1 Corinthians 14 - New American Standard Bible (NASB)

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. 30 But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, then the first one is to keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be [l]exhorted; 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets; 33 for God is not a God of (BC)confusion, but of peace.

As in (BD)all the churches of the [m](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 If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is [n]improper for a woman to speak in church. 36 Or was it from you that the word of God first went out? Or has it come to you only?

37 (BI)If anyone thinks that 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 does not recognize this, [o]he is not recognized.

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

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 14:2 Lit hears
  2. 1 Corinthians 14:2 Or by the Spirit
  3. 1 Corinthians 14:3 Or encouragement
  4. 1 Corinthians 14:10 Lit voices
  5. 1 Corinthians 14:11 Or in my estimation
  6. 1 Corinthians 14:12 Lit spirits
  7. 1 Corinthians 14:16 Or with the
  8. 1 Corinthians 14:16 Lit private person
  9. 1 Corinthians 14:21 I.e., Old Testament, Isaiah
  10. 1 Corinthians 14:23 See note 2 v 16
  11. 1 Corinthians 14:24 See note 2 v 16
  12. 1 Corinthians 14:31 Or encouraged
  13. 1 Corinthians 14:33 I.e., God’s people
  14. 1 Corinthians 14:35 Or disgraceful
  15. 1 Corinthians 14:38 Two early mss let him continue not to recognize it

Cross references

  1. 1 Corinthians 14:1 : 1 Cor 16:14
  2. 1 Corinthians 14:1 : 1 Cor 12:31; 14:39
  3. 1 Corinthians 14:1 : 1 Cor 12:1
  4. 1 Corinthians 14:1 : 1 Cor 13:2
  5. 1 Corinthians 14:2 : Mark 16:17; 1 Cor 12:10, 28, 30; 13:1; 14:18ff
  6. 1 Corinthians 14:2 : 1 Cor 13:2
  7. 1 Corinthians 14:3 : Rom 14:19; 1 Cor 14:5, 12, 17, 26
  8. 1 Corinthians 14:3 : Acts 4:36
  9. 1 Corinthians 14:4 : Mark 16:17; 1 Cor 12:10, 28, 30; 13:1; 14:18ff, 26f
  10. 1 Corinthians 14:4 : Rom 14:19; 1 Cor 14:5, 12, 17, 26
  11. 1 Corinthians 14:4 : 1 Cor 13:2
  12. 1 Corinthians 14:4 : Rom 14:19; 1 Cor 14:5, 12, 17, 26
  13. 1 Corinthians 14:5 : Mark 16:17; 1 Cor 12:10, 28, 30; 13:1; 14:18ff, 26f
  14. 1 Corinthians 14:5 : Num 11:29
  15. 1 Corinthians 14:5 : Mark 16:17; 1 Cor 12:10, 28, 30; 13:1; 14:18ff, 26f
  16. 1 Corinthians 14:5 : Rom 14:19; 1 Cor 14:4, 12, 17, 26
  17. 1 Corinthians 14:6 : 1 Cor 14:26; Eph 1:17
  18. 1 Corinthians 14:6 : 1 Cor 12:8
  19. 1 Corinthians 14:6 : 1 Cor 13:2
  20. 1 Corinthians 14:6 : Acts 2:42; Rom 6:17; 1 Cor 14:26
  21. 1 Corinthians 14:8 : Num 10:9; Jer 4:19; Ezek 33:3-6; Joel 2:1
  22. 1 Corinthians 14:9 : 1 Cor 9:26
  23. 1 Corinthians 14:11 : Acts 28:2
  24. 1 Corinthians 14:12 : Rom 14:19; 1 Cor 14:4, 5, 17, 26
  25. 1 Corinthians 14:15 : Acts 21:22; 1 Cor 14:26
  26. 1 Corinthians 14:15 : Eph 5:19; Col 3:16
  27. 1 Corinthians 14:16 : Deut 27:15-26; 1 Chr 16:36; Neh 5:13; 8:6; Ps 106:48; Jer 11:5; 28:6; Rev 5:14; 7:12
  28. 1 Corinthians 14:16 : Matt 15:36
  29. 1 Corinthians 14:17 : Rom 14:19; 1 Cor 14:4, 5, 12, 26
  30. 1 Corinthians 14:20 : Rom 1:13
  31. 1 Corinthians 14:20 : Eph 4:14; Heb 5:12f
  32. 1 Corinthians 14:20 : Ps 131:2; Matt 18:3; Rom 16:19; 1 Pet 2:2
  33. 1 Corinthians 14:21 : John 10:34; 1 Cor 14:34
  34. 1 Corinthians 14:21 : Is 28:11f
  35. 1 Corinthians 14:22 : 1 Cor 14:1
  36. 1 Corinthians 14:23 : Acts 2:13
  37. 1 Corinthians 14:24 : 1 Cor 14:1
  38. 1 Corinthians 14:24 : John 16:8
  39. 1 Corinthians 14:25 : John 4:19
  40. 1 Corinthians 14:25 : Luke 17:16
  41. 1 Corinthians 14:25 : Is 45:14; Dan 2:47; Zech 8:23; Acts 4:13
  42. 1 Corinthians 14:26 : 1 Cor 14:15
  43. 1 Corinthians 14:26 : Rom 1:13
  44. 1 Corinthians 14:26 : 1 Cor 12:8-10
  45. 1 Corinthians 14:26 : Eph 5:19
  46. 1 Corinthians 14:26 : 1 Cor 14:6
  47. 1 Corinthians 14:26 : 1 Cor 14:6
  48. 1 Corinthians 14:26 : 1 Cor 14:2
  49. 1 Corinthians 14:26 : 1 Cor 12:10; 14:5, 13, 27f
  50. 1 Corinthians 14:26 : Rom 14:19
  51. 1 Corinthians 14:27 : 1 Cor 14:2
  52. 1 Corinthians 14:27 : 1 Cor 12:10; 14:5, 13, 26ff
  53. 1 Corinthians 14:29 : 1 Cor 13:2; 14:32, 37
  54. 1 Corinthians 14:29 : 1 Cor 12:10
  55. 1 Corinthians 14:33 : 1 Cor 14:40
  56. 1 Corinthians 14:33 : 1 Cor 4:17; 7:17
  57. 1 Corinthians 14:33 : Acts 9:13
  58. 1 Corinthians 14:34 : 1 Cor 11:5, 13
  59. 1 Corinthians 14:34 : 1 Tim 2:11f; 1 Pet 3:1
  60. 1 Corinthians 14:34 : 1 Cor 14:21
  61. 1 Corinthians 14:37 : 2 Cor 10:7
  62. 1 Corinthians 14:37 : 1 Cor 2:15
  63. 1 Corinthians 14:37 : 1 John 4:6
  64. 1 Corinthians 14:39 : 1 Cor 12:31
  65. 1 Corinthians 14:39 : 1 Cor 13:2; 14:1
  66. 1 Corinthians 14:40 : 1 Cor 14:33

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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...
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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...
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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 ...
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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...
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1 Corinthians 14 - The Voice (VOICE)

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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...
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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...
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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...
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1 Corinthians 14 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

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1 Corinthians 14 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

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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 ...
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