1 Corinthians 14
Wycliffe Bible
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.
21 For in the law it is written, That in other tongues and other lips I shall speak to this people, and neither so they shall hear me, saith the Lord.
22 Therefore languages be into token, not to faithful men, but to men out of the faith; but prophecies be not to men out of the faith, but to faithful men.
23 Therefore if all the church come together into one, and all men speak in tongues, if unlearned men, either men out of the faith enter, whether they shall not say [soothly if idiots enter, or men out of the faith, whether they say not], What be ye mad?
24 But if all men prophesy, if any unfaithful man or unlearned man enter [Forsooth if all men prophecy, forsooth if any unfaithful man or idiot enter], he is convicted of all, he is wisely deemed of all.
25 For the hid things of his heart be known, and so he shall fall down on the face, and shall worship God[g], and show verily that God is in you.
26 What then, brethren? When ye come together, each of you hath a psalm, he hath teaching, he hath apocalypse, he hath tongue, he hath expounding; all things be they done to edification. [Therefore, brethren, what is? When ye come together, each of you hath a psalm, he hath teaching, he hath apocalypse, or revelation, he hath tongue, he hath interpreting, or expounding; be all things done to edification.]
27 Whether a man speaketh in tongue, by two men, either three at the most[h], and by parts, that one interpret.
28 But if there be not an interpreter, be he still in the church, and speak he to himself and to God.
29 Prophets twain or three say [Soothly prophets two or three say], and others wisely deem.
30 But if any thing be showed to a sitter, the former be still. [That if any thing shall be showed to one sitting, be the former still.]
31 For ye may all prophesy [For ye be able to prophesy all], each by himself, that all men learn, and all admonish.
32 And the spirits of prophets be subject to prophets;
33 for why God is not of dissension, but of peace; as I teach in all churches of holy men.
34 Women in churches be still; for it is not suffered to them to speak, but to be subject, as the law saith.
35 But if they will any thing learn, ask they their husbands at home; for it is foul thing to a woman to speak in the church.
36 Whether the word of God came forth of you, or to you alone it came?
37 If any man is seen to be a prophet, or spiritual, know he those things that I write to you, for those be the commandments of the Lord [know he the things that I write to you, for they be the commandments of the Lord].
38 And if any man not knoweth [Forsooth if any man unknoweth], he shall be unknowing.
39 Therefore, brethren, love ye to prophesy, and do not ye forbid to speak in tongues.
40 But be all things done seemly [Forsooth be all things done honestly], and by due order in you.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 14:5 Forsooth I will you all to speak in tongues, but more that ye prophesy. For why he that prophesieth, is more than he that speaketh with tongues, or languages; but peradventure he interpret, or declare, that the church take edification.
- 1 Corinthians 14:6 Now forsooth, brethren, if I come to you, speaking with tongues, what shall I profit/what shall it profit to you, but if I shall speak to you either in revelation, or in science, or in prophecy, or in teaching?
- 1 Corinthians 14:7 Nevertheless those things that be without soul, or life, giving voices, either pipe, or harp, but if they shall give distinction of soundings, how shall it be known, that is sung, or that that is harped.
- 1 Corinthians 14:9 For ye shall be speaking in the air/Soothly ye shall be speaking into the airs, or firmament,
- 1 Corinthians 14:12 So and ye, for ye be lovers of spirits, that is, of ghostly gifts, to the edification of the church seek that ye be plenteous.
- 1 Corinthians 14:16 For why if thou shalt bless in spirit, who filleth the place of an idiot, or unlearned man, how shall he say Amen upon thy blessing, for he knoweth not, what thou sayest?
- 1 Corinthians 14:25 and so he falling down on the face, shall worship God
- 1 Corinthians 14:27 Whether a man speak in tongue, be this done by two men/after two, or as much three
1 Corinthians 14
King James Version
14 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
5 I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.
10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.
11 Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.
12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.
14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
15 What is it then? 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.
16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?
17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:
19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
21 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.
22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.
28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law.
35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?
37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
2001 by Terence P. Noble