1 Corinthians 13-14

New International Version

13 If I speak in the tongues^[a](A) of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy^(B) and can fathom all mysteries^(C) and all knowledge,^(D) and if I have a faith^(E) that can move mountains,^(F) but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor^(G) and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,^[b](H) but do not have love, I gain nothing.

⁴ Love is patient,^(I) love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.^{(J) 5} It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking,^(K) it is not easily angered,^(L) it keeps no record of wrongs.^{(M) 6} Love does not delight in evil^(N) but rejoices with the truth.^{(O) 7} It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.^(P)

⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies,^(Q) they will cease; where there are tongues,^(R) they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part^(S) and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when completeness comes,^(T) what is in part disappears. ¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood^(U) behind me. ¹² For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror;^(V) then we shall see face to face.^(W) Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.^(X)

¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.^(Y) But the greatest of these is love.^(Z)

Intelligibility in Worship

14 Follow the way of love^(AA) and eagerly desire^(AB) gifts of the Spirit,^(AC) especially prophecy.^{(AD) 2} For anyone who speaks in a tongue^[c](AE) does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them;^(AF) they utter mysteries^(AG) by the Spirit. ³ But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening,^(AH) encouraging^(AI) and comfort. ⁴ Anyone who speaks in a tongue^(AJ) edifies^(AK) themselves, but the one who prophesies^(AL) edifies the church. ⁵ I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,^[d] but I would rather have you prophesy.^(AM) The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues,^[e] unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.^(AN)

⁶ Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation^(AO) or knowledge^(AP) or prophecy or word of instruction?^{(AQ) 7} Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? ⁸ Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?^{(AR) 9} So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. ¹⁰ Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. ¹¹ If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me.^{(AS) 12} So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit,^(AT) try to excel in those that build up^(AU) the church.

¹³ For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say.^{(AV) 14} For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays,^(AW) but my mind is unfruitful. ¹⁵ So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit,^(AX) but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing^(AY) with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. ¹⁶ Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer,^[f] say “Amen”^(AZ) to your thanksgiving,^(BA) since they do not know what you are saying? ¹⁷ You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.^(BB)

¹⁸ I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. ¹⁹ But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.^(BC)

²⁰ Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children.^(BD) In regard to evil be infants,^(BE) but in your thinking be adults. ²¹ In the Law^(BF) it is written:

²² Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy,^(BH) however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. ²³ So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?^{(BI) 24} But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, ²⁵ as the secrets^(BJ) of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”^(BK)

Good Order in Worship

²⁶ What then shall we say, brothers and sisters?^(BL) When you come together, each of you^(BM) has a hymn,^(BN) or a word of instruction,^(BO) a revelation, a tongue^(BP) or an interpretation.^(BQ) Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.^{(BR) 27} If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. ²⁸ If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.

²⁹ Two or three prophets^(BS) should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.^{(BT) 30} And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. ³¹ For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. ³² The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.^{(BU) 33} For God is not a God of disorder^(BV) but of peace^(BW)—as in all the congregations^(BX) of the Lord’s people.^(BY)

³⁴ Women^[h] should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak,^(BZ) but must be in submission,^(CA) as the law^(CB) says. ³⁵ If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.^[i]

³⁶ Or did the word of God^(CC) originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? ³⁷ If anyone thinks they are a prophet^(CD) or otherwise gifted by the Spirit,^(CE) let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command.^{(CF) 38} But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored.^[j]

³⁹ Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager^(CG) to prophesy,^(CH) and do not forbid speaking in tongues. ⁴⁰ But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly^(CI) way.