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14 Pursue diōkō · ho love agapē, and de earnestly desire zēloō the ho spiritual pneumatikos gifts , but de especially mallon that hina you may prophesy prophēteuō. For gar the ho one speaking laleō in a tongue glōssa speaks laleō not ou to men anthrōpos but alla to God theos; indeed gar, no one oudeis understands akouō him, yet de he is speaking laleō mysteries mystērion by the Spirit pneuma. On the other hand de, the ho one who prophesies prophēteuō speaks laleō to people anthrōpos for their edification oikodomē, · kai encouragement paraklēsis, and kai consolation paramythia. The ho one who speaks laleō in a tongue glōssa edifies oikodomeō himself heautou, but de the ho one who prophesies prophēteuō edifies oikodomeō the church ekklēsia. Now de I would like thelō all pas of you hymeis to speak laleō in tongues glōssa, but de even more mallon to hina prophesy prophēteuō. The ho one who prophesies prophēteuō is greater megas · de than ē the ho one who speaks laleō in tongues glōssa, unless ektos ei he interprets diermēneuō so that hina the ho church ekklēsia may receive lambanō edification oikodomē.

But de as it is nyn, brothers adelphos, if ean I come erchomai to pros you hymeis speaking laleō in tongues glōssa, how tis will I benefit ōpheleō you hymeis unless ean mē I impart laleō to you hymeis some ē revelation apokalypsis or ē knowledge gnōsis or ē prophecy prophēteia or ē teaching didachē? It is the same homōs with · ho lifeless apsychos things that produce didōmi sound phōnē, whether eite flute aulos or eite harp kithara; if ean they do didōmi not make didōmi a difference diastolē between ho notes phthongos, how pōs will what ho is being played on the flute auleō or ē the ho harp kitharizō be understood ginōskō? Again kai, if ean the bugle salpinx gives didōmi an uncertain adēlos call phōnē, who tis will get ready paraskeuazō for eis battle polemos? So houtōs · kai it is with you hymeis; if ean you do didōmi not speak didōmi a clear eusēmos message logos with dia your ho tongue glōssa, how pōs will anyone know ginōskō what ho is being said laleō? You will be eimi speaking laleō into eis the air aēr. 10 There are eimi who-knows-how-many tosoutos ei kinds genos of languages phōnē in en the world kosmos, and kai none oudeis is without meaning aphōnos. 11 But oun if ean I do not grasp oida the ho meaning dynamis of the ho language phōnē, I will be eimi a foreigner barbaros to the ho speaker laleō and kai the ho speaker laleō a foreigner barbaros to en me egō. 12 So houtōs · kai it is with you hymeis. Since epei you are eimi eager zēlōtēs for manifestations of the Spirit pneuma, seek zēteō to hina excel perisseuō for pros the ho edification oikodomē of the ho church ekklēsia.

13 For this reason dio, the ho one who speaks laleō in a tongue glōssa should pray proseuchomai that hina he will be able to interpret diermēneuō. 14 For gar if ean I pray proseuchomai in a tongue glōssa, · ho my egō spirit pneuma prays proseuchomai · ho but de my egō mind nous is eimi unproductive akarpos. 15 What tis then oun shall I do eimi? I will pray proseuchomai with my ho spirit pneuma, but de I will also kai pray proseuchomai with my ho understanding nous. I will sing praises psallō with my ho spirit pneuma, but de I will also kai sing praises psallō with my ho understanding nous. 16 Otherwise epei, if ean you are praising eulogeō God by en the Spirit pneuma, how pōs can anyone ho in anaplēroō the ho position topos of ho an outsider idiōtēs say legō, · ho Amen amēn,” to epi · ho your sos thanksgiving eucharistia since epeidē he does oida not ou know oida what tis you are saying legō? 17 For gar you sy are giving thanks eucharisteō well kalōs enough , but alla the ho other heteros person is not ou being edified oikodomeō. 18 I thank eucharisteō · ho God theos I speak laleō in tongues glōssa more mallon than all pas of you hymeis; 19 however alla, in en church ekklēsia I would thelō rather speak laleō five pente words logos with ho my egō understanding nous, so as to hina instruct katēcheō others allos also kai, than ē ten thousand myrios words logos in en a tongue glōssa.

