1 Corinthians 14:1-22 ▼

1 Pursue love, and zealously desire spiritual gifts, and especially that you⁺ may prophesy.

2 For the one speaking in a tongue speaks not to men, but to God. For no one hears, but in the Spirit he speaks mysteries.

3 But the one prophesying speaks to men for edification and encouragement and comfort.

4 The one speaking in a tongue edifies himself, but the one prophesying edifies the church.

5 Now I wish for all of you⁺ to speak in tongues, but rather that you⁺ may prophesy. And the one prophesying is greater than the one speaking in tongues, except if he may interpret, so that the church might receive edification.

6 But now, brothers, if I should come to you⁺ speaking in tongues, what will I profit you⁺, unless I should speak to you⁺ either in revelation, or in knowledge, or in prophecy, or in teaching?

7 Even lifeless things giving a sound—whether the flute or harp—unless they give distinction to the sounds, how will it be known what is being piped or being harped?

8 For also if the trumpet gives an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle?

9 So also you⁺, unless you⁺ give intelligible speech through the tongue, how will it be known what is being spoken? For you⁺ will be speaking into the air.

10 There are, if it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none without meaning.

11 Therefore unless I know the power of the voice, I will be a barbarian to the one speaking, and the one speaking, a barbarian to me.

12 So also you⁺, since you⁺ are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek for the edification of the church, so that you⁺ may abound.

13 Therefore, the one speaking in a tongue, let him pray that he may interpret.

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

15 What then is it? I will pray with the spirit, but I will also pray with the mind. I will sing praise with the spirit, but I will also sing praise with the mind.

16 Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will the one filling up the place of the uninstructed say the “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you say?

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

18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you⁺.

19 But in the church, I wish to speak five words with my mind, so that also I might instruct others, rather than myriads of words in a tongue.

20 Brothers, do not be children in the minds. But in evil be little children; and in thinking be mature.

21 In the law it has been written: “With other tongues and with different lips I will speak to this people, and not even thus will they hear Me, says the Lord.”

22 So then, tongues are for a sign, not to the believing, but to the unbelieving; but prophecy is not to the unbelieving, but to the believing.