New Testament in a Year
14 Follow ye charity, love ye spiritual things, but more that ye prophesy.
2 And he that speaketh in tongue, speaketh not to men, but to God; for no man heareth. But the Spirit speaketh mysteries.
3 For he that prophesieth, speaketh to men to edification, and admonishing, and comforting.
4 He that speaketh in tongue, edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth, edifieth the church of God.
5 And I will, that all ye speak in tongues, but more that ye prophesy. For he that prophesieth, is more than he that speaketh in languages; but peradventure he expound, that the church take edification.[a]
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?[b]
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.[c]
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[d].
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.[e]
13 And therefore he that speaketh in language, pray, that he expound. [And therefore he that speaketh in tongue, pray, that he interpret, or expound.]
14 For if I pray in tongue, my spirit prayeth; mine understanding is without fruit. [For why if I pray in tongue, my spirit prayeth; forsooth my mind, or reason, is without fruit.]
15 What then? I shall pray in spirit, I shall pray [and] in mind; I shall say psalm in spirit, I shall say psalm also in mind.
16 For if thou blessest in spirit, who filleth the place of an unlearned man, how shall he say Amen on thy blessing, for he knoweth not, what thou sayest?[f]
17 For thou [soothly] doest well thankings, but another man is not edified. [For why thou soothly doest well graces, or thankings, but another is not edified.]
18 I thank my God, for I speak in the language of all you; [I do graces to my God, for I speak in the tongue of all you;]
19 but in the church I will speak five words in my wit, that also I teach other men, than ten thousand words in tongue [than ten thousands of words in tongue not understood].
20 Brethren, do not ye be made children in wits, but in malice be ye children; but in wits be ye perfect.
2001 by Terence P. Noble