1 Corinthians, 14

1. Follow after charity, and desire spiritual [gifts], but rather that ye may prophesy.

1. Strive, then, for love and set your hearts on spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.

2. For he that speaketh in an [unknown] tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth [him]; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

2. The one who speaks in tongues does not speak to people, but to God, for no one understands him; the spirit makes him say things that are not understandable.

3. But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men [to] edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

3. The prophet, instead, addresses all people to give them strength, encouragement and consolation.

4. He that speaketh in an [unknown] tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

4. He who speaks in tongues strengthens himself, but the prophet builds the Church.

5. I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater [is] he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

5. Would that all of you spoke in tongues! But better still if you were all prophets. The prophet has an advantage over the one speaking in tongues, unless someone explains what was spoken, so that the community may profit.

6. Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?

6. Suppose, brothers and sisters, I go to you and I speak in tongues, of what use will it be to you if I do not bring you some revelation, knowledge, prophecy or teaching?

7. And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

7. When someone plays the flute, or harp, or any musical instrument, if there are not tones and notes, who will recognize the tune?

8. For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

8. And if the bugle call is not clear, who will get ready for battle?

9. So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.

9. The same with you. If your words are not understood, who will know what is said? You will be talking to the moon.

10. There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them [is] without signification.

10. There are many languages in the world, and each of them has meaning,

11. Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh [shall be] a barbarian unto me.

11. but if I cannot find any meaning in what is said, I become a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker to me.

12. Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual [gifts], seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

12. As you set your heart on spiritual gifts, be eager to build the Church and you will receive abundantly.

13. Wherefore let him that speaketh in an [unknown] tongue pray that he may interpret.

13. Because of this, those who speak in tongues should ask God for the ability to explain what they say.

14. For if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

14. When I am praying in tongues, my spirit prays, but my mind remains idle.

15. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

15. What shall I do, then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with my mind. I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind.

16. Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?

16. If you praise God only with your spirit, how will the ordinary person add the "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since the outsider has not understood what you said?

17. For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

17. Your thanksgiving was indeed beautiful, but it was useless for others.

18. I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

18. I give thanks to God because I speak in tongues more than all of you,

19. Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that [by my voice] I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an [unknown] tongue.

19. but when I am in the assembly, I prefer to say five words from my mind, which may teach others, than ten thousand words in tongues.

20. Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

20. Brothers and sisters, do not remain as children in your thinking. Be like infants in doing evil, but mature in your thinking.

21. In the law it is written, With [men of] other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.

21. God says in the Law: I will speak to this people through those talking other tongues and through lips of foreigners, but even so they will not listen to me.

22. Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying [serveth] not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

22. So, speaking in tongues is significant for those who refuse to believe, not for those who believe, while prophecy is a sign for those who believe, not for those who refuse to believe.

23. If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in [those that are] unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

23. Yet imagine that the whole Church is gathered together and all speak in tongues when unbelievers and uninformed people enter. What will they think? That you are crazy.

24. But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or [one] unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:

24. Instead, suppose that each of you speaks as a prophet; as soon as an unbeliever or an uninformed person enters, all of you call him to account and disclose his most secret thinking.

25. And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on [his] face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

25. Then, falling on his face, he would be urged to worship God and declare that God is truly among you.

26. How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

26. What then shall we conclude, brothers? When you gather, each of you can take part with a song, a teaching, or a revelation, by speaking in tongues or interpreting what has been said in tongues. But let all this build up the Church.

27. If any man speak in an [unknown] tongue, [let it be] by two, or at the most [by] three, and [that] by course; and let one interpret.

27. Are you going to speak in tongues? Let two or three, at most, speak, each in turn, and let one interpret what has been said.

28. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

28. If there is no interpreter, hold your tongue in the assembly and speak to God by yourself.

29. Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.

29. As for the prophets, let two or three speak, with the others commenting on what has been said.

30. If [any thing] be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.

30. If a revelation comes to one of those sitting by, let the first be silent.

31. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.

31. Even all of you could prophesy, one by one, for the instruction and encouragement of all.

32. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

32. The spirits speaking through prophets are submitted to prophets,

33. For God is not [the author] of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

33. because God is not a God of confusion, but of peace.

34. Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but [they are commanded] to be under obedience, as also saith the law.

34. (Let women be silent in the assemblies, as in all the churches of the saints. They are not allowed to speak. Let them be submissive as the Law commands.

35. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

35. If there is anything they desire to know, let them consult their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in Church.)

36. What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?

36. Did the word of God, perhaps, come from you? or did it come only to you?

37. If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

37. Anyone among you who claims to be a prophet or a spiritual person, should acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command.

38. But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

38. If he does not recognize that, God will not recognize him.

39. Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

39. So, my friends, set your hearts on the gift of prophecy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

40. Let all things be done decently and in order.

40. However, everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.