1 Corinthians 14:2–40

²For he who ^cspeaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. ³But he who prophesies speaks ^dedification and ^eexhortation and comfort to men. ⁴He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. ⁵I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; ¹for 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

⁶But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by ^frevelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching? ⁷Even 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? ⁸For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle? ⁹So 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. ¹⁰There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without ²significance. ¹¹Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a ³foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me. ¹²Even so you, since you are ⁴zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the ⁵edification of the church that you seek to excel.

¹³Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may ^ginterpret. ¹⁴For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. ¹⁵What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. ^hI will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing ⁱwith the understanding. ¹⁶Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” ^jat your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? ¹⁷For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.

¹⁸I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; ¹⁹yet 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

²⁰Brethren, ^kdo not be children in understanding; however, in malice ^lbe babes, but in understanding be mature.

^21mIn the law it is written:

ⁿ“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.

²²Therefore tongues are for a ^osign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe. ²³Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, ^pwill they not say that you are ⁶out of your mind? ²⁴But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. ²⁵⁷And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report ^qthat God is truly among you.

Order in Church Meetings

²⁶How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, ^rhas a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. ^sLet all things be done for ⁸edification. ²⁷If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. ²⁸But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. ²⁹Let two or three prophets speak, and ^tlet the others judge. ³⁰But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, ^ulet the first keep silent. ³¹For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. ³²And ^vthe spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. ³³For God is not the author of ⁹confusion but of peace, ^was in all the churches of the saints.

^34xLet ¹your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the ^ylaw also says. ³⁵And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.

³⁶Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached? ^37zIf 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. ³⁸But ²if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

³⁹Therefore, brethren, ^adesire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. ^40bLet all things be done decently and in order.