The text

1 Corinthians 14

1 Corinthians 14:1WEB

Follow after love and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

1 Corinthians 14:2WEB

For he who speaks in another language speaks not to men, but to God, for no one understands, but in the Spirit he speaks mysteries.

1 Corinthians 14:3WEB

But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, exhortation, and consolation.

1 Corinthians 14:4WEB

He who speaks in another language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the assembly.

1 Corinthians 14:5WEB

Now I desire to have you all speak with other languages, but even more that you would prophesy. For he is greater who prophesies than he who speaks with other languages, unless he interprets, that the assembly may be built up.

1 Corinthians 14:6WEB

But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking with other languages, what would I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching?

1 Corinthians 14:7WEB

Even lifeless things that make a sound, whether pipe or harp, if they didn’t give a distinction in the sounds, how would it be known what is piped or harped?

1 Corinthians 14:8WEB

For if the trumpet gave an uncertain sound, who would prepare himself for war?

1 Corinthians 14:9WEB

So also you, unless you uttered by the tongue words easy to understand, how would it be known what is spoken? For you would be speaking into the air.

1 Corinthians 14:10WEB

There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without meaning.

1 Corinthians 14:11WEB

If then I don’t know the meaning of the language, I would be to him who speaks a foreigner, and he who speaks would be a foreigner to me.

1 Corinthians 14:12WEB

So also you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound to the building up of the assembly.

1 Corinthians 14:13WEB

Therefore let him who speaks in another language pray that he may interpret.

1 Corinthians 14:14WEB

For if I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

1 Corinthians 14:15WEB

What should I do? 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.

1 Corinthians 14:16WEB

Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who fills the place of the unlearned say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks, seeing he doesn’t know what you say?

1 Corinthians 14:17WEB

For you most certainly give thanks well, but the other person is not built up.

1 Corinthians 14:18WEB

I thank my God, I speak with other languages more than you all.

1 Corinthians 14:19WEB

However, in the assembly I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in another language.

1 Corinthians 14:20WEB

Brothers, don’t be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature.

1 Corinthians 14:21WEB

In the law it is written, “By men of strange languages and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people. They won’t even listen to me that way, says the Lord.”

1 Corinthians 14:22WEB

Therefore other languages are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to the unbelieving; but prophesying is for a sign, not to the unbelieving, but to those who believe.

1 Corinthians 14:23WEB

If therefore the whole assembly is assembled together and all speak with other languages, and unlearned or unbelieving people come in, won’t they say that you are crazy?

1 Corinthians 14:24WEB

But if all prophesy, and someone unbelieving or unlearned comes in, he is reproved by all, and he is judged by all.

1 Corinthians 14:25WEB

And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed. So he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeed.

1 Corinthians 14:26WEB

What is it then, brothers? When you come together, each one of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has another language, or has an interpretation. Let all things be done to build each other up.

1 Corinthians 14:27WEB

If any man speaks in another language, let there be two, or at the most three, and in turn; and let one interpret.

1 Corinthians 14:28WEB

But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in the assembly, and let him speak to himself and to God.

1 Corinthians 14:29WEB

Let two or three of the prophets speak, and let the others discern.

1 Corinthians 14:30WEB

But if a revelation is made to another sitting by, let the first keep silent.

1 Corinthians 14:31WEB

For you all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be exhorted.

1 Corinthians 14:32WEB

The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets,

1 Corinthians 14:33WEB

for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the saints.

1 Corinthians 14:34WEB

Let the wives be quiet in the assemblies, for it has not been permitted for them to be talking except in submission, as the law also says,

1 Corinthians 14:35WEB

if they desire to learn anything. “Let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for a wife to be talking in the assembly.”

1 Corinthians 14:36WEB

What!? Was it from you that the word of God went out? Or did it come to you alone?

1 Corinthians 14:37WEB

If any man thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize the things which I write to you, that they are the commandment of the Lord.

1 Corinthians 14:38WEB

But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

1 Corinthians 14:39WEB

Therefore, brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking with other languages.

1 Corinthians 14:40WEB

Let all things be done decently and in order.

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain.