1 Corinthians 14
New Living Translation
Tongues and Prophecy
14 Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy. 2 For if you have the ability to speak in tongues,[a] you will be talking only to God, since people won’t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit,[b] but it will all be mysterious. 3 But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them. 4 A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church.
5 I wish you could all speak in tongues, but even more I wish you could all prophesy. For prophecy is greater than speaking in tongues, unless someone interprets what you are saying so that the whole church will be strengthened.
6 Dear brothers and sisters,[c] if I should come to you speaking in an unknown language,[d] how would that help you? But if I bring you a revelation or some special knowledge or prophecy or teaching, that will be helpful. 7 Even lifeless instruments like the flute or the harp must play the notes clearly, or no one will recognize the melody. 8 And if the bugler doesn’t sound a clear call, how will the soldiers know they are being called to battle?
9 It’s the same for you. If you speak to people in words they don’t understand, how will they know what you are saying? You might as well be talking into empty space.
10 There are many different languages in the world, and every language has meaning. 11 But if I don’t understand a language, I will be a foreigner to someone who speaks it, and the one who speaks it will be a foreigner to me. 12 And the same is true for you. Since you are so eager to have the special abilities the Spirit gives, seek those that will strengthen the whole church.
13 So anyone who speaks in tongues should pray also for the ability to interpret what has been said. 14 For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is praying, but I don’t understand what I am saying.
15 Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the spirit,[e] and I will also pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will also sing in words I understand. 16 For if you praise God only in the spirit, how can those who don’t understand you praise God along with you? How can they join you in giving thanks when they don’t understand what you are saying? 17 You will be giving thanks very well, but it won’t strengthen the people who hear you.
18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than any of you. 19 But in a church meeting I would rather speak five understandable words to help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language.
20 Dear brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind. 21 It is written in the Scriptures[f]:
“I will speak to my own people
through strange languages
and through the lips of foreigners.
But even then, they will not listen to me,”[g]
says the Lord.
22 So you see that speaking in tongues is a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for the benefit of believers, not unbelievers. 23 Even so, if unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into your church meeting and hear everyone speaking in an unknown language, they will think you are crazy. 24 But if all of you are prophesying, and unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into your meeting, they will be convicted of sin and judged by what you say. 25 As they listen, their secret thoughts will be exposed, and they will fall to their knees and worship God, declaring, “God is truly here among you.”
A Call to Orderly Worship
26 Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you.
27 No more than two or three should speak in tongues. They must speak one at a time, and someone must interpret what they say. 28 But if no one is present who can interpret, they must be silent in your church meeting and speak in tongues to God privately.
29 Let two or three people prophesy, and let the others evaluate what is said. 30 But if someone is prophesying and another person receives a revelation from the Lord, the one who is speaking must stop. 31 In this way, all who prophesy will have a turn to speak, one after the other, so that everyone will learn and be encouraged. 32 Remember that people who prophesy are in control of their spirit and can take turns. 33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of God’s holy people.[h]
34 Women should be silent during the church meetings. It is not proper for them to speak. They should be submissive, just as the law says. 35 If they have any questions, they should ask their husbands at home, for it is improper for women to speak in church meetings.[i]
36 Or do you think God’s word originated with you Corinthians? Are you the only ones to whom it was given? 37 If you claim to be a prophet or think you are spiritual, you should recognize that what I am saying is a command from the Lord himself. 38 But if you do not recognize this, you yourself will not be recognized.[j]
39 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But be sure that everything is done properly and in order.
Footnotes
- 14:2a Or in unknown languages; also in 14:4, 5, 13, 14, 18, 22, 26, 27, 28, 39.
- 14:2b Or speaking in your spirit.
- 14:6a Greek brothers; also in 14:20, 26, 39.
- 14:6b Or in tongues; also in 14:19, 23.
- 14:15 Or in the Spirit; also in 14:15b, 16.
- 14:21a Greek in the law.
- 14:21b Isa 28:11-12.
- 14:33 The phrase as in all the meetings of God’s holy people could instead be joined to the beginning of 14:34.
- 14:35 Some manuscripts place verses 34-35 after 14:40.
- 14:38 Some manuscripts read If you are ignorant of this, stay in your ignorance.
1 Corinthians 14
Mounce Reverse Interlinear New Testament
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. 2 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. 3 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. 4 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. 5 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.
6 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? 7 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 mē 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? 8 Again kai, if ean the bugle salpinx gives didōmi an uncertain adēlos call phōnē, who tis will get ready paraskeuazō for eis battle polemos? 9 So houtōs · kai it is with you hymeis; if ean you do didōmi not mē 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 mē 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 mē 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 mē 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 mē 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.
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