Prophecy and Tongues

14 (A)Pursue love, and (B)earnestly desire the (C)spiritual gifts, especially that you may (D)prophesy. For (E)one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but (F)even more to 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.

Now, brothers,[a] if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some (G)revelation or knowledge or prophecy or (H)teaching? If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? And (I)if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be (J)speaking into the air. 10 There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, 11 but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be (K)a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. 12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.

13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. 15 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; (L)I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will (M)sing with my mind also. 16 Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider[b] say (N)“Amen” to (O)your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? 17 For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up. 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

20 Brothers, (P)do not be children in your thinking. (Q)Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be (R)mature. 21 (S)In the Law it is written, (T)“By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” 22 Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign[c] not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, (U)will they not say that you are out of your minds? 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, 25 (V)the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, (W)falling on his face, he will worship God and (X)declare that God is really among you.

Orderly Worship

26 What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has (Y)a hymn, (Z)a lesson, (AA)a revelation, (AB)a tongue, or (AC)an interpretation. (AD)Let all things be done for building up. 27 If any speak in (AE)a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. 28 But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others (AF)weigh what is said. 30 If a revelation is made to another sitting there, (AG)let the first be silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. 33 For God is not a God of (AH)confusion but of peace.

As in (AI)all the churches of the saints, 34 (AJ)the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but (AK)should be in submission, as (AL)the Law also says. 35 If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.

36 Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached? 37 (AM)If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. 38 If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. 39 So, my brothers, (AN)earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 (AO)But all things should be done decently and (AP)in order.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 14:6 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 20, 26, 39
  2. 1 Corinthians 14:16 Or of him that is without gifts
  3. 1 Corinthians 14:22 Greek lacks a sign

14 Pursue diōkō · ho love agapē, and de earnestly desire zēloō the ho spiritual pneumatikos gifts , but de especially mallon that hina you may prophesy prophēteuō. For gar the ho one speaking laleō in a tongue glōssa speaks laleō not ou to men anthrōpos but alla to God theos; indeed gar, no one oudeis understands akouō him, yet de he is speaking laleō mysteries mystērion by the Spirit pneuma. On the other hand de, the ho one who prophesies prophēteuō speaks laleō to people anthrōpos for their edification oikodomē, · kai encouragement paraklēsis, and kai consolation paramythia. The ho one who speaks laleō in a tongue glōssa edifies oikodomeō himself heautou, but de the ho one who prophesies prophēteuō edifies oikodomeō the church ekklēsia. Now de I would like thelō all pas of you hymeis to speak laleō in tongues glōssa, but de even more mallon to hina prophesy prophēteuō. The ho one who prophesies prophēteuō is greater megas · de than ē the ho one who speaks laleō in tongues glōssa, unless ektos ei he interprets diermēneuō so that hina the ho church ekklēsia may receive lambanō edification oikodomē.

But de as it is nyn, brothers adelphos, if ean I come erchomai to pros you hymeis speaking laleō in tongues glōssa, how tis will I benefit ōpheleō you hymeis unless ean mē I impart laleō to you hymeis some ē revelation apokalypsis or ē knowledge gnōsis or ē prophecy prophēteia or ē teaching didachē? It is the same homōs with · ho lifeless apsychos things that produce didōmi sound phōnē, whether eite flute aulos or eite harp kithara; if ean they do didōmi not make didōmi a difference diastolē between ho notes phthongos, how pōs will what ho is being played on the flute auleō or ē the ho harp kitharizō be understood ginōskō? Again kai, if ean the bugle salpinx gives didōmi an uncertain adēlos call phōnē, who tis will get ready paraskeuazō for eis battle polemos? So houtōs · kai it is with you hymeis; if ean you do didōmi not speak didōmi a clear eusēmos message logos with dia your ho tongue glōssa, how pōs will anyone know ginōskō what ho is being said laleō? You will be eimi speaking laleō into eis the air aēr. 10 There are eimi who-knows-how-many tosoutos ei kinds genos of languages phōnē in en the world kosmos, and kai none oudeis is without meaning aphōnos. 11 But oun if ean I do not grasp oida the ho meaning dynamis of the ho language phōnē, I will be eimi a foreigner barbaros to the ho speaker laleō and kai the ho speaker laleō a foreigner barbaros to en me egō. 12 So houtōs · kai it is with you hymeis. Since epei you are eimi eager zēlōtēs for manifestations of the Spirit pneuma, seek zēteō to hina excel perisseuō for pros the ho edification oikodomē of the ho church ekklēsia.

