NASB — 1 Corinthians 14 — KJV

Prophecy a Superior Gift

1 aPursue° love°, yet° bdesire° earnestly° cspiritual° [gifts], but especially° that you may dprophesy°. 2 For one who aspeaks° in a tongue° does not speak° to men° but to God°; for no° one° Iunderstands°, but IIin [his] spirit° he speaks° bmysteries°. 3 But one who prophesies° speaks° to men° for aedification° and bexhortation° and consolation°. 4 One who aspeaks° in a tongue° bedifies° himself°; but one who cprophesies° bedifies° the church°. 5 Now° I wish° that you all° aspoke° in tongues°, but b[even] more° that you would prophesy°; and greater° is one who prophesies° than° one who aspeaks° in tongues°, unless°° he interprets°, so° that the church° may receive° cedifying°.

[1] a1Co 16:14 b1Co 12:31; 14:39 c1Co 12:1 d1Co 13:2
[2] ILit hears IIOr by the Spirit aMk 16:17; 1Co 12:10, 28, 30; 13:1; 14:18ff b1Co 13:2
[3] aRo 14:19; 1Co 14:5, 12, 17, 26 bAc 4:36
[4] aMk 16:17; 1Co 12:10, 28, 30; 13:1; 14:18ff, 26f bRo 14:19; 1Co 14:5, 12, 17, 26 c1Co 13:2
[5] aMk 16:17; 1Co 12:10, 28, 30; 13:1; 14:18ff, 26f bNu 11:29 cRo 14:19; 1Co 14:4, 12, 17, 26

6 ¶ But now°, brethren°, if° I come° to you speaking° in tongues°, what° will I profit° you unless°° I speak° to you either° by way° of arevelation° or° of bknowledge° or° of cprophecy° or° of dteaching°? 7 Yet° [even] lifeless° things°, either° flute° or° harp°, in producing° a sound°, if° they do not produce° a distinction° in the tones°, how° will it be known° what is played° on the flute° or° on the harp°? 8 For if° athe Ibugle° produces° an indistinct° sound°, who° will prepare° himself for battle°? 9 So° also° you, unless°° you utter° by the tongue° speech° that is clear°, how° will it be known° what is spoken°? For you will be aspeaking° into the air°. 10 There are, perhaps°, a great° many° kinds° of Ilanguages° in the world°, and no° [kind] is without° meaning°. 11 If° then° I do not know° the meaning° of the language°, I will be to the one who speaks° a Iabarbarian°, and the one who speaks° will be a Ibarbarian° IIto me. 12 So° also° you, since° you are zealous° of Ispiritual° [gifts], seek° to abound° for the aedification° of the church°.

[6] a1Co 14:26; Ep 1:17 b1Co 12:8 c1Co 13:2 dAc 2:42; Ro 6:17; 1Co 14:26
[8] ILit trumpet aNu 10:9; Jr 4:19; Ezk 33:3-6; Jol 2:1
[9] a1Co 9:26
[10] ILit voices
[11] IOr foreigner IIOr in my estimation aAc 28:2
[12] ILit spirits aRo 14:19; 1Co 14:4, 5, 17, 26

13 ¶ Therefore° let one who speaks° in a tongue° pray° that he may interpret°. 14 For if° I pray° in a tongue°, my spirit° prays°, but my mind° is unfruitful°. 15 aWhat° is [the outcome] then°? I will pray° with the spirit° and I will pray° with the mind° also°; I will bsing° with the spirit° and I will sing° with the mind° also°. 16 Otherwise° if° you bless° Iin the spirit° [only], how° will the one who fills° the place° of the IIungifted° say° athe “Amen°” at your bgiving° of thanks°, since° he does not know° what° you are saying°? 17 For you are giving° thanks° well° enough°, but the other° person° is not aedified°. 18 I thank° God°, I speak° in tongues° more° than you all°; 19 however°, in the church° I desire° to speak° five° words° with my mind° so° that I may instruct° others° also°, rather° than° ten° thousand° words° in a tongue°.

