1 P ursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

¶ Follow after charity and earnestly pursue spiritual gifts, but above all, that ye may prophesy.

2 F or he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.

For he that speaks in an unknown tongue speaks not unto men, but unto God, for no one understands him, even though by the Spirit he speaks mysteries.

3 B ut he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.

But he that prophesies speaks unto men for edification and exhortation and comfort.

4 H e who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.

He that speaks in an unknown tongue edifies himself, but he that prophesies edifies the congregation.

5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification. Tongues Must Be Interpreted

I would that ye all spoke with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied, for greater is he that prophesies than he that speaks with tongues, unless he interprets, that the congregation may receive edifying.

6 B ut now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching?

¶ Now, brothers, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either with revelation or with knowledge or with prophecy or with doctrine?

7 E ven things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played?

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

8 F or if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle?

For if the trumpet gives an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

9 S o likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.

So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue a clear and definite word, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.

10 T here are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance.

There are many kinds of distinct voices in the world, and nothing is dumb.

11 T herefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me.

Therefore, if I ignore the virtue of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaks as a barbarian, and he that speaks shall be a barbarian unto me.

12 E ven so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.

Even so ye, forasmuch as ye desire the things of the Spirit, earnestly pursue excellence unto the edification of the congregation.

13 T herefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.

Therefore, let him that speaks in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.

14 F or if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

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

15 W hat is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.

¶ 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.

16 O therwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say?

Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupies the place of the ignorant say, Amen, at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understands not what thou sayest?

17 F or you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.

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

18 I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all;

I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all;

19 y et in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue. Tongues a Sign to Unbelievers

yet in the congregation I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

20 B rethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.

Brothers, be not children in understanding, howbeit in malice be ye children; but in understanding be perfect.

21 I n the law it is written: “With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,” says the Lord.

¶ In the law it is written, In other tongues and with other lips I will speak unto this people; and yet for all that, they will not hear me, saith the Lord.

22 T herefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe.

Therefore, tongues are for a sign, not to those that believe, but to those that do not believe; but prophecy is not for those that do not believe, but for those who believe.

23 T herefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind?

If, therefore, the whole congregation is 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?

24 B ut if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all.

But if all prophesy, and there come in one that does not believe or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all;

25 A nd thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you. Order in Church Meetings

for the secrets of his heart are made manifest; and so falling down on his face, he will worship God, declaring that God is indeed in you.

26 H ow is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.

¶ How is it then, brothers? when ye come together, each one of you has a psalm, has doctrine, has tongues, has revelation, has interpretation. Let all things be done unto edification.

27 I f anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret.

If anyone speaks in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.

28 B ut if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.

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

29 L et two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.

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

30 B ut if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent.

If any thing is revealed to another that sits by, let the first be silent.

31 F or you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged.

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

32 A nd the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

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

33 F or God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

For God is not the God of disorder, but of peace, as in all the congregations of the saints.

34 L et your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says.

¶ Let your women keep silence in the congregations, for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be in subjection, as also saith the law.

35 A nd if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.

And if they desire to learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home, for it is a dishonest thing for women to speak in the congregation.

36 O r did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached?

¶ What? Did the word of God come out from you? or did it come unto you only?

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

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

38 B ut if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

But anyone that ignores them shall be ignored.

39 T herefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.

Therefore, brothers, earnestly pursue prophecy and do not forbid to speak with tongues.

40 L et all things be done decently and in order.

But let all things be done decently and in order.