14:1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.
14:2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue* does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. / *Or in another language; also in verses 4, 13, 14, 19, 26 and 27
14:3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.
14:4 Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.
14:5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,* but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues,* unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified. / *Or in other languages; also in verses 6, 18, 22, 23 and 39
14:6 Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction?
14:7 Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes?
14:8 Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?
14:9 So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.
14:10 Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.
14:11 If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me.
14:12 So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.
14:13 For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say.
14:14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
14:15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding.
14:16 Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer,* say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying? / *The Greek word for inquirer is a technical term for someone not fully initiated into a religion; also in verses 23 and 24.
14:17 You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.
14:18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
14:19 But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
14:20 Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.
14:21 In the Law it is written: “With other tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.”* / *Isaiah 28:11,12
14:22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers.
14:23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?
14:24 But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all,
14:25 as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”
14:26 What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.
14:27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two - or at the most three - should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret.
14:28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.
14:29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.
14:30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop.
14:31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.
14:32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.
14:33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace - as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.
14:34 Women* should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. / *Or peace. As in all the congregations of the Lord’s people, 34 women
14:35 If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.* / *In a few manuscripts these verses come after verse 40.
14:36 Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached?
14:37 If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command.
14:38 But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored.* / *Some manuscripts But anyone who is ignorant of this will be ignorant
14:39 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
14:40 But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.