[15] aAc 21:22; 1Co 14:26 bEp 5:19; Col 3:16
[16] IOr with the III.e. unversed in spiritual gifts aDt 27:15-26; 1Ch 16:36; Ne 5:13; 8:6; Ps 106:48; Jr 11:5; 28:6; Rv 5:14; 7:12 bMt 15:36
[17] aRo 14:19; 1Co 14:4, 5, 12, 26

Instruction for the Church

20aBrethren°, bdo not be children° in your thinking°; yet° in evil° cbe infants°, but in your thinking° be mature°. 21 In athe Law° it is written°, “bBY MEN° OF STRANGE° TONGUES° AND BY THE LIPS° OF STRANGERS° I WILL SPEAK° TO THIS° PEOPLE°, AND EVEN° SO° THEY WILL NOT LISTEN° TO ME,” says° the Lord°. 22 So° then° tongues° are for a sign°, not to those° who believe° but to unbelievers°; but aprophecy° [is for a sign], not to unbelievers° but to those° who believe°. 23 Therefore° if° the whole° church° assembles° together°°° and all° speak° in tongues°, and Iungifted° men° or° unbelievers° enter°, will they not say° that ayou are mad°? 24 But if° all° aprophesy°, and an unbeliever° or° an Iungifted° man° enters°, he is bconvicted° by all°, he is called° to account° by all°; 25 athe secrets° of his heart° are disclosed°; and so° he will bfall° on his face° and worship° God°, cdeclaring° that God° is certainly° among° you.

[20] aRo 1:13 bEp 4:14; He 5:12f cPs 131:2; Mt 18:3; Ro 16:19; 1P 2:2
[21] aJn 10:34; 1Co 14:34 bIs 28:11f
[22] a1Co 14:1
[23] IV 16, note 2 aAc 2:13
[24] IV 16, note 2 a1Co 14:1 bJn 16:8
[25] aJn 4:19 bLk 17:16 cIs 45:14; Dn 2:47; Zc 8:23; Ac 4:13

26aWhat° is [the outcome] then°, bbrethren°? When° you assemble°, ceach° one° has° a dpsalm°, has° a eteaching°, has° a erevelation°, has° a ftongue°, has° an ginterpretation°. Let hall° things° be done° for edification°. 27 If° anyone° speaks° in a atongue°, [it should be] by two° or° at the most° three°, and [each] in turn°, and one° must binterpret°; 28 but if° there is no° interpreter°, he must keep° silent° in the church°; and let him speak° to himself° and to God°. 29 Let two° or° three° aprophets° speak°, and let the others° bpass° judgment°. 30 But if° a revelation° is made° to another° who is seated°, the first° one must keep° silent°. 31 For you can° all° prophesy° one°° by one°°, so° that all° may learn° and all° may be exhorted°; 32 and the spirits° of prophets° are subject° to prophets°; 33 for God° is not [a God] of aconfusion° but of Ipeace°, as in ball° the churches° of the csaints°.

[26] a1Co 14:15 bRo 1:13 c1Co 12:8-10 dEp 5:19 e1Co 14:6 f1Co 14:2 g1Co 12:10; 14:5, 13, 27f hRo 14:19
[27] a1Co 14:2 b1Co 12:10; 14:5, 13, 26ff
[29] a1Co 13:2; 14:32, 37 b1Co 12:10
[33] IOr peace. As in all...saints, let a1Co 14:40 b1Co 4:17; 7:17 cAc 9:13

34 ¶ The women° are to akeep° silent° in the churches°; for they are not permitted° to speak°, but bare to subject° themselves, just° as cthe Law° also° says°. 35 If° they desire° to learn° anything°, let them ask° their own° husbands° at home°; for it is Iimproper° for a woman° to speak° in church°. 36 IWas it from you that the word° of God° [first] went° forth°? Or° has it come° to you only°?

[34] a1Co 11:5, 13 b1Ti 2:11f; 1P 3:1 c1Co 14:21
[35] IOr disgraceful
[36] ILit Or was

37aIf° anyone° thinks° he is a prophet° or° bspiritual°, let him recognize° that the things which° I write° to you care the Lord’s° commandment°. 38 But if° anyone° does not recognize° [this], he Iis not recognized°.

[37] a2Co 10:7 b1Co 2:15 c1 Jn 4:6
[38] ITwo early mss read is not to be recognized

39 ¶ Therefore°, my brethren°, adesire° earnestly° to bprophesy°, and do not forbid° to speak° in tongues°. 40 But aall° things° must be done° properly° and in an orderly° manner°.

