The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians

⭑ Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 14 -

Follow after charity, be zealous for spiritual gifts; but rather that you may prophesy.

For he that speaketh in a tongue, speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man heareth. Yet by the Spirit he speaketh mysteries.

But he that prophesieth, speaketh to men unto edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

He that speaketh in a tongue, edifieth himself: but he that prophesieth, edifieth the church.

And I would have you all to speak with tongues, but rather to prophesy. For greater is he that prophesieth, than he that speaketh with tongues: unless perhaps he interpret, that the church may receive edification.

But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak to you either in revelation, or in knowledge, or in prophecy, or in doctrine?

Even things without life that give sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction of sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

So likewise you, except you utter by the tongue plain speech, how shall it be known what is said? For you shall be speaking into the air.

There are, for example, so many kinds of tongues in this world; and none is without voice.

If then I know not the power of the voice, I shall be to him to whom I speak a barbarian; and he that speaketh, a barbarian to me.

So you also, forasmuch as you are zealous of spirits, seek to abound unto the edifying of the church.

And therefore he that speaketh by a tongue, let him pray that he may interpret.

For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is without fruit.

What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, I will pray also with the understanding; I will sing with the spirit, I will sing also with the understanding.

Else if thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that holdeth the place of the unlearned say, Amen, to thy blessing? because he knoweth not what thou sayest.

For thou indeed givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

I thank my God I speak with all your tongues.

But in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may instruct others also; than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Brethren, do not become children in sense: but in malice be children, and in sense be perfect.

In the law it is written: In other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; and neither so will they hear me, saith the Lord.

Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to believers, but to unbelievers; but prophecies not to unbelievers, but to believers.

If therefore the whole church come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in unlearned persons or infidels, will they not say that you are mad?

But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or an unlearned person, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all.

The secrets of his heart are made manifest; and so, falling down on his face, he will adore God, affirming that God is among you indeed.

Orderly Worship

How is it then, brethren? When you come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a revelation, hath a tongue, hath an interpretation: let all things be done to edification.

If any speak with a tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and in course, and let one interpret.

But if there be no interpreter, let him hold his peace in the church, and speak to himself and to God.

And let the prophets speak, two or three; and let the rest judge.

But if any thing be revealed to another sitting, let the first hold his peace.

For you may all prophesy one by one; that all may learn, and all may be exhorted:

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

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

Let women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted them to speak, but to be subject, as also the law saith.

But if they would learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is a shame for a woman to speak in the church.

Or did the word of God come out from you? Or came it only unto you?

If any seem to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him know the things that I write to you, that they are the commandments of the Lord.

But if any man know not, he shall not be known.

Wherefore, brethren, be zealous to prophesy; and forbid not to speak with tongues.

But let all things be done decently, and according to order.

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