1 Corinthians 14

Legacy Standard Bible

Prophecy and Tongues

14 ^(A)Pursue love, yet ^(B)earnestly desire ^(C)spiritual gifts, but especially that you may ^(D)prophesy. ² For one who ^(E)speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one ^[a]understands, but ^[b]in his spirit he speaks ^(F)mysteries. ³ But one who prophesies speaks to men for ^(G)edification and ^(H)exhortation and encouragement. ⁴ One who ^(I)speaks in a tongue ^(J)edifies himself; but one who ^(K)prophesies ^(L)edifies the church. ⁵ But I wish that you all ^(M)spoke in tongues, but ^(N)even more that you would prophesy. And greater is one who prophesies than one who ^(O)speaks in tongues, unless he ^[c]translates, so that the church may receive ^(P)edification.

⁶ But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of ^(Q)revelation or of ^(R)knowledge or of ^(S)prophecy or of ^(T)teaching? ⁷ Yet even lifeless things, either flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp? ⁸ For if ^(U)the trumpet produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle? ⁹ So also you, unless you utter by the tongue a word that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be ^(V)speaking into the air. ¹⁰ There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of sounds in the world, and none is without meaning. ¹¹ If then I do not know the meaning of the sound, I will be to the one who speaks a ^[d](W)barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a ^[e]barbarian ^[f]to me. ¹² So also you, since you are zealous for ^[g]spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the ^(X)edification of the church.

¹³ Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may ^[h]translate. ¹⁴ For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. ^15 (Y)What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will ^(Z)sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also. ¹⁶ Otherwise if you bless ^[i]in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ^[j]uninformed say ^(AA)the “Amen” at your ^(AB)giving 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 ^(AC)edified. ¹⁸ I thank God that 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.

^20 (AD)Brothers, ^(AE)do not be children in your thinking; rather in evil ^(AF)be infants, but in your thinking be mature. ²¹ In ^(AG)the Law it is written, “^(AH)By 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 ^[k]Lord. ²² So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but ^(AI)prophecy 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 ^[l]uninformed men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that ^(AJ)you are out of your mind? ²⁴ But if all ^(AK)prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ^[m]uninformed man enters, he is ^(AL)convicted by all, he is called to account by all; ^25 (AM)the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will ^(AN)fall on his face and worship God, declaring that ^(AO)surely God is among you.

Orderly Worship

^26 (AP)What is the outcome then, ^(AQ)brothers? When you assemble, ^(AR)each one has a ^(AS)psalm, has a ^(AT)teaching, has a ^(AU)revelation, has a ^(AV)tongue, has a ^[n](AW)translation. Let ^(AX)all things be done for edification. ²⁷ If anyone speaks in a ^(AY)tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must ^[o](AZ)translate; ²⁸ but if there is no ^[p]translator, he must keep silent in the church, and let him speak to himself and to God. ²⁹ And let two or three ^(BA)prophets speak, and let the others ^(BB)pass 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 ^(BC)confusion but of ^[q]peace, as in ^(BD)all the churches of the ^(BE)saints.

³⁴ The women are to ^(BF)keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but ^(BG)are to subject themselves, just as ^(BH)the Law also says. ³⁵ But if they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in church. ^36 [r]Was it from you that the word of God first went forth? Or has it arrived to you only?

^37 (BI)If anyone thinks he is a prophet or ^(BJ)spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you ^(BK)are the Lord’s commandment. ³⁸ But if anyone remains ignorant about this, he ^[s]is ignored by God.

³⁹ Therefore, my brothers, ^(BL)earnestly desire to ^(BM)prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues. ⁴⁰ But ^(BN)all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.