[39] a1Co 12:31 b1Co 13:2; 14:1
[40] a1Co 14:33


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Prophecy is commended,

1 ¶ Follow¹ª after² charity,º andº desireºª spiritualº [gifts], butº ratherº thatº ye may prophesy.ºª

[1] Nu 11:25; Pv 15:9; 21:21; Is 51:1; Ro 9:30; 12:6; 14:19; 1Co 12:1, 31; 13:1, 2, 9, 13; 14:3, 24, 37, 39; Ep 1:3; 1Th 5:20; 1Ti 4:14; 5:10; 6:11; 2Ti 2:22; He 12:14; 1P 3:11; 2P 1:7; 3Jn 1:11.

and preferred before speaking with tongues,

2 Forº he that speakethºª in an [unknown] tongueº speakethºª notº unto men,º butº unto God:º forº no manº understandethºª [him]; howbeitº in the spiritº he speakethºª mysteries.º 3 Butº he that prophesiethºª speakethºª unto menº [to] edification,º andº exhortation,º andº comfort.º 4 He that speakethºª in an [unknown] tongueº edifiethºª himself;º butº he that prophesiethºª edifiethºª the church.º 5 ¹ I² wouldºª that yeº allº spakeºª with tongues,º butº ratherº thatº ye prophesied:ºª forº greaterº [is] he that prophesiethºª thanº he that speakethºª with tongues,º exceptºº he interpret,ºª thatº the² churchº may receiveºª edifying.º

[2] Gn 11:7; 42:23; Dt 28:49; 2K 18:26; Ps 49:3; 78:2; Mt 13:11; Mk 4:11; Ac 2:4; 10:46; 19:6; 22:9; Ro 16:25; 1Co 2:7, 10; 13:2; 14:9, 16, 21; 15:51; Ep 3:3; 6:19; Col 1:26; 2:2; 1Ti 3:9, 16; Rv 10:7.
[3] Lk 3:18; Ac 9:31; 13:15; 14:22; 15:32; Ro 12:8; 14:19; 15:2; 1Co 8:1; 10:23; 14:4, 12, 26, 31; 2Co 1:4; 2:7; Ep 4:12, 29; 6:22; Col 4:8; 1Th 2:3, 11; 3:2; 4:1, 18; 5:11, 14; 2Th 3:12; 1Ti 1:4; 4:13; 6:2; 2Ti 4:2; Tit 1:9; 2:6, 9, 15; He 3:13; 10:25; 13:22; 1P 5:12; Jde 1:20.
[4] 1Co 14:3, 14, 18.
[5] Nu 11:28; 1Co 12:10, 28, 30; 13:4; 14:1, 3, 12, 26.

by a comparison drawn from musical instruments.

6 º Now,º brethren,º ifº I comeºª untoº youº speakingºª with tongues,º whatº shall I profitºª you,º exceptº I shall speakºª to youº eitherº byº revelation,º orº byº knowledge,º orº byº prophesying,º orº byº doctrine?º 7 And evenº things without lifeº givingºª sound,º whetherº pipeº orº harp,º except¹² they giveºª a² distinctionº in the² sounds,º howº shall it be knownºª what is pipedºª orº harped?ºª 8 Forºº ifº the trumpetº giveºª an uncertainº sound,º whoº shall prepare² himself¹ª toº the battle?º 9 Soº likewiseº ye,º exceptº ye utterºª byº the² tongueº wordsº easy to be understood,º howº shall it be knownºª what is spoken?ºª forº ye shall¹ª speakºª² intoº the air.º 10 ¹ There are,ºª it may be,ºª² so manyº kindsº of voicesº inº the world,º andº none² of them¹² [is] without signification.ºª¹ 11 Thereforeº if¹ª² I knowºª not¹² the² meaningº of the² voice,º I shall beºª unto him that speakethºª a barbarian,º andº he that speakethºª [shall be] a barbarianº untoº me.º

[6] 1S 12:21; Jr 16:19; 23:32; Mt 11:25; 16:17, 26; Ro 15:14; 16:17; 1Co 10:33; 12:7, 8; 13:2, 3, 8; 14:1, 26; 2Co 11:6; 12:1, 7; Ep 1:17; 3:4; Php 3:15; 2Ti 2:14; 3:10, 16; 4:2; Tit 3:8; He 13:9; 2P 1:5; 3:18; 2Jn 1:9.
[7] Nu 10:2; Mt 11:17; Lk 7:32; 1Co 13:1; 14:8.
[8] Nu 10:9; Jsh 6:4; Jg 7:16; Ne 4:18; Jb 39:24; Is 27:13; Am 3:6; Ep 6:11.
[9] 1Co 9:26; 14:19.
[11] Ac 28:2, 4; Ro 1:14; 1Co 14:21; Col 3:11.

