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1 Corinthians 14
Christian Standard Bible

Prophecy: A Superior Gift

14 Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophesy. 2 For the person who speaks in a tongue[a](A) is not speaking to people but to God, since no one understands him; he speaks mysteries in the Spirit.[b] 3 On the other hand, the person who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening,[c] encouragement, and consolation. 4 The person who speaks in a tongue builds himself up, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. 5 I wish all of you spoke in tongues,[d] but even more that you prophesied. The person who prophesies is greater than the person who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be built up.

6 So now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you with a revelation(B) or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7 Even lifeless instruments that produce sounds—whether flute or harp(C)—if they don’t make a distinction in the notes, how will what is played on the flute or harp be recognized? 8 In fact, if the bugle makes an unclear sound, who will prepare for battle?(D) 9 In the same way, unless you use your tongue for intelligible speech, how will what is spoken be known? For you will be speaking into the air. 10 There are doubtless many different kinds of languages in the world, none is without meaning. 11 Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner[e] to the speaker, and the speaker will be a foreigner to me. 12 So also you—since you are zealous(E) for spiritual gifts,[f](F) seek to excel in building up the church.

13 Therefore the person who speaks in a tongue should pray that he can interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit(G) prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.(H) 15 What then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with my understanding. I will sing praise with the spirit, and I will also sing praise with my understanding. 16 Otherwise, if you praise with the spirit,[g] how will the outsider[h] say “Amen”(I) at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? 17 For you may very well be giving thanks, but the other person is not being built up. 18 I thank(J) God that I speak in tongues more than all of you; 19 yet in the church I would rather speak five words(K) with my understanding, in order to teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

20 Brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your thinking, but be infants in regard to evil and adult in your thinking.(L) 21 It is written in the law,

I will speak to this people
by people of other tongues
and by the lips of foreigners,
and even then, they will not listen to me,[i](M)

says the Lord. 22 Speaking in tongues, then, is intended as a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 If, therefore, the whole church assembles together and all are speaking in tongues and people who are outsiders or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds? 24 But if all are prophesying and some unbeliever or outsider comes in, he is convicted by all and is called to account by all. 25 The secrets of his heart will be revealed, and as a result he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is really among you.”(N)

Order in Church Meetings

26 What then, brothers and sisters? Whenever you come together, each one[j] has a hymn, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation.(O) Everything is to be done for building up. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, there are to be only two, or at the most three, each in turn, and let someone interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, that person is to keep silent in the church and speak to himself and God. 29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should evaluate.(P) 30 But if something has been revealed to another person sitting there, the first prophet should be silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may learn and everyone may be encouraged.(Q) 32 And the prophets’ spirits are subject to the prophets, 33 since God is not a God of disorder but of peace.

As in all the churches of the saints,(R) 34 the women[k] should be silent in the churches,(S) for they are not permitted to speak, but are to submit themselves, as the law also says. 35 If they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands(T) at home, since it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. 36 Or did the word of God originate from you, or did it come to you only?

37 If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, he should recognize that what I write to you is the Lord’s command. 38 If anyone ignores this, he will be ignored.[l] 39 So then, my brothers and sisters, be eager(U) to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But everything is to be done decently(V) and in order.

Footnotes

  1. 14:2 Or another language, also in vv. 4,13,14,19,26,27
  2. 14:2 Or in spirit, or in his spirit
  3. 14:3 Lit building up
  4. 14:5 Or other languages, also in vv. 6,18,21,22,23,39
  5. 14:11 Gk barbaros, or barbarian
  6. 14:12 Lit zealous of spirits
  7. 14:16 Or praise by the Spirit
  8. 14:16 Lit the one filling the place of the uninformed
  9. 14:21 Is 28:11–12
  10. 14:26 Other mss add of you
  11. 14:34 Other mss read your women
  12. 14:38 Other mss read he should be ignored
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1 Corinthians 14
New American Standard Bible

