1 Follow after love; and be emulous of the gifts of the Spirit, and especially, that ye may prophesy.
2 For he that speaketh in a tongue, speaketh not unto men, but unto God; for no one understandeth what is said; yet in the spirit, he speaketh a mystery.
3 But he that prophesieth, speaketh unto men, for edification, and exhortation, and consolation.
4 He that speaketh in a tongue, edifieth himself: and he that prophesieth, edifieth the church.
5 Now I would that ye all spoke with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied; for greater is he that prophesieth, than he that speaketh in a tongue, unless he interpret; and if he interpret, he edifieth the church.
6 And now, my brethren, if I should come among you, and speak to you in tongues, what should I profit you; unless I should speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophecy, or by doctrine?
7 For even inanimate things that emit sound, whether pipe or harp, if they make no distinction between one sound and another, how will it be known, what is sung or what is harped ?
8 And if the trumpet shall give an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for the battle?
9 So likewise if ye utter a discourse in a tongue, and there is no interpretation given, how will it be known what ye have said ? Ye will have been as if ye spoke into the air.
10 For lo, there are many kinds of tongues in the world; and there is not one of them without meaning.
11 But if I do not know the import of the sound, I shall be a barbarian to him that speaketh, and the speaker will be a barbarian to me.
12 So also ye, since ye are emulous of the gifts of the Spirit for the edification of the church, seek ye to excel.
13 And let him that speaketh in a tongue, pray that he may interpret.
14 For if I should pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is without fruits.
15 What then shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, and will pray with my understanding; and I will sing with my spirit, and will sing with my understanding.
16 Otherwise, if thou blessest in the spirit, how shall he that filleth the place of one unlearned, say Amen, on thy giving thanks; for he knoweth not what thou sayest ?
17 Thou blessest, indeed, very well; but thy neighbor is not edified.
18 I thank God, that I speak with tongues more than all of you.
19 But in the church, I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others, than a myriad of words in a tongue.
20 My brethren, be ye not children in your thoughts; but to evil things be ye infants; and in your thoughts be men.
21 In the law it is written, With a foreign speech, and in another tongue, will I speak with this people; and even so also they will not hearken to me, saith the Lord.
22 Wherefore, tongues are established for a sign, not to the believers, but to them that believe not. But prophesyings are not for those who believe not, but for them that believe.
23 If therefore the whole church assemble, and they all speak with tongues, and there come in unlearned persons, or such as believe not, will they not say: These people are crazy ?
24 But if ye should be all prophesying, and one unlearned or an unbeliever should come among you, he is explored by you all, and rebuked by you all;
25 and the secrets of his heart are laid open [to him]: and so he will fall upon his face, and will worship God, and say: Verily, God is in you.
26 I therefore say [to you] my brethren, that when ye assemble, whoever of you hath a psalm, let him speak; and whoever hath a doctrine, and whoever hath a revelation, and whoever hath a tongue, and whoever hath an interpretation. Let them all be for edification.
27 And if any speak in a tongue, let two speak or at most, three; and let them speak one by one; and let [some] one interpret.
28 And if there is none to interpret, let him that speaketh in a tongue, be silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God.
29 And as to prophets, let two or three speak, and let the rest judge.
30 And if to another sitting by, there should be a revelation, let the first stop speaking.
31 For ye can all prophesy, one by one; so that every one may learn, and every one be comforted.
32 For the spirit of the prophets is subject to the prophets.
33 Because, God is not [the author] of tumult, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
34 Let your women be silent in the church: for it is not permitted them to speak, but to be in subjection, as also the law saith.
35 And if they wish to be informed on any subject, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is unbecoming for women to speak in the church.
36 What ! was it from you that the word of God came forth? Or did it reach only to you?
37 And if any one among you thinketh that he is a prophet, or that he is spiritual, let him recognize the things which I write to you, as being the precepts of our Lord.
38 But if any one be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39 Wherefore, my brethren, be emulous of prophesying: and to speak with tongues, prohibit not.
40 But let every thing be done with decency and regularity. |