Both must be referred to edification,

12 Evenº soº ye,º forasmuch asº ye areºª zealousº of spiritualº [gifts], seekºª thatº ye may excelºª toº the² edifyingº of the² church.º 13 Whereforeº let him that speakethºª in an [unknown] tongueº prayºª thatº he may interpret.ºª 14 Forº ifº I prayºª in an [unknown] tongue,º myº spiritº prayeth,ºª butº myº understandingº isºª unfruitful.º 15 Whatº is² it¹ª then?º I will prayºª with the² spirit,º andº I will prayºª with the² understandingº also:º I will singºª with the² spirit,º andº I will singºª with the² understandingº also.º 16 Elseº whenº thou shalt blessºª with the² spirit,º howº shall he that occupiethºª the² roomº of the² unlearnedº sayºª Amenº² atº thyº giving of thanks,º seeingº he understandethºª notº whatº thou sayest?ºª 17 Forº thouº verilyº givest thanksºª well,º butº the² otherº is¹ª notº edified.ºª 18 I thankºª myº God,º I speakºª with tonguesº more² than¹ yeº all:º 19 Yetº in¹² the churchº I had² rather¹ª speakºª fiveº wordsº withº myº understanding,º thatº [by my voice] I might teachºª othersº also,º thanº ten thousandº wordsº inº an [unknown] tongue.º 20 Brethren,º beºª notº childrenº in understanding:º howbeitº in maliceº be ye children,ºª butº in understandingº beºª men.º 21 Inº the² lawº it is written,ºª¹ Withº [men of] other tonguesº andº otherºº lipsº will I speakºª unto thisº people;º andº yet for all¹ that² will they¹ª notº hearºª me,º saithºª the Lord.º

[12] 1Co 12:7, 31; 14:1, 3, 26, 32; Tit 2:14.
[13] Mk 11:24; Jn 14:13; Ac 1:14; 4:29; 8:15; 1Co 12:10, 30; 14:27.
[14] 1Co 14:2, 15, 19.
[15] Ps 47:7; Jn 4:23; Ro 1:9; 3:5; 8:31; 12:1; 1Co 10:19; 14:19; Ep 5:17; 6:18; Php 1:18; Col 3:16; Jde 1:20.
[16] Nu 5:22; Dt 27:15; 1K 1:36; 1Ch 16:36; Ps 41:13; 72:19; 89:52; 106:48; Is 29:11; Jr 28:6; Mt 6:13; 28:20; Mk 16:20; Jn 7:15; 21:25; Ac 4:13; 1Co 1:4; 11:24; 14:2, 14, 23; 16:24; Rv 5:14; 22:20.
[17] 1Co 14:4, 6.
[18] 1Co 1:4; 4:7.
[19] 1Co 14:4, 21.
[20] Ps 119:99; 131:1; Is 11:3; Mt 11:25; 18:3; 19:4; Mk 10:15; Ro 16:19; 1Co 2:6; 3:1; 13:11; Ep 4:14; Php 1:9; 3:15; He 5:12; 6:1; 1P 2:2; 2P 3:18.
[21] Dt 28:49; Is 28:11; Jr 5:15; Jn 10:34; Ro 3:19.

as to their true and proper end.

22 Whereforeº tonguesº areºª forº a sign,º notº to them that believe,ºª butº to them that believe not:º butº prophesyingº [serveth] notº for them that believe not,º butº for them which believe.ºª 23 Ifº thereforeº the² wholeº churchº be come togetherºª intoº one place,º andº allº speakºª with tongues,º andº there come inºª [those that are] unlearned,º orº unbelievers,º will they¹ª notº sayºª thatº ye are mad?ºª 24 Butº ifº allº prophesy,ºª andº there come inºª oneº that believeth not,º orº [one] unlearned,º he is convincedºª ofº all,º he is judgedºª ofº all:º 25 Andº thusº are¹ª the² secretsº of his¹² heartº madeºª manifest;º andº soº falling downºª onº [his] faceº he will worshipºª God,º and reportºª thatº Godº isºª inº youº of a truth.º

[22] Mk 16:17; Ac 2:6, 32; 1Co 14:3; 1Ti 1:9.
[23] Ho 9:7; Jn 10:20; Ac 2:13; 26:24; 1Co 11:18.
[24] Jn 1:47; 4:29; Ac 2:37; 1Co 2:15; He 4:12.
[25] Gn 44:14; Dt 9:18; Ps 72:11; Is 45:14; 60:14; Zc 8:23; Lk 5:8; 8:28; Rv 5:8; 19:4.

