The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians

⭑ Catholic Public Domain :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 14 -

Pursue charity. Be zealous for spiritual things, but only so that you may prophesy.(a)

For whoever speaks in tongues, speaks not to men, but to God. For no one understands. Yet by the Spirit, he speaks mysteries.(b)

But whoever prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation.

Whoever speaks in tongues edifies himself. But whoever prophesies edifies the Church.

Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but more so to prophesy. For he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks in tongues, unless perhaps he interprets, so that the Church may receive edification.

But now, brothers, if I were to come to you speaking in tongues, how would it benefit you, unless instead I speak to you in revelation, or in knowledge, or in prophecy, or in doctrine?

Even those things that are without a soul can make sounds, whether it is a wind or a stringed instrument. But unless they present a distinction within the sounds, how will it be known which is from the pipe and which is from the string?

For example, if the trumpet made an uncertain sound, who would prepare himself for battle?

So it is with you also, for unless you utter with the tongue in plain speech, how will it be known what is said? For then you would be speaking into the air.

Consider that there are so many different kinds of languages in this world, and yet none is without a voice.

Therefore, if I do not understand the nature of the voice, then I shall be like a foreigner to the one with whom I am speaking; and he who is speaking will be like a foreigner to me.

So it is with you also. And since you are zealous for what is spiritual, seek the edification of the Church, so that you may abound.(c)

For this reason, too, whoever speaks in tongues, let him pray for the interpretation.

So, if I pray in tongues, my spirit prays, but my mind is without fruit.

What is next? I should pray with the spirit, and also pray with the mind. I should sing psalms with the spirit, and also recite psalms with the mind.

Otherwise, if you have blessed only with the spirit, how can someone, in a state of ignorance, add an “Amen” to your blessing? For he does not know what you are saying.(d)

In this case, certainly, you give thanks well, but the other person is not edified.

I thank my God that I speak in tongues for all of you.

But in the Church, I prefer to speak five words from my mind, so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in tongues.

Brothers, do not choose to have the minds of children. Instead, be free of malice like infants, but be mature in your minds.(e)

It is written in the law: “I will speak to this people with other tongues and other lips, and even so, they will not heed me, says the Lord.”

And so, tongues are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers; and prophecies are not for unbelievers, but for believers.

If then, the entire Church were to gather together as one, and if all were to speak in tongues, and then ignorant or unbelieving persons were to enter, would they not say that you were insane?

But if everyone prophesies, and one who is ignorant or unbelieving enters, he may be convinced by it all, because he understands it all.

The secrets of his heart are then made manifest. And so, falling to his face, he would adore God, proclaiming that God is truly among you.

Orderly Worship

What is next, brothers? When you gather together, each one of you may have a psalm, or a doctrine, or a revelation, or a language, or an interpretation, but let everything be done for edification.

If anyone is speaking in tongues, let there be only two, or at most three, and then in turn, and let someone interpret.

But if there is no one to interpret, he should remain silent in the church, then he may speak when he is alone with God.

And let the prophets speak, two or three, and let the others discern.

But then, if something is revealed to another who is sitting, let the first one become silent.

For you are all able to prophesy one at a time, so that all may learn and all may be encouraged.

For the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

And God is not of dissension, but of peace, just as I also teach in all the churches of the saints.

Women should be silent in the churches. For it is not permitted for them to speak; but instead, they should be subordinate, as the law also says.

And if they want to learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in church.

So now, did the Word of God proceed from you? Or was it sent to you alone?

If anyone seems to be a prophet or a spiritual person, he should understand these things which I am writing to you, that these things are the commandments of the Lord.

If anyone does not recognize these things, he should not be recognized.

And so, brothers, be zealous to prophesy, and do not prohibit speaking in tongues.

But let everything be done respectfully and according to proper order.

Footnotes

(a)14:1 Prophesy:That is, declare or expound the mysteries of faith.(Challoner)

(b)14:2 Not unto men:Viz., so as to be heard, that is, so as to be understood by them.(Challoner)

(d)14:16 Amen:The unlearned, not knowing that you are then blessing, will not be qualified to join with you by saying Amen to your blessing. The use or abuse of strange tongues, of which the apostle here speaks, does not regard the public liturgy of the church, (in which strange tongues were never used,) but certain conferences of the faithful, ver. 26, etc., in which, meeting together, they discovered to one another their various miraculous gifts of the Spirit, common in those primitive times; amongst which the apostle prefers that of prophesying before that of speaking strange tongues, because it was more to the public edification. Where also not, that the Latin, used in our liturgy, is so far from being a strange or unknown tongue, that it is perhaps the best known tongue in the world.(Challoner)

(e)14:20 Little children have no malice. So telling someone to be child-like with respect to malice means not be have malice. Be child-like with respect to evil, in that little ones lack evil. But be mature in the faith and in your understanding of the Faith.(Conte)

Follow after love and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

For he who speaks in another language speaks not to men, but to God, for no one understands, but in the Spirit he speaks mysteries.

But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, exhortation, and consolation.

He who speaks in another language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the assembly.

Now I desire to have you all speak with other languages, but even more that you would prophesy. For he is greater who prophesies than he who speaks with other languages, unless he interprets, that the assembly may be built up.

But now, brothers,(a) if I come to you speaking with other languages, what would I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching?

Even lifeless things that make a sound, whether pipe or harp, if they didn’t give a distinction in the sounds, how would it be known what is piped or harped?

For if the trumpet gave an uncertain sound, who would prepare himself for war?

So also you, unless you uttered by the tongue words easy to understand, how would it be known what is spoken? For you would be speaking into the air.

There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without meaning.

If then I don’t know the meaning of the language, I would be to him who speaks a foreigner, and he who speaks would be a foreigner to me.

So also you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound to the building up of the assembly.

Therefore let him who speaks in another language pray that he may interpret.

For if I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

What should I do? 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.

Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who fills the place of the unlearned say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks, seeing he doesn’t know what you say?

For you most certainly give thanks well, but the other person is not built up.

I thank my God, I speak with other languages more than you all.

However, in the assembly I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in another language.

Brothers, don’t be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature.

In the law it is written, “By men of strange languages and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people. They won’t even listen to me that way, says the Lord.”(b)

Therefore other languages are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to the unbelieving; but prophesying is for a sign, not to the unbelieving, but to those who believe.

If therefore the whole assembly is assembled together and all speak with other languages, and unlearned or unbelieving people come in, won’t they say that you are crazy?

But if all prophesy, and someone unbelieving or unlearned comes in, he is reproved by all, and he is judged by all.

And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed. So he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeed.

Orderly Worship

What is it then, brothers? When you come together, each one of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has another language, or has an interpretation. Let all things be done to build each other up.

If any man speaks in another language, let there be two, or at the most three, and in turn; and let one interpret.

But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in the assembly, and let him speak to himself and to God.

Let two or three of the prophets speak, and let the others discern.

But if a revelation is made to another sitting by, let the first keep silent.

For you all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be exhorted.

The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets,

for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the saints.

Let the wives be quiet in the assemblies, for it has not been permitted for them to be talking except in submission, as the law also says,(c)

if they desire to learn anything. “Let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for a wife to be talking in the assembly.”

What!? Was it from you that the word of God went out? Or did it come to you alone?

If any man thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize the things which I write to you, that they are the commandment of the Lord.

But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

Therefore, brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking with other languages.

Let all things be done decently and in order.

Footnotes

(a)14:6 The word for “brothers” here and where context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”

(b)14:21 ℘ Isaiah 28:11-12