1 Corinthians 14

Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

1Work hard at loving people. Also want the gifts God's Spirit gives. Most of all, want to speak God's message to people.

NoteThe old word here is "charity." In 1611 that meant love, not giving money away.

2For 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.

2A person who speaks a language nobody knows is not talking to people. He is talking to God. No one understands him. By God's Spirit he says secret things.

Note"Speaking in tongues" means speaking in a language the speaker never learned and the listeners do not know.

3But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

3But a person who speaks God's message talks to people. His words build them up, cheer them on, and comfort them.

4He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

4Speaking an unknown language helps only yourself. Speaking God's message helps the whole church, the group of people who follow Jesus.

5I 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.

5I would be glad if you all spoke other languages. But I would rather you spoke God's message. That helps more, unless someone explains the words so the church is built up.

6Now, 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?

6Brothers and sisters, suppose I came and spoke words you did not know. How would that help you? I would need to bring something God showed me, or something I know, or God's message, or teaching.

7And 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?

7Even things that are not alive make sounds, like a flute or a harp. If every note sounds the same, nobody knows the tune.

8For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

8If a trumpet makes an unclear sound, who will get ready for battle?

9So 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.

9It is the same with you. If your words are not clear, nobody knows what you said. You are only talking to the air.

10There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.

10There are many, many languages in the world. Every one of them means something.

11Therefore 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.

11If I do not know a language, the speaker sounds like a stranger to me. And I sound like a stranger to him.

NoteThe old word here is "barbarian." Back then it just meant a foreigner whose speech you could not understand. It was not a mean name.

12Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

12It is the same for you. You want the gifts God's Spirit gives. So try hardest to have gifts that build up the church.

13Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.

13So a person who speaks an unknown language should pray that he can explain it.

14For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

14If I pray in a language I do not know, my spirit prays. But my mind does not understand, so nothing good grows from it.

15What 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.

15So what will I do? I will pray with my spirit, and with my mind too. I will sing with my spirit, and with my mind too.

16Else 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?

16Suppose you thank God with your spirit alone. Someone there has not been taught and does not know your words. How can he say "Amen" to your thank-you? He does not know what you said.

Note"Amen" means "yes, that is true." People said it to agree with a prayer. The old wording "him that occupieth the room of the unlearned" means a person sitting there who has not been taught.

17For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

17You may be thanking God very well. But the other person is not helped at all.

18I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

18I thank my God that I speak in other languages more than all of you.

19Yet 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.

19But at church I would rather say five words people understand, to teach them. That is better than ten thousand words nobody knows.

20Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

20Brothers and sisters, do not think like little children. Be like babies when it comes to doing harm. But be grown up in the way you think.

21In 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.

21God's law says this: "I will speak to these people through strange languages and foreign lips. Even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord."

22Wherefore 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.

22So other languages are a sign, not for people who believe, but for people who do not. God's message is for people who believe, not for those who do not.

23If 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?

23Suppose the whole church meets and everyone speaks unknown languages. Then people who have not been taught, or who do not believe, come in. Will they not say you are out of your minds?

24But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:

24But suppose everyone is speaking God's message. Then someone comes in who does not believe or has not been taught. What he hears shows him his sin and calls him to answer for it.

25And 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.

25The secrets in his heart are brought out into the open. He will fall down with his face to the ground and worship God. He will say, "God is really here with you!"

26How 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.

26So what should you do, brothers and sisters? When you meet, one has a song. One has teaching. One has an unknown language. One has something God showed him. One can explain it. Do all of it to build people up.

27If 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.

27If people speak in an unknown language, only two should, or three at most. They must speak one at a time. And someone must explain the words.

28But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

28If no one can explain, that person should stay quiet in the meeting. He can speak to himself and to God.

29Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.

29Two or three should speak God's message. The others should think carefully about what was said.

30If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.

30Suppose God shows something to another person sitting there. Then the first speaker should stop talking.

31For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.

31You can all speak God's message, one at a time. Then everyone learns and everyone is comforted.

32And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

32The spirit that gives a message stays under the speaker's control.

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

33God does not make things messy. He brings peace. This is true in all the churches of God's people.

34Let 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.

34Women are to stay quiet in the churches. They are not allowed to speak there. They are to stay under authority, as the law says.

35And 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.

35If they want to learn something, they should ask their husbands at home. It is shameful for a woman to speak in the church meeting.

36What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?

36Did God's word begin with you? Or did it come to you alone?

37If 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.

37Someone may think he speaks for God, or that God's Spirit leads him. He should agree that what I write to you is the Lord's command.

38But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

38But if anyone refuses to know this, let him stay that way.

39Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

39So, brothers and sisters, really want to speak God's message. And do not stop people from speaking in other languages.

40Let all things be done decently and in order.

40Do everything in a proper and orderly way.