1 Coríntios 14

¹ Pursue love, yet zealously desire spiritual gifts, especially prophesy proclaiming God’s Word.

² For the person who speaks in an unknown tongue does not speak to men, but to God. No man understands him. He speaks secrets by the spirit.

³ But the person who prophesies proclaims God’s Word openly speaks to men to build up, encourage and comfort.

⁴ The person who speaks in an unknown tongue enlightens himself; but he who declares God’s Word enlightens the entire congregation!

⁵ I would like it that you all speak with tongues, but I prefer that you prophesy. The person who announces teachespreaches God’s Word is greater than the person who speaks with tongues. The person who speaks with tongues should have an interpreter so the congregation may receive understanding and knowledge.

⁶ Now, brothers, if I come to 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?

⁷ Inanimate objects that make a sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

⁸ If the trumpet gives an unclear sound, who will prepare himself for the battle?

⁹ The same for you unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will speak into the air.

¹⁰ There are many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without meaning.

¹¹ Therefore if I do not know the meaning of what someone is saying I will be a foreigner to him that speaks. And he that speaks will be a foreigner to me too.

¹² As much as you are zealous for spiritual gifts, strive to build-up increase the enlightenment understanding of the congregation.

¹³ Let the one who speaks in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret what he says.

¹⁴ For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding mind is unfruitful.

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

¹⁶ When you bless with the spirit, how will the audience of the unlearned say Amen at your giving of thanks, seeing he does not understand what you said?

¹⁷ For you give thanks well, but the other is not given understanding.

¹⁸ I thank God that I speak with tongues more then all of you.

¹⁹ Yet in the congregation I would rather speak five words with my understanding than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

²⁰ Brothers, do not be like children in understanding. When it comes to evil be innocent children but in your thinking be mature adults.

²¹ It is written in the law: »With men of other tongues and lips of foreigners I will speak to this people. Even then they will not listen to me,« said Jehovah.

²² Therefore speaking in tongues is a sign not for believers, but for those who do not believe. Prophesying proclaiming God’s Word serves the believer and not the unbeliever.

²³ If therefore the whole congregation comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and the unlearned, or unbelievers, come there will they not say that you are out of your mind?

²⁴ But if all proclaim God’s Word and an unbeliever comes there he is convinced by all.

²⁵ The secrets of his heart are made known. So falling down on his face he will worship God, and report, »God is truly among you.«

²⁶ How is it then, brothers? When you come together, every one of you has a psalm, has a doctrine, has a tongue, has a revelation, and has an interpretation. Let all things be done to clarify and offer understanding!

²⁷ If anyone speaks in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three. It should be orderly by plan and someone must interpret.

²⁸ But if there is no interpreter, let the speaker keep silence in the congregation and speak to himself and to God.

²⁹ Let two or three prophets speak and let the others listen.

³⁰ If there is a revelation to another while sitting there, let the others keep quiet.

³¹ You may all prophesy one by one in turn that all may learn, and all may be comforted.

³² Let the prophets control the spirits mindsmental disposition of the prophets.

³³ For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all the congregations of the holy ones.

³⁴ Let women keep silent in the congregations. They are not permitted to speak. They must be in submission as it says in the law.

³⁵ When they want to learn something, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is improper for a woman to speak in the congregation.

³⁶ Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached?

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

³⁸ But if any man does not recognize understand this he will not be recognized.

³⁹ Seek to prophesy brothers, and do not forbid speaking with tongues.

⁴⁰ Let all things be done decently and in order.