14:1 Make love your aim, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.
14:1 Pursue love and strive for the spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophesy.

14:2 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.
14:2 For those who speak in a tongue do not speak to other people but to God; for nobody understands them, since they are speaking mysteries in the Spirit.

14:3 On the other hand, he who prophesies speaks to men for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.
14:3 On the other hand, those who prophesy speak to other people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.

14:4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
14:4 Those who speak in a tongue build up themselves, but those who prophesy build up the church.

14:5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than he who speaks in tongues, unless some one interprets, so that the church may be edified.
14:5 Now I would like all of you to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. One who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.

14:6 Now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how shall I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?
14:6 Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you in some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?

14:7 If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will any one know what is played?
14:7 It is the same way with lifeless instruments that produce sound, such as the flute or the harp. If they do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is being played?

14:8 And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle?
14:8 And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle?

14:9 So with yourselves; if you in a tongue utter speech that is not intelligible, how will any one know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air.
14:9 So with yourselves; if in a tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is being said? For you will be speaking into the air.

14:10 There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning;
14:10 There are doubtless many different kinds of sounds in the world, and nothing is without sound.

14:11 but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me.
14:11 If then I do not know the meaning of a sound, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me.

14:12 So with yourselves; since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.
14:12 So with yourselves; since you are eager for spiritual gifts, strive to excel in them for building up the church.

14:13 Therefore, he who speaks in a tongue should pray for the power to interpret.
14:13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray for the power to interpret.

14:14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful.
14:14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unproductive.

14:15 What am I to do? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.
14:15 What should I do then? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray with the mind also; I will sing praise with the spirit, but I will sing praise with the mind also.

14:16 Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how can any one in the position of an outsider say the "Amen" to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying?
14:16 Otherwise, if you say a blessing with the spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say the "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since the outsider does not know what you are saying?

14:17 For you may give thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified.
14:17 For you may give thanks well enough, but the other person is not built up.

14:18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than you all;
14:18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you;

14:19 nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind, in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
14:19 nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind, in order to instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

14:20 Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; be babes in evil, but in thinking be mature.
14:20 Brothers and sisters, do not be children in your thinking; rather, be infants in evil, but in thinking be adults.

14:21 In the law it is written, "By men of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord."
14:21 In the law it is written, "By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people; yet even then they will not listen to me," says the Lord.

14:22 Thus, tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers.
14:22 Tongues, then, are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers.

14:23 If, therefore, the whole church assembles and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad?
14:23 If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your mind?

14:24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all,
14:24 But if all prophesy, an unbeliever or outsider who enters is reproved by all and called to account by all.

14:25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.
14:25 After the secrets of the unbeliever's heart are disclosed, that person will bow down before God and worship him, declaring, "God is really among you."

14:26 What then, brethren? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.
14:26 What should be done then, my friends? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.

14:27 If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn; and let one interpret.
14:27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn; and let one interpret.

14:28 But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silence in church and speak to himself and to God.
14:28 But if there is no one to interpret, let them be silent in church and speak to themselves and to God.

14:29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.
14:29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.

14:30 If a revelation is made to another sitting by, let the first be silent.
14:30 If a revelation is made to someone else sitting nearby, let the first person be silent.

14:31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged;
14:31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged.

14:32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.
14:32 And the spirits of prophets are subject to the prophets,

14:33 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,
14:33 for God is a God not of disorder but of peace. (As in all the churches of the saints,

14:34 the women should keep silence in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, as even the law says.
14:34 women should be silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be subordinate, as the law also says.

14:35 If there is anything they desire to know, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.
14:35 If there is anything they desire to know, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.

14:36 What! Did the word of God originate with you, or are you the only ones it has reached?
14:36 Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only ones it has reached?)

14:37 If any one thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that what I am writing to you is a command of the Lord.
14:37 Anyone who claims to be a prophet, or to have spiritual powers, must acknowledge that what I am writing to you is a command of the Lord.

14:38 If any one does not recognize this, he is not recognized.
14:38 Anyone who does not recognize this is not to be recognized.

14:39 So, my brethren, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues;
14:39 So, my friends, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues;

14:40 but all things should be done decently and in order.
14:40 but all things should be done decently and in order.