1 Corinthians 14 :: American Standard Version (ASV)

Prophecy a Superior Gift

1Co 14:1Follow after love; yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

1Co 14:2For he that speaketh in a tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God; for no man understandeth; but in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

1Co 14:3

1Co 14:3But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men edification, and exhortation, and consolation.

1Co 14:4

1Co 14:4He that speaketh in a tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

1Co 14:5

1Co 14:5Now I would have you all speak with tongues, but rather that ye should prophesy: and greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

1Co 14:6

1Co 14:6But now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching?

1Co 14:7

1Co 14:7Even things without life, giving a voice, whether pipe or harp, if they give not a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

1Co 14:8

1Co 14:8For if the trumpet give an uncertain voice, who shall prepare himself for war?

1Co 14:9

1Co 14:9So also ye, unless ye utter by the tongue speech easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye will be speaking into the air.

1Co 14:10

1Co 14:10There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and no kind is without signification.

1Co 14:11

1Co 14:11If then I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be to him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh will be a barbarian unto me.

1Co 14:12

1Co 14:12So also ye, since ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may abound unto the edifying of the church.

1Co 14:13

1Co 14:13Wherefore let him that speaketh in a tongue pray that he may interpret.

1Co 14:14

1Co 14:14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

1Co 14:15

1Co 14:15What 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.

1Co 14:16

1Co 14:16Else if thou bless with the spirit, how shall he that filleth the place of the unlearned say the Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he knoweth not what thou sayest?

1Co 14:17

1Co 14:17For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

1Co 14:18

1Co 14:18I thank God, I speak with tongues more than you all:

1Co 14:19

1Co 14:19howbeit in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Instruction for the Church

1Co 14:20

1Co 14:20Brethren, be not children in mind: yet in malice be ye babes, but in mind be men.

1Co 14:21

1Co 14:21In the law it is written, By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers will I speak unto this people; and not even thus will they hear me, saith the Lord.

1Co 14:22

1Co 14:22Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to the unbelieving: but prophesying is for a sign, not to the unbelieving, but to them that believe.

1Co 14:23

1Co 14:23If therefore the whole church be assembled together and all speak with tongues, and there come in men unlearned or unbelieving, will they not say that ye are mad?

1Co 14:24

1Co 14:24But if all prophesy, and there come in one unbelieving or unlearned, he is reproved by all, he is judged by all;

1Co 14:25

1Co 14:25the secrets of his heart are made manifest; and so he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeed.

1Co 14:26

1Co 14:26What is it then, brethren? When ye come together, each one hath a psalm, hath a teaching, hath a revelation, hath a tongue, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

1Co 14:27

1Co 14:27If any man speaketh in a tongue, let it be by two, or at the most three, and that in turn; and let one interpret:

1Co 14:28

1Co 14:28but if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

1Co 14:29

1Co 14:29And let the prophets speak by two or three, and let the others discern.

1Co 14:30

1Co 14:30But if a revelation be made to another sitting by, let the first keep silence.

1Co 14:31

1Co 14:31For ye all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be exhorted;

1Co 14:32

1Co 14:32and the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets;

1Co 14:33

1Co 14:33for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,

1Co 14:34

1Co 14:34let the women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as also saith the law.

1Co 14:35

1Co 14:35And if they would learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home: for it is shameful for a woman to speak in the church.

1Co 14:36

1Co 14:36What? was it from you that the word of God went forth? or came it unto you alone?

1Co 14:37

1Co 14:37If any man thinketh himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him take knowledge of the things which I write unto you, that they are the commandment of the Lord.

1Co 14:38

1Co 14:38But if any man is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

1Co 14:39

1Co 14:39Wherefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

1Co 14:40

1Co 14:40But let all things be done decently and in order.

Thomas Nelson & Sons first published the American Standard Version in 1901. This translation of the Bible is in the public domain.

1 Corinthians 14 :: American Standard Version (ASV)

Prophecy a Superior Gift

Instruction for the Church

Pericope