1 Corinthians 14 (New American Standard)

Prophecy a Superior Gift

1 ¹Pursue love, yet ²desire earnestly ³spiritual gifts, but especially that you may ⁴prophesy. 2 For one who ⁵speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God ; for no one ^aunderstands, but ^bin his spirit he speaks ⁶mysteries. 3 But one who prophesies speaks to men for ⁷edification and ⁸exhortation and consolation. 4 One who ⁹speaks in a tongue ¹⁰edifies himself ; but one who ¹¹prophesies ¹²edifies the church. 5 Now I wish that you all ¹³spoke in tongues, but ¹⁴even more that you would prophesy ; and greater is one who prophesies than one who ¹⁵speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive ¹⁶edifying. 6 But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of ¹⁷revelation or of ¹⁸knowledge or of ¹⁹prophecy or of ²⁰teaching ? 7 Yet even lifeless things, either flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp ? 8 For if ²¹the ^cbugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle ? 9 So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken ? For you will be ²²speaking into the air. 10 There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of ^dlanguages in the world, and no kind is without meaning. 11 If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be to the one who speaks a ^e23barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a ^fbarbarian ^gto me. 12 So also you, since you are zealous of ^hspiritual gifts, seek to abound for the ²⁴edification of the church. 13 Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15 ²⁵What is the outcome then ? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also ; I will ²⁶sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also. 16 Otherwise if you bless ⁱin the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ^jungifted say ²⁷the "Amen " at your ²⁸giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying ? 17 For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not ²⁹edified. 18 I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all ; 19 however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Instruction for the Church

20 ³⁰Brethren, ³¹do not be children in your thinking ; yet in evil ³²be infants, but in your thinking be mature. 21 In ³³the Law it is written, "³⁴BY MEN OF STRANGE TONGUES AND BY THE LIPS OF STRANGERS I WILL SPEAK TO THIS PEOPLE, AND EVEN SO THEY WILL NOT LISTEN TO ME," says the Lord. 22 So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers ; but ³⁵prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those who believe. 23 Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ^kungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that ³⁶you are mad ? 24 But if all ³⁷prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ^lungifted man enters, he is ³⁸convicted by all, he is called to account by all ; 25 ³⁹the secrets of his heart are disclosed ; and so he will ⁴⁰fall on his face and worship God, ⁴¹declaring that God is certainly among you. 26 ⁴²What is the outcome then, ⁴³brethren ? When you assemble, ⁴⁴each one has a ⁴⁵psalm, has a ⁴⁶teaching, has a ⁴⁷revelation, has a ⁴⁸tongue, has an ⁴⁹interpretation. Let ⁵⁰all things be done for edification. 27 If anyone speaks in a ⁵¹tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must ⁵²interpret ; 28 but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church ; and let him speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three ⁵³prophets speak, and let the others ⁵⁴pass judgment. 30 But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one , so that all may learn and all may be exhorted ; 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets ; 33 for God is not a God of ⁵⁵confusion but of ^mpeace, as in ⁵⁶all the churches of the ⁵⁷saints. 34 The women are to ⁵⁸keep silent in the churches ; for they are not permitted to speak, but ⁵⁹are to subject themselves, just as ⁶⁰the Law also says. 35 If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home ; for it is ⁿimproper for a woman to speak in church. 36 ^oWas it from you that the word of God first went forth ? Or has it come to you only ? 37 ⁶¹If anyone thinks he is a prophet or ⁶²spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you ⁶³are the Lord's commandment. 38 But if anyone does not recognize this, he ^pis not recognized. 39 Therefore, my brethren, ⁶⁴desire earnestly to ⁶⁵prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues. 40 But ⁶⁶all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.