Prophecy and tongues
Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. 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. But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. 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. 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? 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? Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? 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. Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. 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. So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church. For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 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. 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? You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified. I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.
Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
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.
For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.
But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.
He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
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.
I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
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?
Now, brethren, if I come unto 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?
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?
And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?
For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
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.
So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.
Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.
There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.
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.
Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.
So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.
Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say.
Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
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.
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.
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?
Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?
You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.
For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:
But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
Order in worship
Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. 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. Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. 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? But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgement by all, as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, God is really among you. 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. If anyone speaks in a tongue, two — or at the most three — should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God. Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. For God is not a God of disorder but of peace — as in all the congregations of the Lord's people. Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. 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. Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? 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. But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.
Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.
Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
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.
In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the LORD.
Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers.
Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
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?
If therefore the whole church be 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?
But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgement by all,
But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, God is really among you.
And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
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.
How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
If anyone speaks in a tongue, two — or at the most three — should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret.
If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.
If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.
But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.
Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop.
If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.
For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.
And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
For God is not a God of disorder but of peace — as in all the congregations of the Lord's people.
For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says.
Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
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.
And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached?
What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?
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.
If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored.
But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.
Let all things be done decently and in order.