1 Corinthians 14
NIRV — New International Reader's Version Bible (NIRV)
NIVUK — New International Version - UK Bible (NIVUK)
Verse 1
Follow the way of love. You should also want the gifts the Holy Spirit gives. Most of all, you should want the gift of prophecy.
Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.
Verse 2
Anyone who speaks in a language they had not known before doesn’t speak to people. They speak only to God. In fact, no one understands them. What they say by the Spirit remains a mystery.
For anyone who speaks in a tongue[a] does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.
Verse 3
But the person who prophesies speaks to people. That person prophesies to make people stronger, to give them hope, and to comfort them.
But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.
Verse 4
Anyone who speaks in other languages builds up only themselves. But the person who prophesies builds up the church.
Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.
Verse 5
I would like all of you to speak in other languages. But I would rather have you prophesy. The person who prophesies is more helpful than those who speak in other languages. But that is not the case if someone explains what was said in the other languages. Then the whole church can be built up.
Verse 6
Brothers and sisters, suppose I were to come to you and speak in other languages. What good would I be to you? None! I would need to come with new truth or knowledge. Or I would need to come with a prophecy or a teaching.
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?
Verse 7
Here are some examples. Certain objects make sounds. Take a flute or a harp. No one will know what the tune is unless different notes are played.
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?
Verse 8
Also, if the trumpet call isn’t clear, who will get ready for battle?
Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?
Verse 9
It’s the same with you. You must speak words that people understand. If you don’t, no one will know what you are saying. You will just be speaking into the air.
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.
Verse 10
It is true that there are all kinds of languages in the world. And they all have meaning.
Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.
Verse 11
But if I don’t understand what someone is saying, I am a stranger to the person speaking. And that person is a stranger to me.
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.
Verse 12
It’s the same with you. You want the gifts of the Spirit. So try to do your best in using gifts that build up the church.
So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.
Verse 13
So here is what the person who speaks in languages they had not known before should do. They should pray that they can explain what they say.
For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say.
Verse 14
If I pray in another language, my spirit prays. But my mind does not pray.
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
Verse 15
So what should 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.
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.
Verse 16
Suppose you are praising God in the Spirit. And suppose there are visitors among you who want to know what’s going on. How can they say “Amen” when you give thanks? They don’t know what you are saying.
Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an enquirer,[d] say ‘Amen’ to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying?
Verse 17
You are certainly giving thanks. But no one else is being built up.
You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.
Verse 18
I thank God that I speak in other languages more than all of you do.
I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
Verse 19
In the church, I wouldn’t want to speak 10,000 words in an unfamiliar language. I’d rather speak five words in a language people could understand. Then I would be teaching others.
But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Verse 20
Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. Be like babies as far as evil is concerned. But be grown up in your thinking.
Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.
Verse 21
In the law it is written,
“With unfamiliar languages
and through the lips of outsiders
I will speak to these people.
But even then they will not listen to me.” (Isaiah 28:11,12)
That is what the Lord says.
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.’[e]
Verse 22
So speaking in other languages is a sign for those who don’t believe. It is not a sign for those who do believe. But prophecy is not for those who don’t believe. It is for those who believe.
Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers.
Verse 23
Suppose the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in other languages. And suppose visitors or unbelievers come in. Won’t they say you are out of your minds?
So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and enquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?
Verse 24
But suppose unbelievers or visitors come in while everyone is prophesying. Then they will feel guilty about their sin. They will be judged by all.
But if an unbeliever or an enquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all,
Verse 25
The secrets of their hearts will be brought out into the open. They will fall down and worship God. They will exclaim, “God is really here among you!”
Proper Worship
as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, ‘God is really among you!’
Good order in worship
Verse 26
Brothers and sisters, what should we say then? When you come together, each of you brings something. You bring a hymn or a teaching or a message from God. You bring a message in another language or explain what was said in that language. Everything must be done to build up the church.
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.
Verse 27
No more than two or three people should speak in another language. And they should speak one at a time. Then someone must explain what was said.
If anyone speaks in a tongue, two – or at the most three – should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret.
Verse 28
If there is no one to explain, the person speaking should keep quiet in the church. They can speak to themselves and to God.
If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.
Verse 29
Only two or three prophets are supposed to speak. Others should decide if what is being said is true.
Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.
Verse 30
What if a message from God comes to someone else who is sitting there? Then the one who is speaking should stop.
And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop.
Verse 31
Those who prophesy can all take turns. In that way, everyone can be taught and be given hope.
For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.
Verse 32
Those who prophesy should control their speaking.
The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.
Verse 33
God is not a God of disorder. He is a God of peace, just as in all the churches of the Lord’s people.
For God is not a God of disorder but of peace – as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.
Verse 34
Women should remain silent in church meetings. They are not allowed to speak. They must follow the lead of those who are in authority, as the law says.
Women[f] should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says.
Verse 35
If they have a question about something, they should ask their own husbands at home. It is shameful for women to speak in church meetings.
If they want to enquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.[g]
Verse 36
Or did the word of God begin with you? Or are you the only people it has reached?
Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached?
Verse 37
Suppose anyone thinks they are a prophet. Or suppose they think they have other gifts given by the Holy Spirit. They should agree that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command.
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.
Verse 38
But anyone who does not recognize this will not be recognized.
But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored.[h]
Verse 39
Brothers and sisters, you should want to prophesy. And don’t stop people from speaking in languages they had not known before.
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
Verse 40
But everything should be done in a proper and orderly way.
But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.