The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians

⭑ Unlocked Literal Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 14 -

Pursue love and be zealous for spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.

For the one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. For no one understands him because he speaks hidden things in the Spirit.

But the one who prophesies speaks to people to build them up, to encourage them, and to comfort them.

The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.

Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues. But even more than that, I wish that you would prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets so that the church may be built up.

But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you? I cannot, unless I speak to you with revelation, or knowledge, or prophecy, or teaching.

If lifeless instruments are producing sounds-like the flute or the harp-and they do not produce different tones, how will anyone know what tune the flute or harp is playing?

For if the trumpet is played with an uncertain sound, how will anyone know when it is time to prepare for battle?

So it is with you. If you utter speech that is unintelligible, how will anyone understand what you have said? You will be speaking, and no one will understand you.

There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning.

But if I do not know the meaning of a language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker will be a foreigner to me.

Likewise with you. Since you are eager for the manifestations of the Spirit, be zealous to abound in building up the church.

So the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.

For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.

What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing with my spirit, and I will also sing with my mind.

Otherwise, if you praise God with the spirit, how will the outsider say “Amen” when you are giving thanks if he does not know what you are saying?

For you certainly give thanks well enough, but the other person is not built up.

I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.

But in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding so that I might instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Rather, in regard to evil, be like infants. But in your thinking be mature.

In the law it is written, “By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people. Even then they will not hear me,” says the Lord.

Therefore, tongues are a sign, not to believers, but to unbelievers. But prophesying is for a sign, not for unbelievers, but for believers.

If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders and unbelievers come in, would they not say that you are insane?

But if you all were prophesying and an unbeliever or an outsider came in, he would be convicted by all he hears. He would be judged by all that is said.

The secrets of his heart would be revealed. As a result, he would fall on his face and worship God. He would declare that God is really among you.

Orderly Worship

What is next then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Do everything so that you build up the church.

If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at most three, and each one in turn. And someone should interpret what is said.

But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in the church. Let each one speak to himself alone and to God.

Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others listen with discernment to what is said.

But if an insight is given to one who is sitting in the service, let the one who had been speaking be silent.

For each of you can prophesy one by one so that each one may learn and all may be encouraged.

For the spirits of the prophets are under the control of the prophets.

For God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. This is the rule in all the churches of the believers.

The women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak. Instead, they should be in submission, as also the law says.

If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.

Did the word of God come from you? Are you the only ones it has reached?

If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I write to you are a command of the Lord.

But if anyone does not recognize this, let him not be recognized.

So then, brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid anyone from speaking in tongues.

But let all things be done properly and in order.

Follow after love and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

For he who speaks in another language speaks not to men, but to God, for no one understands, but in the Spirit he speaks mysteries.

But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, exhortation, and consolation.

He who speaks in another language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the assembly.

Now I desire to have you all speak with other languages, but even more that you would prophesy. For he is greater who prophesies than he who speaks with other languages, unless he interprets, that the assembly may be built up.

But now, brothers,(a) if I come to you speaking with other languages, what would I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching?

Even lifeless things that make a sound, whether pipe or harp, if they didn’t give a distinction in the sounds, how would it be known what is piped or harped?

For if the trumpet gave an uncertain sound, who would prepare himself for war?

So also you, unless you uttered by the tongue words easy to understand, how would it be known what is spoken? For you would be speaking into the air.

There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without meaning.

If then I don’t know the meaning of the language, I would be to him who speaks a foreigner, and he who speaks would be a foreigner to me.

So also you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound to the building up of the assembly.

Therefore let him who speaks in another language pray that he may interpret.

For if I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

What should I do? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also. I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who fills the place of the unlearned say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks, seeing he doesn’t know what you say?

For you most certainly give thanks well, but the other person is not built up.

I thank my God, I speak with other languages more than you all.

However, in the assembly I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in another language.

Brothers, don’t be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature.

In the law it is written, “By men of strange languages and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people. They won’t even listen to me that way, says the Lord.”(b)

Therefore other languages are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to the unbelieving; but prophesying is for a sign, not to the unbelieving, but to those who believe.

If therefore the whole assembly is assembled together and all speak with other languages, and unlearned or unbelieving people come in, won’t they say that you are crazy?

But if all prophesy, and someone unbelieving or unlearned comes in, he is reproved by all, and he is judged by all.

And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed. So he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeed.

Orderly Worship

What is it then, brothers? When you come together, each one of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has another language, or has an interpretation. Let all things be done to build each other up.

If any man speaks in another language, let there be two, or at the most three, and in turn; and let one interpret.

But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in the assembly, and let him speak to himself and to God.

Let two or three of the prophets speak, and let the others discern.

But if a revelation is made to another sitting by, let the first keep silent.

For you all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be exhorted.

The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets,

for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the saints.

Let the wives be quiet in the assemblies, for it has not been permitted for them to be talking except in submission, as the law also says,(c)

if they desire to learn anything. “Let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for a wife to be talking in the assembly.”

What!? Was it from you that the word of God went out? Or did it come to you alone?

If any man thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize the things which I write to you, that they are the commandment of the Lord.

But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

Therefore, brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking with other languages.

Let all things be done decently and in order.

Footnotes

(a)14:6 The word for “brothers” here and where context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”

(b)14:21 ℘ Isaiah 28:11-12