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
Complete Jewish Bible
14 Pursue love!
However, keep on eagerly seeking the things of the Spirit; and especially seek to be able to prophesy. 2 For someone speaking in a tongue is not speaking to people but to God, because no one can understand, since he is uttering mysteries in the power of the Spirit. 3 But someone prophesying is speaking to people, edifying, encouraging and comforting them. 4 A person speaking in a tongue does edify himself, but a person prophesying edifies the congregation. 5 I wish you would all speak in tongues, but even more I wish you would all prophesy. The person who prophesies is greater than the person who speaks in tongues, unless someone gives an interpretation, so that the congregation can be edified.
6 Brothers, suppose I come to you now speaking in tongues. How can I be of benefit to you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7 Even with lifeless musical instruments, such as a flute or a harp, how will anyone recognize the melody if one note can’t be distinguished from another? 8 And if the bugle gives an unclear sound, who will get ready for battle? 9 It’s the same with you: how will anyone know what you are saying unless you use your tongue to produce intelligible speech? You will be talking to the air! 10 There are undoubtedly all kinds of sounds in the world, and none is altogether meaningless; 11 but if I don’t know what a person’s sounds mean, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker will be a foreigner to me. 12 Likewise with you: since you eagerly seek the things of the Spirit, seek especially what will help in edifying the congregation.
13 Therefore someone who speaks in a tongue should pray for the power to interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit does pray, but my mind is unproductive. 15 So, what about it? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. 16 Otherwise, if you are giving thanks with your spirit, how will someone who has not yet received much instruction be able to say, “Amen,” when you have finished giving thanks, since he doesn’t know what you are saying? 17 For undoubtedly you are giving thanks very nicely, but the other person is not being edified. 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you, 19 but in a congregation meeting I would rather say five words with my mind in order to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue!
20 Brothers, don’t be children in your thinking. In evil, be like infants; but in your thinking, be grown-up. 21 In the Torah it is written,
“By other tongues,
by the lips of foreigners
I will speak to this people.
But even then they will not listen to me,”
says Adonai.[a]
22 Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 So if the whole congregation comes together with everybody speaking in tongues, and uninstructed people or unbelievers come in, won’t they say you’re crazy? 24 But if you all prophesy, and some unbeliever or uninstructed person enters, he is convicted of sin by all, he is brought under judgment by all, 25 and the secrets of his heart are laid bare; so he falls on his face and worships God, saying, “God is really here among you!”
26 What is our conclusion, brothers? Whenever you come together, let everyone be ready with a psalm or a teaching or a revelation, or ready to use his gift of tongues or give an interpretation; but let everything be for edification. 27 If the gift of tongues is exercised, let it be by two or at most three, and each in turn; and let someone interpret. 28 And if there is no one present who can interpret, let the people who speak in tongues keep silent when the congregation meets — they can speak to themselves and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, while the others weigh what is said. 30 And if something is revealed to a prophet who is sitting down, let the first one be silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, with the result that all will learn something and all will be encouraged. 32 Also, the prophets’ spirits are under the prophets’ control; 33 for God is not a God of unruliness but of shalom.
As in all the congregations of God’s people, 34 let the wives remain silent when the congregation meets; they are certainly not permitted to speak out. Rather, let them remain subordinate, as also the Torah says; 35 and if there is something they want to know, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for a woman to speak out in a congregational meeting.
36 Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? 37 If anyone thinks he is a prophet or is endowed with the Spirit, let him acknowledge that what I am writing you is a command of the Lord. 38 But if someone doesn’t recognize this, then let him remain unrecognized.
39 So, my brothers, eagerly seek to prophesy; and do not forbid speaking in tongues; 40 but let all things be done in a proper and orderly way.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 14:21 Isaiah 28:11–12
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved.