1 Corinthians 14 — FBV
14Verse 1Make love your most important objective! But also do your best to gain spiritual gifts, especially the ability to speak God's message.+Verse 2Those who speak in a tongue+are not talking to people, but to God, because nobody can understand them as they speak mysteries in the Spirit.Verse 3However, the words of those who speak for God build people up—they provide encouragement and comfort.Verse 4Those that speak in a tongue only build themselves up, but those who speak God's message build up the church. I would like it if you all spoke in tongues, but I'd prefer if you could speak God's message.Verse 5Those who speak for God are more important than those who speak in tongues, unless they interpret what's been said, so that the church can be built up.Verse 6Brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what benefit would I be to you unless I bring you some revelation, or knowledge, or prophetic message, or teaching?Verse 7Even when it comes to something non-living such as musical instruments like a flute or a harp—if they don't produce clear notes, how will you know what tune is being played?Verse 8Similarly, if the trumpet doesn't give a clear sound, who will get ready for battle?Verse 9It's the same situation for you—unless you speak using words that are easy to understand, who will know what you're saying? What you say will be lost on the wind.Verse 10There are surely many languages in this world, and there is meaning in every one of them.Verse 11If I don't understand the language, those who speak make no sense to me, and I make no sense to them.+Verse 12It's the same for you—if you are keen to have spiritual gifts, try to have many of those that will build up the church.Verse 13Anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that they're able to translate what they say.Verse 14For if I pray out loud in a tongue, my spirit is praying, but it does nothing for my understanding!Verse 15So then, what should I do? I will pray “in the Spirit,” but I will pray with my mind too. I will sing “in the Spirit,” but I will sing with my mind too.+Verse 16For if you only pray “in the Spirit,” how can ordinary people that don't have understanding say “Amen” after your prayer of thanks, since they haven't a clue what you said?Verse 17You might have said a great prayer of thanks, but the other hasn't been helped!Verse 18I thank God that I can speak in tongues more than all of you.Verse 19But in church I would rather speak five understandable words to teach others than ten thousand words in a tongue nobody understands.Verse 20Brothers and sisters, don't think like children. Be as innocent as babies in regard to evil, but be grown up in your understanding.Verse 21As Scripture records, “‘I will speak to my people through other languages and the lips of foreigners, but even then they won't listen to me,’ says the Lord.”+Verse 22Speaking in tongues is a sign, not to believers, but those who don't believe. Speaking God's prophetic message is the opposite: it is not for those who don't believe, but for believers.Verse 23If the whole church is meeting together and you are all speaking in tongues, and some people come in who don't understand, or people who don't believe, won't they say that you are insane?Verse 24But if everyone is speaking God's message, and someone comes in who isn't a believer, or someone who doesn't understand, they will be convinced and called to account by everyone's words.Verse 25Their secret thoughts will be revealed, so they will fall to their knees+and worship God, affirming that God is truly among you.Verse 26So then, brothers and sisters, what should you do? When you meet together, different people will sing, or teach, or share a special message, or speak in a tongue, or give an interpretation. But everything should be done to build up and encourage the church.Verse 27If anyone wants to speak in a tongue, make it just two, or three at the most, taking turns, and someone should interpret what is said.Verse 28If there's no one there to interpret, those who speak in tongues should keep quiet in church and only speak to themselves, and God.Verse 29Similarly, have two or three of those who give God's prophetic message speak, and let everyone else think about what was said.Verse 30However, if a special revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, then the first speaker should give way to them.Verse 31You can all speak for God, one at a time, so that everyone can learn and be encouraged.Verse 32It is for those who speak for God to control their prophetic inspiration,Verse 33for God is not a God of disorder but of peace and quiet.+This is the way it should be in all the churches of God's people.Verse 34“Women should stay quiet in the churches—they shouldn't speak. They should respect their situation, as the laws states.Verse 35If they want to learn they can do so at home, asking their husbands. It is not proper+for women to speak in church.”+Verse 36What? Did the word of God begin with you? Are you the only ones it came to?Verse 37Anyone who thinks they are a prophet, or that they have some spiritual gift, should be aware that what I'm writing to you is a command of the Lord.Verse 38Those who ignore this will themselves be ignored.Verse 39So my brothers and sisters, make it your aim to speak for God. Don't prohibit speaking in tongues.Verse 40Just make sure everything done is done properly and in an orderly manner.