1 Corinthians 14
New Matthew Bible
Paul shows that the gift of prophecy (that is, of interpreting or preaching) excels the gift of languages, and how they both ought to be used.
14 Labour for love, and covet spiritual gifts, and most chiefly to prophesy. 2 For he who speaks in an unknown tongue speaks not to people, but to God, for no one understands him. However, in the Spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But he who prophesies speaks to people, for edifying, for exhortation, and for comfort. 4 He who speaks in an unknown tongue, profits himself; he who prophesies, edifies the congregation.
5 I would that you all spoke with tongues, but rather that you prophesied. For greater is he who prophesies than he who speaks with tongues – unless he expounds it also, so that the congregation may have edifying. 6 Now brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, how do I profit you, unless I speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by instruction?
7 Moreover, when things without life give sound, whether it be a pipe or a harp, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how can it be known what is piped or harped? 8 And also, if the trumpet gives an uncertain call, who will prepare himself to fight? 9 So also likewise, when you speak with tongues, unless you speak words that have meaning, how can it be understood what is spoken? For you will be but speaking in the air.
10 Many kinds of voices are in the world, and none of them are without signification. 11 If I do not know what the voice means, I will be as a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me. 12 So then, since you covet spiritual gifts, seek to have them in plenty for the edifying of the congregation.
13 Therefore let him who speaks in an unknown tongue pray such that he may interpret also. 14 If I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding brings no one fruit. 15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and will pray with the meaning also. I will sing with the spirit, and will sing with the meaning also. 16 For otherwise, when you bless with the spirit, how can the person who is unlearned say Amen at your giving of thanks, seeing he does not understand what you say? 17 You give thanks well, but the other is not edified. 18 I thank my God that I speak with tongues more than you all, 19 yet in the congregation I would rather speak five words with my meaning for the information of others, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
20 Brethren, do not be children in understanding. As concerning evil, be children, but in understanding be mature. 21 In the law it is written: With other tongues and with other lips I will speak to this people, and yet for all that, they will not hear me, says the Lord. 22 Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to those who believe not. On the other hand, prophesying serves not for those who don’t believe, but for those who believe.
23 If, therefore, when all the congregation has come together and all speak with tongues, there come in people who are unlearned, or those who do not believe, will they not say that you are out of your minds? 24 But if all prophesy and there comes in one who does not believe, or one unlearned, he is convicted by everyone, and is judged by everyone. 25 And in this way the secrets of his heart are opened, and so he falls down on his face and worships God, and says that God is with you indeed.
26 How is it then, brethren? When you come together, each one has his song, has his word, has his tongue, has his revelation, has his interpretation. Let all things be done for edifying. 27 If any man speaks with tongues, let it be two in all, or at the most three in all, and that by turn; and let another interpret it. 28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silence in the congregation, and let him speak to himself and to God.
29 Let the prophets speak two in all, or three in all, and let the others judge. 30 If any revelation is made to another who sits by, let the first hold his peace. 31 For you may all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn, and all may have comfort. 32 For the spirits of the prophets are in the control of the prophets. 33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as he is in all other congregations of the saints.
34 Let your wives keep silence in the congregations. For it is not permitted to them to speak, but let them be under obedience, as the law says. 35 If they wish to learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is unseemly for women to speak in the congregation.
36 Did the word of God come forth from you? Or did it come to you only? 37 If anyone thinks himself a prophet, or spiritual, let him understand the things I write to you. For they are the commandments of the Lord. 38 But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39 And so, brethren, desire to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. 40 And let all things be done decently and in order.
1 Corinthians 14
Authorized (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 © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
KJV reproduced by permission of Cambridge University Press, the Crown’s patentee in the UK.