1 Corinthians 14 - English Standard Version Anglicised (ESVUK)

Prophecy and Tongues

14 (A)Pursue love, and (B)earnestly desire the (C)spiritual gifts, especially that you may (D)prophesy. 2 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. 3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. 5 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.

6 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? 7 If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? 8 And (I)if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? 9 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 for the power to 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

Cross references

  1. 1 Corinthians 14:1 : ch. 16:14
  2. 1 Corinthians 14:1 : ch. 12:31
  3. 1 Corinthians 14:1 : ch. 12:1
  4. 1 Corinthians 14:1 : See ch. 11:4; 13:2
  5. 1 Corinthians 14:2 : ver. 18-23, 27, 28
  6. 1 Corinthians 14:5 : [Num. 11:29]
  7. 1 Corinthians 14:6 : ver. 26; Eph. 1:17
  8. 1 Corinthians 14:6 : ver. 26; Acts 2:42; Rom. 6:17
  9. 1 Corinthians 14:8 : [Num. 10:9; Isa. 58:1; Jer. 4:19; Ezek. 33:3-6; Joel 2:1]
  10. 1 Corinthians 14:9 : [ch. 9:26]
  11. 1 Corinthians 14:11 : See Acts 28:2
  12. 1 Corinthians 14:15 : [Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; James 5:13]
  13. 1 Corinthians 14:15 : Ps. 47:7
  14. 1 Corinthians 14:16 : 1 Chr. 16:36; Neh. 5:13; 8:6; Ps. 106:48; Jer. 11:5; 28:6; Rev. 5:14; 7:12; 19:4; [2 Cor. 1:20]
  15. 1 Corinthians 14:16 : ch. 11:24
  16. 1 Corinthians 14:20 : Eph. 4:14; Heb. 5:12, 13
  17. 1 Corinthians 14:20 : [Ps. 131:2; Isa. 28:9; Rom. 16:19]; See Matt. 18:3
  18. 1 Corinthians 14:20 : ch. 2:6
  19. 1 Corinthians 14:21 : See John 10:34
  20. 1 Corinthians 14:21 : Cited from Isa. 28:11, 12; [Deut. 28:49]
  21. 1 Corinthians 14:23 : [Acts 2:13]
  22. 1 Corinthians 14:25 : [Heb. 4:12]
  23. 1 Corinthians 14:25 : Luke 17:16
  24. 1 Corinthians 14:25 : Isa. 45:14; Zech. 8:23
  25. 1 Corinthians 14:26 : Eph. 5:19
  26. 1 Corinthians 14:26 : See ver. 6
  27. 1 Corinthians 14:26 : See ver. 6
  28. 1 Corinthians 14:26 : ver. 18
  29. 1 Corinthians 14:26 : ver. 5, 13, 27, 28; ch. 12:10, 30
  30. 1 Corinthians 14:26 : 2 Cor. 12:19; 13:10; [ch. 12:7]
  31. 1 Corinthians 14:27 : [See ver. 26 above]; ver. 18
  32. 1 Corinthians 14:29 : [ch. 12:10; Job 12:11; 1 John 4:1]
  33. 1 Corinthians 14:30 : [1 Thess. 5:19, 20]
  34. 1 Corinthians 14:33 : [ver. 40]
  35. 1 Corinthians 14:33 : See ch. 7:17
  36. 1 Corinthians 14:34 : [1 Tim. 2:11, 12]
  37. 1 Corinthians 14:34 : See 1 Pet. 3:1
  38. 1 Corinthians 14:34 : [ver. 21]
  39. 1 Corinthians 14:37 : [2 Cor. 10:7; 1 John 4:6]
  40. 1 Corinthians 14:39 : ch. 12:31
  41. 1 Corinthians 14:40 : [ver. 31, 33]
  42. 1 Corinthians 14:40 : Col. 2:5

You Might Also Like:

1 Corinthians 14 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

14 Pursue the love, and seek earnestly the spiritual things, and rather that ye may prophecy, 2 for he who is speaking in an [unknown] tongue -- to men he doth not speak, but to God, for no one doth hearken, and in spirit he doth speak secrets; 3 and he who is prophesying to men doth speak edificati...
Read More

1 Corinthians 14 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

14 Follow ye charity, love ye spiritual things, but more that ye prophesy. 2 And he that speaketh in tongue, speaketh not to men, but to God; for no man heareth. But the Spirit speaketh mysteries. 3 For he that prophesieth, speaketh to men to edification, and admonishing, and comforting. 4 He tha...
Read More

1 Corinthians 14 - Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)

14 Love is the thing you should want more than anything else. But you should also want other things the Spirit gives. You should want very much to be able to speak words from God. 2 The person who talks in tongues of a different language does not talk to people, but to God. People do not understand ...
Read More

1 Corinthians 14 - World English Bible (WEB)

14 Follow after love and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2 For he who speaks in another language speaks not to men, but to God; for no one understands; but in the Spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, exhort...
Read More

1 Corinthians 14 - The Voice (VOICE)

14 So in everything strive to love. Passionately seek the gifts of the Spirit, especially the gift of prophecy. 2 You see, a person speaking in an unknown language is not addressing the church because he is really addressing God—those who overhear don’t understand because he is speaking in the Spir...
Read More

1 Corinthians 14 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Orderly Governing of the Gifts14 Pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2 For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to people but to God—for no one understands, but in the Ruach he speaks mysteries. 3 But one who prophesies speaks to people for buildi...
Read More

1 Corinthians 14 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Gifts of Prophecy and Tongues14 Make love your aim, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 2 For 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. 3 On the other hand, he who prophesies s...
Read More

1 Corinthians 14 - Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)

14 Pursue love, and desire spiritual things, more so that you may prophesy. 2 For the one who speaks in a tongue, speaks not to man, but to God. For no one hears. But in the spirit he speaks secret things. 3 But the one who prophesies, speaks to man for edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 4 T...
Read More

1 Corinthians 14 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

Priorities in Worship14 Pursue love; and long for the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 2 Someone who speaks in a tongue, you see, isn’t speaking to human beings but to God. Nobody can understand such speakers, because they speak mysteries in the spirit. 3 But the one who prophesi...
Read More

1 Corinthians 14 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Gifts of Prophecy and Tongues14 Pursue love and strive for the spiritual gifts and especially that you may prophesy.(A)2 For those who speak in a tongue do not speak to other people but to God, for no one understands them, since they are speaking mysteries in the Spirit.(B)3 But those who prophesy s...
Read More

1 Corinthians 14 - New Matthew Bible (NMB)

Paul shows that the gift of prophecy (that is, of interpreting or preaching) excels the gift of languages, and how they both ought to be used. 14 Labour for love, and covet spiritual gifts, and most chiefly to prophesy. 2 For he who speaks in an unknown tongue speaks not to people, but to God, for ...
Read More

1 Corinthians 14 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Tongues and Prophecy14 Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy. 2 For if you have the ability to speak in tongues,[a] you will be talking only to God, since people won’t be able to understand you. You will be...
Read More

1 Corinthians 14 - New Life Version (NLV)

Speaking in Special Sounds Is Not the Greatest Gift14 You should want to have this love. You should want the gifts of the Holy Spirit and most of all to be able to speak God’s Word. 2 The man who speaks in special sounds speaks to God. He is not speaking to men. No one understands. He is speaking s...
Read More

1 Corinthians 14 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Prophecy and Tongues14 Pursue love, and (A)desire spiritual gifts, (B)but especially that you may prophesy. 2 For he who (C)speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But he who prophesies speaks (D)edification and...
Read More