1 Corinthians 14:12-40 (New American Standard)

12 So also you, since you are zealous of ^aspiritual gifts, seek to abound for the ¹edification 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 ²What is the outcome then ? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also ; I will ³sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also. 16 Otherwise if you bless ^bin the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ^cungifted say ⁴the "Amen " at your ⁵giving 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 ⁶edified. 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 ⁷Brethren, ⁸do not be children in your thinking ; yet in evil ⁹be infants, but in your thinking be mature. 21 In ¹⁰the Law it is written, "¹¹BY 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 ¹²prophecy 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 ^dungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that ¹³you are mad ? 24 But if all ¹⁴prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ^eungifted man enters, he is ¹⁵convicted by all, he is called to account by all ; 25 ¹⁶the secrets of his heart are disclosed ; and so he will ¹⁷fall on his face and worship God, ¹⁸declaring that God is certainly among you. 26 ¹⁹What is the outcome then, ²⁰brethren ? When you assemble, ²¹each one has a ²²psalm, has a ²³teaching, has a ²⁴revelation, has a ²⁵tongue, has an ²⁶interpretation. Let ²⁷all things be done for edification. 27 If anyone speaks in a ²⁸tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must ²⁹interpret ; 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 ³⁰prophets speak, and let the others ³¹pass 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 ³²confusion but of ^fpeace, as in ³³all the churches of the ³⁴saints. 34 The women are to ³⁵keep silent in the churches ; for they are not permitted to speak, but ³⁶are to subject themselves, just as ³⁷the Law also says. 35 If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home ; for it is ^gimproper for a woman to speak in church. 36 ^hWas it from you that the word of God first went forth ? Or has it come to you only ? 37 ³⁸If anyone thinks he is a prophet or ³⁹spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you ⁴⁰are the Lord's commandment. 38 But if anyone does not recognize this, he ⁱis not recognized. 39 Therefore, my brethren, ⁴¹desire earnestly to ⁴²prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues. 40 But ⁴³all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.