1 Corinthians 14 :: English Standard Version (ESV)

Prophecy and Tongues

1Co 14:1Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.

1Co 14:2For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.

1Co 14:3

1Co 14:3On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.

1Co 14:4

1Co 14:4The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.

1Co 14:5

1Co 14:5Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.

1Co 14:6

1Co 14:6Now, brothers,[fn] if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?

1Co 14:7

1Co 14:7If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played?

1Co 14:8

1Co 14:8And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle?

1Co 14:9

1Co 14:9So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air.

1Co 14:10

1Co 14:10There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning,

1Co 14:11

1Co 14:11but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me.

1Co 14:12

1Co 14:12So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.

1Co 14:13

1Co 14:13Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.

1Co 14:14

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

1Co 14:15

1Co 14:15What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.

1Co 14:16

1Co 14:16Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider[fn] say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying?

1Co 14:17

1Co 14:17For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up.

1Co 14:18

1Co 14:18I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.

1Co 14:19

1Co 14:19Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

1Co 14:20

1Co 14:20Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.

1Co 14:21

1Co 14:21In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.”

1Co 14:22

1Co 14:22Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign[fn] not for unbelievers but for believers.

1Co 14:23

1Co 14:23If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds?

1Co 14:24

1Co 14:24But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all,

1Co 14:25

1Co 14:25the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.

Orderly Worship

1Co 14:26

1Co 14:26What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.

1Co 14:27

1Co 14:27If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret.

1Co 14:28

1Co 14:28But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.

1Co 14:29

1Co 14:29Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.

1Co 14:30

1Co 14:30If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent.

1Co 14:31

1Co 14:31For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged,

1Co 14:32

1Co 14:32and the spirits of prophets are subject to 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 14:34the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says.

1Co 14:35

1Co 14:35If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.

1Co 14:36

1Co 14:36Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached?

1Co 14:37

1Co 14:37If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord.

1Co 14:38

1Co 14:38If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.

1Co 14:39

1Co 14:39So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

1Co 14:40

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

See the ESV Preface (Especially for Parenthesis, Brackets, & Asterisks).

ESV Footnotes

(14:6)

Or brothers and sisters; also verses 20, 26, 39

(14:16)

Or of him that is without gifts

(14:22)

Greek lacks a sign

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For more information on this translation, see the ESV Preface.

1 Corinthians Chapter 14 — Additional Translations:

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1 Corinthians 14 :: English Standard Version (ESV)

Prophecy and Tongues

Orderly Worship

ESV Footnotes

1 Corinthians Chapter 14 — Additional Translations:

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