1 Corinthians 14

New International Version

Intelligibility in Worship

14 Follow the way of love^(A) and eagerly desire^(B) gifts of the Spirit,^(C) especially prophecy.^(D) ²For anyone who speaks in a tongue^[a]^(E) does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them;^(F) they utter mysteries^(G) by the Spirit. ³But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening,^(H) encouraging^(I) and comfort. ⁴Anyone who speaks in a tongue^(J) edifies^(K) themselves, but the one who prophesies^(L) edifies the church. ⁵I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,^[b] but I would rather have you prophesy.^(M) The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues,^[c] unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.^(N)

⁶Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation^(O) or knowledge^(P) or prophecy or word of instruction?^(Q) ⁷Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? ⁸Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?^(R) ⁹So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. ¹⁰Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. ¹¹If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me.^(S) ¹²So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit,^(T) try to excel in those that build up^(U) the church.

¹³For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say.^(V) ¹⁴For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays,^(W) but my mind is unfruitful. ¹⁵So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit,^(X) but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing^(Y) with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. ¹⁶Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer,^[d] say “Amen”^(Z) to your thanksgiving,^(AA) since they do not know what you are saying? ¹⁷You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.^(AB)

¹⁸I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. ¹⁹But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.^(AC)

²⁰Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children.^(AD) In regard to evil be infants,^(AE) but in your thinking be adults. ²¹In the Law^(AF) it is written:

“With other tongues
and through the lips of foreigners
I will speak to this people,
but even then they will not listen to me,^(AG)
says the Lord.”^[e]

²²Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy,^(AH) however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. ²³So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?^(AI) ²⁴But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, ²⁵as the secrets^(AJ) of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”^(AK)

Good Order in Worship

²⁶What then shall we say, brothers and sisters?^(AL) When you come together, each of you^(AM) has a hymn,^(AN) or a word of instruction,^(AO) a revelation, a tongue^(AP) or an interpretation.^(AQ) Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.^(AR) ²⁷If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. ²⁸If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.

²⁹Two or three prophets^(AS) should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.^(AT) ³⁰And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. ³¹For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. ³²The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.^(AU) ³³For God is not a God of disorder^(AV) but of peace^(AW)—as in all the congregations^(AX) of the Lord’s people.^(AY)

³⁴Women^[f] should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak,^(AZ) but must be in submission,^(BA) as the law^(BB) says. ³⁵If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.^[g]

³⁶Or did the word of God^(BC) originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? ³⁷If anyone thinks they are a prophet^(BD) or otherwise gifted by the Spirit,^(BE) let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command.^(BF) ³⁸But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored.^[h]

³⁹Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager^(BG) to prophesy,^(BH) and do not forbid speaking in tongues. ⁴⁰But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly^(BI) way.

Footnotes

1 Corinthians 14:2 Or in another language; also in verses 4, 13, 14, 19, 26 and 27
1 Corinthians 14:5 Or in other languages; also in verses 6, 18, 22, 23 and 39
1 Corinthians 14:5 Or in other languages; also in verses 6, 18, 22, 23 and 39
1 Corinthians 14:16 The Greek word for inquirer is a technical term for someone not fully initiated into a religion; also in verses 23 and 24.
1 Corinthians 14:21 Isaiah 28:11,12
1 Corinthians 14:34 Or peace. As in all the congregations of the Lord’s people, ³⁴women
1 Corinthians 14:35 In a few manuscripts these verses come after verse 40.
1 Corinthians 14:38 Some manuscripts But anyone who is ignorant of this will be ignorant

Psalm 46-50

New International Version

Psalm 46^[a]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth.^[b] A song.

¹God is our refuge^(A) and strength,^(B)
    an ever-present^(C) help^(D) in trouble.^(E)
²Therefore we will not fear,^(F) though the earth give way^(G)
    and the mountains fall^(H) into the heart of the sea,^(I)
³though its waters roar^(J) and foam^(K)
    and the mountains quake^(L) with their surging.^[c]

⁴There is a river^(M) whose streams^(N) make glad the city of God,^(O)
    the holy place where the Most High^(P) dwells.^(Q)
⁵God is within her,^(R) she will not fall;^(S)
    God will help^(T) her at break of day.
⁶Nations^(U) are in uproar,^(V) kingdoms^(W) fall;
    he lifts his voice,^(X) the earth melts.^(Y)

⁷The Lord Almighty^(Z) is with us;^(AA)
the God of Jacob^(AB) is our fortress.^(AC)

⁸Come and see what the Lord has done,^(AD)
    the desolations^(AE) he has brought on the earth.
⁹He makes wars^(AF) cease
    to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow^(AG) and shatters the spear;
    he burns the shields^[d] with fire.^(AH)
¹⁰He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;^(AI)
    I will be exalted^(AJ) among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

¹¹The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob^(AK) is our fortress.^(AL)

