1 Corinthians 14:20-33

New King James Version

Tongues a Sign to Unbelievers

²⁰Brethren, ^(A)do not be children in understanding; however, in malice ^(B)be babes, but in understanding be mature.

²¹^(C)In the law it is written:

^(D)“With men of other tongues and other lips
I will speak to this people;
And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,”

says the Lord.

²²Therefore tongues are for a ^(E)sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe. ²³Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, ^(F)will they not say that you are ^[a]out of your mind? ²⁴But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. ²⁵^[b]And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report ^(G)that God is truly among you.

Order in Church Meetings

²⁶How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, ^(H)has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. ^(I)Let all things be done for ^[c]edification. ²⁷If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. ²⁸But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. ²⁹Let two or three prophets speak, and ^(J)let the others judge. ³⁰But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, ^(K)let the first keep silent. ³¹For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. ³²And ^(L)the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. ³³For God is not the author of ^[d]confusion but of peace, ^(M)as in all the churches of the saints.