Book of Common Prayer
20 My brothers, do not be like children in your thinking. When it comes to doing wrong things, be like small babies. But in your thinking be grown up people.
21 The holy writings say, `I will talk to these people by strangers and by people who talk in strange tongues. And yet, they will not listen to me.' This is what the Lord says.
22 So then, tongues are a sign to people who do not believe God. They are not a sign to those who believe him. But speaking words from God like a prophet is a sign to those who believe. It is not a sign to those who do not believe.
23 Sometimes all the people of the church may be gathered together. If everyone talks in tongues, and if some people who do not know or believe come in, they will say that you are crazy.
24 But what happens if everyone speaks words from God? If such people come in, then the words from God will prove to them that they have done wrong. They will all speak to the heart.
25 Such a person sees everything that has been hidden in his heart. Then he will kneel down and worship God. He will say, `It is true. God is here among you.'
26 What shall we do about it, my brothers? When you meet together, every one of you has something to help the other. One has a song to sing. One has something to teach people. One has something which God has shown to him. One has something to say in a tongue. One can tell the meaning of a tongue. Do all of these things to help one another.
27 If any people talk in a tongue, only two or not more than three should talk. They must talk one at a time and someone must tell the meaning.
28 But if there is no one to tell the meaning, a person must not talk in a tongue of a different language in the church meeting. He should talk to himself and to God.
29 Two or three prophets may speak words from God and the others should say what they think about it.
30 But if another person is sitting by and God gives him something to say, then the first person should stop talking.
31 One by one you may speak words from God. In that way, all will learn something and all will be stronger in faith.
32 Those who speak words from God are able to keep their own spirits quiet.
33-34 God does not want things to be out of order. He wants peace in the church meeting. In all the churches of God's people, the women should be quiet in the church meetings. They must not be allowed to talk. They must obey. The holy writings say this also.
39 So, my brothers, the thing you should want is to speak words from God. But at the same time, do not stop anyone from talking in tongues.
40 But everything should be done in the right way and in good order.
42 `These little children believe in me. If anyone makes one of them do wrong, he will be punished. He will have worse trouble than if a big stone were tied to his neck and he were thrown into the deep sea.
43 If your hand makes you do wrong, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life with one hand than to have two hands and go into hell. Hell fire never dies.
44 In hell their worm will not die and the fire will not stop burning.
45 If your foot makes you do wrong, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life with one foot than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. Hell fire never dies.
46 In hell their worm will not die and the fire will not stop burning.
47 If your eye makes you do wrong, take it out. It is better for you to go into God's kingdom with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell.
48 In hell their worm will not die and the fire will not stop burning.
49 Everyone must be tested by fire. Every sacrifice must have salt on it.
50 Salt is good. But if the salt has lost its taste, how can it be made salty again? You must have salt in yourselves and live in peace with one another.'
© 1969, 1971, 1996, 1998 by SOON Educational Publications