1 Corinthians 14:1-29

New American Standard Bible

Prophecy a Superior Gift

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

⁶ But now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit 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 instruments, whether 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 you too, unless you produce intelligible speech by the tongue, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will just be ^(V)talking to the air. ¹⁰ There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of ^[d]languages in the world, and none is incapable of meaning. ¹¹ So if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be ^(W)unintelligible to the one who speaks, and the one who speaks will be unintelligible ^[e]to me. ¹² So you too, since you are eager to possess ^[f]spiritual gifts, strive to excel for the ^(X)edification of the church.

¹³ Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue is to pray that he may interpret. ¹⁴ For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive. ^15 (Y)What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray with the mind also; I will ^(Z)sing with the spirit, but I will sing with the mind also. ¹⁶ For otherwise, if you bless God ^[g]in the spirit only, how will the one who occupies the place of the ^[h]outsider know to say ^(AA)the “Amen” at your ^(AB)giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you are saying? ¹⁷ For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not ^(AC)edified. ¹⁸ I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all; ¹⁹ nevertheless, in church I prefer to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Instruction for the Church

^20 (AD)Brothers and sisters, ^(AE)do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil ^(AF)be infants, but in your thinking be mature. ²¹ In ^(AG)the ^[i]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 Lord. ²² So then, tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but ^(AI)prophecy is not for unbelievers, but for those who believe. ²³ Therefore if the whole church gathers together and all the people speak in tongues, and ^[j]outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that ^(AJ)you are insane? ²⁴ But if all ^(AK)prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ^[k]outsider 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, ^(AO)declaring that God is certainly among you.

^26 (AP)What is the outcome then, ^(AQ)brothers and sisters? When you assemble, ^(AR)each one has a ^(AS)psalm, has a ^(AT)teaching, has a ^(AU)revelation, has a ^(AV)tongue, has an ^(AW)interpretation. ^(AX)All things are to be done for edification. ²⁷ If anyone speaks in a ^(AY)tongue, it must be by two or at the most three, and each one in turn, and one is to ^(AZ)interpret; ²⁸ but if there is no interpreter, he is to keep silent in church; and have him speak to himself and to God. ²⁹ Have two or three ^(BA)prophets speak, and have the others ^(BB)pass judgment.