13 For this reason dio, the ho one who speaks laleō in a tongue glōssa should pray proseuchomai that hina he will be able to interpret diermēneuō. 14 For gar if ean I pray proseuchomai in a tongue glōssa, · ho my egō spirit pneuma prays proseuchomai · ho but de my egō mind nous is eimi unproductive akarpos. 15 What tis then oun shall I do eimi? I will pray proseuchomai with my ho spirit pneuma, but de I will also kai pray proseuchomai with my ho understanding nous. I will sing praises psallō with my ho spirit pneuma, but de I will also kai sing praises psallō with my ho understanding nous. 16 Otherwise epei, if ean you are praising eulogeō God by en the Spirit pneuma, how pōs can anyone ho in anaplēroō the ho position topos of ho an outsider idiōtēs say legō, · ho Amen amēn,” to epi · ho your sos thanksgiving eucharistia since epeidē he does oida not ou know oida what tis you are saying legō? 17 For gar you sy are giving thanks eucharisteō well kalōs enough , but alla the ho other heteros person is not ou being edified oikodomeō. 18 I thank eucharisteō · ho God theos I speak laleō in tongues glōssa more mallon than all pas of you hymeis; 19 however alla, in en church ekklēsia I would thelō rather speak laleō five pente words logos with ho my egō understanding nous, so as to hina instruct katēcheō others allos also kai, than ē ten thousand myrios words logos in en a tongue glōssa.

20 Brothers adelphos, do ginomai not be ginomai children paidion in your ho thinking phrēn. Rather alla, in ho evil kakia be infants nēpiazō but de in your ho thinking phrēn be ginomai adults teleios. 21 In en the ho Law nomos it is written graphō, “ By en people with strange tongues heteroglōssos and kai by en the lips cheilos of foreigners heteros will I speak laleō to ho this houtos people laos, yet kai not even oude in this way houtōs will they listen eisakouō to me egō, says legō the Lord kyrios.” 22 So then hōste · ho tongues glōssa are eimi for eis a sign sēmeion, not ou for ho believers pisteuō but alla for ho unbelievers apistos, · ho while de prophecy prophēteia is not ou for ho unbelievers apistos but alla for ho believers pisteuō. 23 So oun if ean the ho whole holos church ekklēsia assembles synerchomai in epi the ho same autos place and kai everyone pas is speaking laleō in tongues glōssa, and de outsiders idiōtēs or ē unbelievers apistos come in eiserchomai, will they not ou say legō that hoti you are out of your minds mainomai? 24 But de if ean all pas are prophesying prophēteuō, and de an tis unbeliever apistos or ē outsider idiōtēs comes eiserchomai in , he is convicted elenchō by hypo all pas, he is called to account anakrinō by hypo all pas, 25 and the ho secrets kryptos of ho his autos heart kardia are ginomai laid bare phaneros. · kai Thus houtōs he will fall piptō on epi his face prosōpon and worship proskyneō · ho God theos, declaring apangellō, “ God theos is eimi really ontōs · ho among en you hymeis.” 26 What tis then oun is eimi the outcome , brothers adelphos? When hotan you come together synerchomai, each hekastos one has echō a hymn psalmos, a word of instruction didachē, a revelation apokalypsis, a tongue glōssa, an interpretation hermēneia. Let ginomai all pas things be done ginomai for pros edification oikodomē. 27 If eite any tis speak laleō in a tongue glōssa, it should be only kata two dyo, or ē at the ho most polys three treis, and kai each ana in turn meros; and kai someone heis must interpret diermēneuō. 28 But de if ean there is eimi no one who can interpret diermēneutēs, the speaker should remain silent sigaō in en church ekklēsia and de speak laleō to himself heautou and kai to ho God theos. 29 · de Two dyo or ē three treis should speak laleō as prophets prophētēs and kai · ho others allos should weigh carefully diakrinō what is said. 30 But de if ean a revelation comes apokalyptō to another allos person who is sitting down kathēmai, the ho first prōtos speaker should stop sigaō. 31 For gar in this way all pas will be able dynamai to prophesy prophēteuō one by one kata, with the result that hina all pas may learn manthanō and kai all pas be encouraged parakaleō, 32 Indeed kai, the spirits pneuma of prophets prophētēs are subject hypotassō to prophets prophētēs, 33 for gar God theos is eimi not ou a God of confusion akatastasia · ho but alla of peace eirēnē. As hōs in en all pas the ho churches ekklēsia of the ho saints hagios, 34 the ho women gynē are to be silent sigaō in en the ho churches ekklēsia, for gar they autos are not ou permitted epitrepō to speak laleō. Rather alla, they are to be submissive hypotassō, as kathōs in fact kai the ho law nomos says legō. 35 And de if ei they want thelō to find out about manthanō something tis, they should ask eperōtaō their own idios husbands anēr at en home oikos; · ho for gar it is eimi improper aischros for a woman gynē to speak laleō in en church ekklēsia. 36 Or ē did exerchomai the ho word logos of ho God theos originate exerchomai with apo you hymeis? Or ē did it come katantaō to eis you hymeis alone monos?

37 If ei anyone tis considers dokeō himself to be eimi a prophet prophētēs or ē spiritual pneumatikos, let him acknowledge epiginōskō that hoti what hos I am writing graphō to you hymeis is eimi a command entolē of the Lord kyrios. 38 If ei · de anyone tis fails to acknowledge agnoeō this, he will not be acknowledged agnoeō. 39 So hōste, my egō brothers adelphos, be eager zēloō to prophesy prophēteuō, and kai do kōlyō not forbid kōlyō speaking laleō in tongues glōssa. 40 But de everything pas should be done ginomai in a proper euschēmonōs and kai orderly way kata.