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