1 Corinthians 14
14
Prophecy and Tongues
1 Pursue love, and eagerly desire spiritual gifts,* but especially that you may prophesy. 2 For the one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one comprehends, but he speaks mysteries in the Spirit. 3 But the one prophesies speaks to men* for upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, whereas the one who prophesies builds up the church.* 5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy. And the one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edification.
6 But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you, unless I speak to you either through revelation, or through knowledge, or through prophecy, or through teaching? 7 Even the lifeless things that make sound, whether flute or harp, if they do not give a distinction in the notes, how will it be known what is being played on the flute, or what is being played on the harp? 8 For indeed, if the trumpet makes an unclear sound, who will prepare himself for war? 9 So you also, unless you produce intelligible speech with your* tongue, how will it be known what is being said? For you will be speaking into the air. 10 There are, perhaps, so many kinds of languages in the world, yet none is without meaning. 11 If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the one who speaks, and the one who speaks to me will be* a foreigner. 12 So also you, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit,* seek to excel in them* for the building up of the church.
13 Therefore, let the one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my understanding is unfruitful. 15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the mind. I will sing praise with the spirit, and I will also sing praise with the understanding. 16 Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will the one who fills the place of the uninstructed say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? 17 For you are giving thanks well, but the other is not being edified. 18 I give thanks to God that I speak in tongues more than all of you, 19 yet, in the church I prefer to speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20 Brothers, do not be children in your* thinking, but in regard to evil, be infants. In your* thinking, however, be mature. 21 In the Law, it is written:
“By people of* other tongues
and other lips I will speak to this people,
and even so they will not hear Me,
says the Lord.”*
22 Therefore, the tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to the unbelieving, whereas prophecy is not for the unbelieving, but for those who believe. 23 If, therefore, the whole church comes together at the same place and everyone speaks in tongues, and uninstructed people or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are raving like madmen? 24 But if all prophesy, and some unbeliever or an uninstructed person enters, he is convicted by all; he is judged by all. 25 The secret things of his heart become manifest, and consequently, falling on his face, he will worship God, reporting that God is actually among you.
Decency and Order in Worship
26 What is it then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, let it be* by two, or at most three, and each in turn, and let one interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. 29 And let two or three prophets speak, but let the others evaluate. 30 And if a revelation is given to another who is seated, let the first keep silent. 31 For you all can prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be encouraged; 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. 33 For He is not the God of disorder,* but of peace.
As in all the churches of the saints, 34 let the women keep silent in the churches. For they are not allowed to speak, but they must be submissive, as the Law also says. 35 But if they want to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful* for a woman to speak in church. 36 Or did the word of God go out from you,* or did it come to you only?
37 If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognise that the things which I am writing to you are from the Lord. 38 But if any one is ignorant, let him be ignorant.* 39 Therefore, my brothers, eagerly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues. 40 And let all things be done decently and according to proper procedure.*
Notes
1 Greek spiritual
3 Or people, as the term is understood in a generic sense
4 Two ancient Greek manuscripts read the church of God
9 Greek the . In this context, the Greek definite article functions pronominally, thus translating to your
11 The future indicative verb will be is contextually supplied for clarity
12 The Greek term translated as manifestations of the Spirit is literally spirits , not s piritual , hence it is not translated as spiritual gifts
12 The prepositional phrase in them is contextually supplied for clarity
20 Greek the . In this context, the Greek definite article functions pronominally, thus translating to your. Used twice in this verse
21 The expression people of is contextually supplied for clarity
21 Quoted from Is. 28:11-12
27 The imperative construction let it be is contextually supplied for clarity
33 Or confusion
35 Or improper
36 Or originate with you
38 Or let him be ignored
40 Some ancient manuscripts transpose vv. 34 and 35, inserting them at the end of v. 40
Currently Selected:
1 Corinthians 14: AFINTLIT
Highlight
Copy
Compare
Share
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Copyright © 2026 Michael Adeyemi Adegbola. This Scripture text is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).
