙允許使用。 Scripture Text of Revised Chinese Union Version © 2006, 2010, 2017 Hong Kong Bible Society. www.hkbs.org.hk/en/ Used by permission.