Psalm 47^[e]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

¹Clap your hands,^(AM) all you nations;
shout to God with cries of joy.^(AN)

²For the Lord Most High^(AO) is awesome,^(AP)
    the great King^(AQ) over all the earth.
³He subdued^(AR) nations under us,
    peoples under our feet.
⁴He chose our inheritance^(AS) for us,
    the pride of Jacob,^(AT) whom he loved.^[f]

⁵God has ascended^(AU) amid shouts of joy,^(AV)
    the Lord amid the sounding of trumpets.^(AW)
⁶Sing praises^(AX) to God, sing praises;
    sing praises to our King, sing praises.
⁷For God is the King of all the earth;^(AY)
    sing to him a psalm^(AZ) of praise.

⁸God reigns^(BA) over the nations;
    God is seated on his holy throne.^(BB)
⁹The nobles of the nations assemble
    as the people of the God of Abraham,
for the kings^[g] of the earth belong to God;^(BC)
    he is greatly exalted.^(BD)

Psalm 48^[h]

A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah.

¹Great is the Lord,^(BE) and most worthy of praise,^(BF)
in the city of our God,^(BG) his holy mountain.^(BH)

²Beautiful^(BI) in its loftiness,
    the joy of the whole earth,
like the heights of Zaphon^[i]^(BJ) is Mount Zion,^(BK)
    the city of the Great King.^(BL)
³God is in her citadels;^(BM)
    he has shown himself to be her fortress.^(BN)

⁴When the kings joined forces,
    when they advanced together,^(BO)
⁵they saw her and were astounded;
    they fled in terror.^(BP)
⁶Trembling seized^(BQ) them there,
    pain like that of a woman in labor.^(BR)
⁷You destroyed them like ships of Tarshish^(BS)
    shattered by an east wind.^(BT)

⁸As we have heard,
    so we have seen
in the city of the Lord Almighty,
    in the city of our God:
God makes her secure
    forever.^[j]^(BU)

⁹Within your temple, O God,
    we meditate^(BV) on your unfailing love.^(BW)
¹⁰Like your name,^(BX) O God,
    your praise reaches to the ends of the earth;^(BY)
    your right hand is filled with righteousness.
¹¹Mount Zion rejoices,
    the villages of Judah are glad
    because of your judgments.^(BZ)

¹²Walk about Zion, go around her,
    count her towers,^(CA)
¹³consider well her ramparts,^(CB)
    view her citadels,^(CC)
that you may tell of them
    to the next generation.^(CD)

¹⁴For this God is our God for ever and ever;
he will be our guide^(CE) even to the end.

Psalm 49^[k]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

¹Hear^(CF) this, all you peoples;^(CG)
    listen, all who live in this world,^(CH)
²both low and high,^(CI)
    rich and poor alike:
³My mouth will speak words of wisdom;^(CJ)
    the meditation of my heart will give you understanding.^(CK)
⁴I will turn my ear to a proverb;^(CL)
    with the harp^(CM) I will expound my riddle:^(CN)

⁵Why should I fear^(CO) when evil days come,
    when wicked deceivers surround me—
⁶those who trust in their wealth^(CP)
    and boast^(CQ) of their great riches?^(CR)
⁷No one can redeem the life of another
    or give to God a ransom for them—
⁸the ransom^(CS) for a life is costly,
    no payment is ever enough—^(CT)
⁹so that they should live on^(CU) forever
    and not see decay.^(CV)
¹⁰For all can see that the wise die,^(CW)
    that the foolish and the senseless^(CX) also perish,
    leaving their wealth^(CY) to others.^(CZ)
¹¹Their tombs^(DA) will remain their houses^[l] forever,
    their dwellings for endless generations,^(DB)
    though they had^[m] named^(DC) lands after themselves.

¹²People, despite their wealth, do not endure;^(DD)
they are like the beasts that perish.^(DE)

¹³This is the fate of those who trust in themselves,^(DF)
    and of their followers, who approve their sayings.^[n]
¹⁴They are like sheep and are destined^(DG) to die;^(DH)
    death will be their shepherd
    (but the upright will prevail^(DI) over them in the morning).
Their forms will decay in the grave,
    far from their princely mansions.
¹⁵But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead;^(DJ)
    he will surely take me to himself.^(DK)
¹⁶Do not be overawed when others grow rich,
    when the splendor of their houses increases;
¹⁷for they will take nothing^(DL) with them when they die,
    their splendor will not descend with them.^(DM)
¹⁸Though while they live they count themselves blessed—^(DN)
    and people praise you when you prosper—
¹⁹they will join those who have gone before them,^(DO)
    who will never again see the light^(DP) of life.

²⁰People who have wealth but lack understanding^(DQ)
are like the beasts that perish.^(DR)

Psalm 50

A psalm of Asaph.