20 Brothers adelphos, do ginomai not be ginomai children paidion in your ho thinking phrēn. Rather alla, in ho evil kakia be infants nēpiazō but de in your ho thinking phrēn be ginomai adults teleios. 21 In en the ho Law nomos it is written graphō, “ By en people with strange tongues heteroglōssos and kai by en the lips cheilos of foreigners heteros will I speak laleō to ho this houtos people laos, yet kai not even oude in this way houtōs will they listen eisakouō to me egō, says legō the Lord kyrios.” 22 So then hōste · ho tongues glōssa are eimi for eis a sign sēmeion, not ou for ho believers pisteuō but alla for ho unbelievers apistos, · ho while de prophecy prophēteia is not ou for ho unbelievers apistos but alla for ho believers pisteuō. 23 So oun if ean the ho whole holos church ekklēsia assembles synerchomai in epi the ho same autos place and kai everyone pas is speaking laleō in tongues glōssa, and de outsiders idiōtēs or ē unbelievers apistos come in eiserchomai, will they not ou say legō that hoti you are out of your minds mainomai? 24 But de if ean all pas are prophesying prophēteuō, and de an tis unbeliever apistos or ē outsider idiōtēs comes eiserchomai in , he is convicted elenchō by hypo all pas, he is called to account anakrinō by hypo all pas, 25 and the ho secrets kryptos of ho his autos heart kardia are ginomai laid bare phaneros. · kai Thus houtōs he will fall piptō on epi his face prosōpon and worship proskyneō · ho God theos, declaring apangellō, “ God theos is eimi really ontōs · ho among en you hymeis.” 26 What tis then oun is eimi the outcome , brothers adelphos? When hotan you come together synerchomai, each hekastos one has echō a hymn psalmos, a word of instruction didachē, a revelation apokalypsis, a tongue glōssa, an interpretation hermēneia. Let ginomai all pas things be done ginomai for pros edification oikodomē. 27 If eite any tis speak laleō in a tongue glōssa, it should be only kata two dyo, or ē at the ho most polys three treis, and kai each ana in turn meros; and kai someone heis must interpret diermēneuō. 28 But de if ean there is eimi no one who can interpret diermēneutēs, the speaker should remain silent sigaō in en church ekklēsia and de speak laleō to himself heautou and kai to ho God theos. 29 · de Two dyo or ē three treis should speak laleō as prophets prophētēs and kai · ho others allos should weigh carefully diakrinō what is said. 30 But de if ean a revelation comes apokalyptō to another allos person who is sitting down kathēmai, the ho first prōtos speaker should stop sigaō. 31 For gar in this way all pas will be able dynamai to prophesy prophēteuō one by one kata, with the result that hina all pas may learn manthanō and kai all pas be encouraged parakaleō, 32 Indeed kai, the spirits pneuma of prophets prophētēs are subject hypotassō to prophets prophētēs, 33 for gar God theos is eimi not ou a God of confusion akatastasia · ho but alla of peace eirēnē. As hōs in en all pas the ho churches ekklēsia of the ho saints hagios, 34 the ho women gynē are to be silent sigaō in en the ho churches ekklēsia, for gar they autos are not ou permitted epitrepō to speak laleō. Rather alla, they are to be submissive hypotassō, as kathōs in fact kai the ho law nomos says legō. 35 And de if ei they want thelō to find out about manthanō something tis, they should ask eperōtaō their own idios husbands anēr at en home oikos; · ho for gar it is eimi improper aischros for a woman gynē to speak laleō in en church ekklēsia. 36 Or ē did exerchomai the ho word logos of ho God theos originate exerchomai with apo you hymeis? Or ē did it come katantaō to eis you hymeis alone monos?

37 If ei anyone tis considers dokeō himself to be eimi a prophet prophētēs or ē spiritual pneumatikos, let him acknowledge epiginōskō that hoti what hos I am writing graphō to you hymeis is eimi a command entolē of the Lord kyrios. 38 If ei · de anyone tis fails to acknowledge agnoeō this, he will not be acknowledged agnoeō. 39 So hōste, my egō brothers adelphos, be eager zēloō to prophesy prophēteuō, and kai do kōlyō not forbid kōlyō speaking laleō in tongues glōssa. 40 But de everything pas should be done ginomai in a proper euschēmonōs and kai orderly way kata.

Prophecy and Languages

14 Keep on pursuing love, and keep on desiring spiritual gifts, especially the ability to prophesy. For the person who speaks in a foreign[a] language is not actually speaking to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands him, because he is talking about secrets by the Spirit.[b] But the person who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding, encouragement, and comfort. The person who speaks in a foreign language builds himself up, but the person who prophesies builds up the church. Now I wish that all of you could speak in foreign languages, but especially that you could prophesy. The person who prophesies is more important than the person who speaks in a foreign language, unless he interprets it so that the church may be built up.