The true use of each is taught,

26 Howº is² it¹ª then,º brethren?º whenº ye come together,ºª every oneº of youº hathºª a psalm,º hathºª a doctrine,º hathºª a tongue,º hathºª a revelation,º hathºª an interpretation.º Let¹ª all thingsº be doneºª untoº edifying.º

[26] Ro 14:19; 1Co 12:7, 8; 14:4, 6, 12, 40; 2Co 12:19; 13:10; Ep 4:12, 16, 29; 1Th 5:11.

and the abuse taxed.

27 Ifº any manº speakºª in an [unknown] tongue,º [let it be] byº two,º orº at the² mostº [by] three,º andº [that] byº course;º andº let¹ª oneº interpret.ºª 28 Butº if¹ª² there beºª no¹² interpreter,º let him keep silenceºª inº the church;º andº let him speakºª to himself,º andº to God.º 29 ¹ Let¹ª² the prophetsº speakºª twoº orº three,º andº let¹ª the² otherº judge.ºª 30 ² Ifº¹ [any thing] be revealedºª to anotherº that sitteth by,ºª let¹ª the² firstº hold his peace.ºª 31 Forº ye mayºª allº prophesyºª one by one,ºº thatº allº may learn,ºª andº allº may be comforted.ºª 32 Andº the spiritsº of the prophetsº are subjectºª to the prophets.º 33 Forº Godº isºª notº [the author] of confusion,º butº of peace,º asº inº allº churchesº of the² saints.º

[29] 1Co 12:10; 14:39; 1Th 5:19; 1Jn 4:1.
[30] Jb 32:11, 15; 33:31; 1Co 14:6, 26; 1Th 5:19.
[31] Pv 1:5; 9:9; Ro 1:12; 1Co 14:3, 19, 35; 2Co 1:4; 7:6; Ep 4:11; 6:22; 1Th 4:18; 5:11, 14.
[32] 1S 10:10; 19:19; 2K 2:3, 5; Jb 32:8; Jr 20:9; Ac 4:19; 1Co 14:29; 1Jn 4:1.
[33] Lk 2:14; Ro 15:33; 1Co 4:17; 7:15, 17; 11:16; Ga 5:22; 2Th 3:16; He 13:20; Jm 3:17.

Women are forbidden to speak in the Church.

34 Let¹ª yourº womenº keep silenceºª inº the² churches:º forº it is¹ª notº permittedºª unto themº to speak;ºª butº [they are commanded] to be under obedience,ºª asº alsoº saithºª the² law.º 35 Andº ifº they willºª learnºª any thing,º let them askºª theirº husbandsº atº home:º forº it isºª a shameº for womenº to speakºª inº the church.º 36 What?º cameºª the² wordº of Godº out¹ª fromº you?º orº came² it¹ª untoº youº only?º 37 If any manº think himselfºª to beºª a prophet,º orº spiritual,º let him acknowledgeºª thatº the things¹ that² I writeºª unto youº areºª the commandmentsº of the² Lord.º 38 Butº if² any man¹² be ignorant,ºª let him be ignorant.ºª 39 Wherefore,º brethren,º covetºª to prophesy,ºª andº forbidºª notº to speakºª with tongues.º 40 Let¹ª all thingsº be doneºª decentlyº andº inº order.º

[34] Gn 3:16; Nu 30:3; Es 1:17; 1Co 11:3, 5, 7; 14:21, 35; Ep 5:22, 33; Col 3:18; 1Ti 2:11; Tit 2:5; 1P 3:1.
[35] 1Co 11:6, 14; 14:34; Ep 5:12, 25; 1P 3:7.
[36] Is 2:3; Mi 4:1; Zc 14:8; Ac 13:1; 15:35; 16:9; 17:1, 10, 15; 18:1; 1Co 4:7; 2Co 10:13; 1Th 1:8.
[37] Nu 24:3, 16; Lk 10:16; Ro 12:3; 1Co 7:25, 40; 8:2; 13:1; 2Co 10:7, 12; 11:4, 12; Ga 6:8; 1Th 4:1; 2P 3:2; 1Jn 4:6; Jde 1:17.
[38] Ho 4:17; Mt 7:6; 15:14; 1Ti 6:3; 2Ti 4:3; Rv 22:11.
[39] 1Co 12:31; 14:1, 3, 5, 24; 1Th 5:20.
[40] Ro 13:13; 1Co 11:34; 14:26; Col 2:5; Tit 1:5.


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