¹The Mighty One, God, the Lord,^(DS)
    speaks and summons the earth
    from the rising of the sun to where it sets.^(DT)
²From Zion,^(DU) perfect in beauty,^(DV)
    God shines forth.^(DW)
³Our God comes^(DX)
    and will not be silent;^(DY)
a fire devours^(DZ) before him,^(EA)
    and around him a tempest^(EB) rages.
⁴He summons the heavens above,
    and the earth,^(EC) that he may judge his people:^(ED)
⁵“Gather to me this consecrated people,^(EE)
    who made a covenant^(EF) with me by sacrifice.”
⁶And the heavens proclaim^(EG) his righteousness,
    for he is a God of justice.^[o]^[p]^(EH)

⁷“Listen, my people, and I will speak;
    I will testify^(EI) against you, Israel:
    I am God, your God.^(EJ)
⁸I bring no charges^(EK) against you concerning your sacrifices
    or concerning your burnt offerings,^(EL) which are ever before me.
⁹I have no need of a bull^(EM) from your stall
    or of goats^(EN) from your pens,^(EO)
¹⁰for every animal of the forest^(EP) is mine,
    and the cattle on a thousand hills.^(EQ)
¹¹I know every bird^(ER) in the mountains,
    and the insects in the fields^(ES) are mine.
¹²If I were hungry I would not tell you,
    for the world^(ET) is mine, and all that is in it.^(EU)
¹³Do I eat the flesh of bulls
    or drink the blood of goats?

¹⁴“Sacrifice thank offerings^(EV) to God,
fulfill your vows^(EW) to the Most High,^(EX)
¹⁵and call^(EY) on me in the day of trouble;^(EZ)
I will deliver^(FA) you, and you will honor^(FB) me.”

¹⁶But to the wicked person, God says:

“What right have you to recite my laws
    or take my covenant^(FC) on your lips?^(FD)
¹⁷You hate^(FE) my instruction
    and cast my words behind^(FF) you.
¹⁸When you see a thief, you join^(FG) with him;
    you throw in your lot with adulterers.^(FH)
¹⁹You use your mouth for evil
    and harness your tongue to deceit.^(FI)
²⁰You sit and testify against your brother^(FJ)
    and slander your own mother’s son.
²¹When you did these things and I kept silent,^(FK)
    you thought I was exactly^[q] like you.
But I now arraign^(FL) you
    and set my accusations^(FM) before you.

²²“Consider this, you who forget God,^(FN)
or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you:^(FO)
²³Those who sacrifice thank offerings honor me,
and to the blameless^[r] I will show my salvation.^(FP)”

Footnotes

Psalm 46:1 In Hebrew texts 46:1-11 is numbered 46:2-12.
Psalm 46:1 Title: Probably a musical term
Psalm 46:3 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verses 7 and 11.
Psalm 46:9 Or chariots
Psalm 47:1 In Hebrew texts 47:1-9 is numbered 47:2-10.
Psalm 47:4 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
Psalm 47:9 Or shields
Psalm 48:1 In Hebrew texts 48:1-14 is numbered 48:2-15.
Psalm 48:2 Zaphon was the most sacred mountain of the Canaanites.
Psalm 48:8 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
Psalm 49:1 In Hebrew texts 49:1-20 is numbered 49:2-21.
Psalm 49:11 Septuagint and Syriac; Hebrew In their thoughts their houses will remain
Psalm 49:11 Or generations, / for they have
Psalm 49:13 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here and at the end of verse 15.
Psalm 50:6 With a different word division of the Hebrew; Masoretic Text for God himself is judge
Psalm 50:6 The Hebrew has Selah (a word of uncertain meaning) here.
Psalm 50:21 Or thought the ‘I am’ was
Psalm 50:23 Probable reading of the original Hebrew text; the meaning of the Masoretic Text for this phrase is uncertain.

New International Version (NIV)

1 Corinthians 14

New International Version

Intelligibility in Worship

Good Order in Worship

Footnotes

Cross references

Psalm 46-50

New International Version

Psalm 46^[a]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth.^[b] A song.

Psalm 47^[e]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

Psalm 48^[h]

A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah.

Psalm 49^[k]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

Psalm 50

A psalm of Asaph.

Footnotes

Cross references

More on the NIV

Bible Gateway Recommends

1 Corinthians 14 New International Version

Intelligibility in Worship

Good Order in Worship

Footnotes

Cross references

Psalm 46-50 New International Version

Psalm 46[a]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth.[b] A song.

Psalm 47[e]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

Psalm 48[h]

A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah.

Psalm 49[k]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.

Psalm 50

A psalm of Asaph.

Footnotes

Cross references

More on the NIV

Bible Gateway Recommends

1 Corinthians 14

New International Version

Psalm 46-50

New International Version

Psalm 46^[a]

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth.^[b] A song.

Psalm 47^[e]

Psalm 48^[h]

Psalm 49^[k]