Prophecy a Superior Gift

14 (A)Pursue love, yet earnestly (B)desire (C)spiritual gifts, but especially that you may (D)prophesy. 2 For the one who (E)speaks in a tongue does not speak to people, but to God; for no one [a]understands, but [b]in his spirit he speaks (F)mysteries. 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for (G)edification, [c](H)exhortation, and consolation. 4 The one who (I)speaks in a tongue (J)edifies himself; but the one who (K)prophesies (L)edifies the church. 5 Now I wish that you all (M)spoke in tongues, but (N)rather that you would prophesy; and greater is the one who prophesies than the one who (O)speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive (P)edification.

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 (Q)revelation, or of (R)knowledge, or of (S)prophecy, or of (T)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 (U)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 (V)talking to the air. 10 There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of [d]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 (W)unintelligible to the one who speaks, and the one who speaks will be unintelligible [e]to me. 12 So you too, since you are eager to possess [f]spiritual gifts, strive to excel for the (X)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 (Y)What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray with the mind also; I will (Z)sing with the spirit, but I will sing with the mind also. 16 For otherwise, if you bless God [g]in the spirit only, how will the one who occupies the place of the [h]outsider know to say (AA)the “Amen” at your (AB)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 (AC)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 (AD)Brothers and sisters, (AE)do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil (AF)be infants, but in your thinking be mature. 21 In (AG)the [i]Law it is written: “(AH)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 (AI)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 [j]outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that (AJ)you are insane? 24 But if all (AK)prophesy, and an unbeliever or an [k]outsider enters, he is (AL)convicted by all, he is called to account by all; 25 (AM)the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will (AN)fall on his face and worship God, (AO)declaring that God is certainly among you.

26 (AP)What is the outcome then, (AQ)brothers and sisters? When you assemble, (AR)each one has a (AS)psalm, has a (AT)teaching, has a (AU)revelation, has a (AV)tongue, has an (AW)interpretation. (AX)All things are to be done for edification. 27 If anyone speaks in a (AY)tongue, it must be by two or at the most three, and each one in turn, and one is to (AZ)interpret; 28 but if there is no interpreter, he is to keep silent in church; and have him speak to himself and to God. 29 Have two or three (BA)prophets speak, and have the others (BB)pass judgment. 30 But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, then the first one is to keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be [l]exhorted; 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets; 33 for God is not a God of (BC)confusion, but of peace.

As in (BD)all the churches of the [m](BE)saints, 34 the women are to (BF)keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but (BG)are to subject themselves, just as (BH)the Law also says. 35 If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is [n]improper for a woman to speak in church. 36 Or was it from you that the word of God first went out? Or has it come to you only?

37 (BI)If anyone thinks that he is a prophet or (BJ)spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you (BK)are the Lord’s commandment. 38 But if anyone does not recognize this, [o]he is not recognized.

39 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, (BL)earnestly desire to (BM)prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But (BN)all things must be done properly and in an orderly way.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 14:2 Lit hears
  2. 1 Corinthians 14:2 Or by the Spirit
  3. 1 Corinthians 14:3 Or encouragement
  4. 1 Corinthians 14:10 Lit voices
  5. 1 Corinthians 14:11 Or in my estimation
  6. 1 Corinthians 14:12 Lit spirits
  7. 1 Corinthians 14:16 Or with the
  8. 1 Corinthians 14:16 Lit private person
  9. 1 Corinthians 14:21 I.e., Old Testament, Isaiah
  10. 1 Corinthians 14:23 See note 2 v 16
  11. 1 Corinthians 14:24 See note 2 v 16
  12. 1 Corinthians 14:31 Or encouraged
  13. 1 Corinthians 14:33 I.e., God’s people
  14. 1 Corinthians 14:35 Or disgraceful
  15. 1 Corinthians 14:38 Two early mss let him continue not to recognize it
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