1 Corinthians 14:21-40

Holman Christian Standard Bible

²¹It is written in the law:

I will speak to these people
by people of other languages
and by the lips of foreigners,
and even then, they will not listen to Me,^(A)^[a]

says the Lord. ²²It follows that speaking in other languages is intended as a sign,^[b] not for believers but for unbelievers. But prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers. ²³Therefore, if the whole church assembles together and all are speaking in other languages and people who are uninformed or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds? ²⁴But if all are prophesying and some unbeliever or uninformed person comes in, he is convicted by all and is judged by all. ²⁵The secrets of his heart will be revealed, and as a result he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is really among you.”^(B)

Order in Church Meetings

²⁶What then is the conclusion, brothers? Whenever you come together, each one^[c] has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, another language, or an interpretation.^(C) All things must be done for edification. ²⁷If any person speaks in another language, there should be only two, or at the most three, each in turn, and someone must interpret. ²⁸But if there is no interpreter, that person should keep silent in the church and speak to himself and to God. ²⁹Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should evaluate.^(D) ³⁰But if something has been revealed to another person sitting there, the first prophet should be silent. ³¹For you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may learn and everyone may be encouraged.^(E) ³²And the prophets’ spirits are under the control of the prophets, ³³since God is not a God of disorder but of peace.

As in all the churches of the saints,^(F) ³⁴the women^[d] should be silent in the churches,^(G) for they are not permitted to speak, but should be submissive, as the law also says. ³⁵And if they want to learn something, they should ask their own husbands^(H) at home, for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church meeting. ³⁶Did the word of God originate from you, or did it come to you only?

³⁷If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, he should recognize that what I write to you is the Lord’s command. ³⁸But if anyone ignores this, he will be ignored.^[e] ³⁹Therefore, my brothers, be eager^(I) to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in other languages. ⁴⁰But everything must be done decently^(J) and in order.