Indeed, brothers, if I come to you speaking in foreign languages, what good will I be to you unless I speak to you in some revelation, knowledge, prophecy, or teaching? In the same way, lifeless instruments like the flute or harp produce sounds. But if there’s no difference in the notes, how can a person tell what tune is being played? For example, if a bugle doesn’t sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? In the same way, unless you speak an intelligible message with your language, how will anyone know what is being said? You’ll be talking into the air!

10 There are, I suppose, many different languages[c] in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. 11 If I don’t know the meaning of the language,[d] I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker will be a foreigner to me. 12 In the same way, since you’re so desirous of spiritual gifts, you must keep on desiring them for building up the church.

13 Therefore, the person who speaks in a foreign language should pray for the ability to interpret it. 14 For if I pray in a foreign language, my spirit prays but my mind is not productive. 15 What does this mean? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing psalms with my spirit, but I will also sing psalms with my mind. 16 Otherwise, if you say a blessing with your spirit, how can an otherwise uneducated person[e] say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you’re saying? 17 It’s good for you to give thanks, but it does not build up the other person. 18 I thank God that I speak in foreign languages more than all of you. 19 But in church I would rather speak five words with my mind to instruct others than 10,000 words in a foreign language.

20 Brothers, stop being[f] childish in your thinking. Be like infants with respect to evil, but think like adults. 21 In the Law it is written,

“By means of foreign languages
    and through the mouths of foreigners
I will speak to this people,
    but even then they will not listen to me,”[g]
        declares the Lord.

22 Foreign languages, then, are meant to be a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers, while prophecy is meant, not for unbelievers, but for believers. 23 Now if the whole church gathers in the same place and everyone is speaking in foreign languages, when uneducated people or unbelievers come in, they will say that you are out of your mind, won’t they? 24 But if everyone is prophesying, when an unbeliever or an uneducated person comes in he will be convicted and examined by everything that’s happening.[h] 25 His secret, inner heart will become known, and so he will bow down to the ground and worship God, declaring, “God is truly among you!”

Maintain Order in the Church

26 What, then, does this mean,[i] brothers? When you gather, everyone has a psalm, teaching, revelation, foreign language, or interpretation. Everything must be done for upbuilding. 27 If anyone speaks in a foreign language, only two or three at the most should do so, one at a time, and somebody must interpret. 28 If an interpreter is not present, the speaker[j] should remain silent in the church and speak to himself and God.

29 Two or three prophets should speak, and others should weigh carefully what is said. 30 If a revelation is made to another person who is seated, the first person should be silent. 31 For everyone can prophesy in turn, so that everyone can be instructed and everyone can be encouraged. 32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the prophets, 33 for God[k] is not a God of disorder but of peace.

As[l] in all the churches of the saints, 34 the women must keep silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak out, but must place themselves in submission, as the oral[m] law also says. 35 If they want to learn anything, they should ask their own husbands at home, for it is inappropriate for a woman to speak out in church.[n]

36 Did God’s word originate with you? Are you the only ones[o] it has reached? 37 If anyone thinks he is a prophet or a spiritual person, he must acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command. 38 But if anyone ignores this, he should be ignored.[p]

39 Therefore, my brothers, desire the ability to prophesy, and do not prevent others from speaking in foreign languages. 40 But everything must be done in a proper and orderly way.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 14:2 The Gk. lacks foreign; and so throughout 14:39
  2. 1 Corinthians 14:2 Or with his spirit
  3. 1 Corinthians 14:10 Or sounds
  4. 1 Corinthians 14:11 Or sound
  5. 1 Corinthians 14:16 Lit. the person who occupies the place of the uneducated
  6. 1 Corinthians 14:20 Or do not be
  7. 1 Corinthians 14:21 Isa 28:11-12
  8. 1 Corinthians 14:24 The Gk. lacks that’s happening
  9. 1 Corinthians 14:26 The Gk. lacks does this mean
  10. 1 Corinthians 14:28 Lit. present, he
  11. 1 Corinthians 14:33 Lit. he
  12. 1 Corinthians 14:33 Or peace, as in all the churches of the saints. 34 The
  13. 1 Corinthians 14:34 The Gk. lacks oral
  14. 1 Corinthians 14:35 Other mss. place vv. 34 and 35 after v. 40.
  15. 1 Corinthians 14:36 The Gk. is a pl. masc. pronoun
  16. 1 Corinthians 14:38 Other mss. read If he is ignorant of this, he should remain ignorant