1 Corinthians 14:6-12
Wycliffe Bible
6 But now, brethren, if I come to you, and speak in tongues, what shall I profit to you, but if I speak to you either in revelation, either in science, either in prophecy, either in teaching?[a]
7 For those things that be without soul, and giveth voices, either pipe, either harp, but those give distinction of soundings, how shall it be known that that is sung, either that that is trumpeted.[b]
8 For if a trumpet give an uncertain sound [For why if the trump give uncertain voice], who shall make himself ready to battle?
9 So [and] but ye give an open word by tongue, how shall that that is said be known? For ye shall be speaking in vain[c].
10 There be many kinds of languages in this world, and nothing is without voice. [as so many kinds of tongues, or languages, be in this world, and nothing is without voice.]
11 But if I know not the virtue of a voice [Therefore if I know not the virtue of voice], I shall be to him, to whom I shall speak, a barbaric; and he that speaketh to me, shall be a barbaric.
12 So ye, for ye be lovers of spirits, seek ye that ye be plenteous to edification of the church.[d]
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- 1 Corinthians 14:6 Now forsooth, brethren, if I come to you, speaking with tongues, what shall I profit/what shall it profit to you, but if I shall speak to you either in revelation, or in science, or in prophecy, or in teaching?
- 1 Corinthians 14:7 Nevertheless those things that be without soul, or life, giving voices, either pipe, or harp, but if they shall give distinction of soundings, how shall it be known, that is sung, or that that is harped.
- 1 Corinthians 14:9 For ye shall be speaking in the air/Soothly ye shall be speaking into the airs, or firmament,
- 1 Corinthians 14:12 So and ye, for ye be lovers of spirits, that is, of ghostly gifts, to the edification of the church seek that ye be plenteous.
1 Corinthians 14:6-12
New Matthew Bible
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.
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1 Corinthians 14:6-12
1599 Geneva Bible
6 And now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking diverse tongues, what shall I profit you, except I speak to you, either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
7 [a]Moreover things without life which give a sound, whether it be a pipe or an harp, except they make a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
8 And also if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to battle?
9 So likewise you, by the tongue, except ye utter words that have [b]signification, how shall it be understood what is spoken? for ye shall speak in the air.
10 [c]There are so many kinds of voices (as it cometh to pass) in the world, and none of them is dumb.
11 Except I know then the power of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a Barbarian, and he that [d]speaketh, shall be a Barbarian unto me.
12 [e]Even so, forasmuch as ye covet spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel unto the edifying of the Church.
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- 1 Corinthians 14:7 He setteth forth that which he said, by a similitude, which he borroweth and taketh from instruments of music, which although they speak not perfectly, yet they are distinguished by their sounds, that they may be the better used.
- 1 Corinthians 14:9 That do fitly utter the matter itself.
- 1 Corinthians 14:10 He proveth that interpretation is necessarily to be joined with the gift of tongues, by the manifold variety of languages, insomuch that if one speak to another without an interpreter, it is as if he spake not.
- 1 Corinthians 14:11 As the Papists in all their sermons and they that ambitiously pour out some Hebrew or Greek words in the Pulpit before the unlearned people, thereby to get them a name of vain learning.
- 1 Corinthians 14:12 The conclusion: if they will excel in those spiritual gifts, as it is meet, they must seek the profit of the Church, and therefore they must not use gift of tongues, unless there is an interpreter to expound the strange and unknown tongue, whether it be himself that speaketh, or another interpreter.
1 Corinthians 14:6-12
Authorized (King James) Version
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.
Read full chapter2001 by Terence P. Noble
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
Geneva Bible, 1599 Edition. Published by Tolle Lege Press. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations in articles, reviews, and broadcasts.
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