1 Corinthians 14

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Pursue love, but strive eagerly for the spiritual gifts, above all that you may prophesy.	1 Pursue charity. Be zealous for spiritual things, but only so that you may prophesy.
2 For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to human beings but to God, for no one listens; he utters mysteries in spirit.	2 For whoever speaks in tongues, speaks not to men, but to God. For no one understands. Yet by the Spirit, he speaks mysteries.
3 On the other hand, one who prophesies does speak to human beings, for their building up, encouragement, and solace.	3 But whoever prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation.
4 Whoever speaks in a tongue builds himself up, but whoever prophesies builds up the church.	4 Whoever speaks in tongues edifies himself. But whoever prophesies edifies the Church.
5 Now I should like all of you to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. One who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be built up.	5 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.
6 Now, brothers, if I should come to you speaking in tongues, what good will I do you if I do not speak to you by way of revelation, or knowledge, or prophecy, or instruction?	6 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?
7 Likewise, if inanimate things that produce sound, such as flute or harp, do not give out the tones distinctly, how will what is being played on flute or harp be recognized?	7 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?
8 And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle?	8 For example, if the trumpet made an uncertain sound, who would prepare himself for battle?
9 Similarly, if you, because of speaking in tongues, do not utter intelligible speech, how will anyone know what is being said? For you will be talking to the air.	9 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.
10 It happens that there are many different languages in the world, and none is meaningless;	10 Consider that there are so many different kinds of languages in this world, and yet none is without a voice.
11 but if I do not know the meaning of a language, I shall be a foreigner to one who speaks it, and one who speaks it a foreigner to me.	11 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.
12 So with yourselves: since you strive eagerly for spirits, seek to have an abundance of them for building up the church.	12 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.
13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray to be able to interpret.	13 For this reason, too, whoever speaks in tongues, let him pray for the interpretation.
14 (For) if I pray in a tongue, my spirit is at prayer but my mind is unproductive.	14 So, if I pray in tongues, my spirit prays, but my mind is without fruit.
15 So what is to be done? I will pray with the spirit, but I will also pray with the mind. I will sing praise with the spirit, but I will also sing praise with the mind.	15 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.
16 Otherwise, if you pronounce a blessing (with) the spirit, how shall one who holds the place of the uninstructed say the "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?	16 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.
17 For you may be giving thanks very well, but the other is not built up.	17 In this case, certainly, you give thanks well, but the other person is not edified.
18 I give thanks to God that I speak in tongues more than any of you,	18 I thank my God that I speak in tongues for all of you.
19 but in the church I would rather speak five words with my mind, so as to instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.	19 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.
20 Brothers, stop being childish in your thinking. In respect to evil be like infants, but in your thinking be mature.	20 Brothers, do not choose to have the minds of children. Instead, be free of malice like infants, but be mature in your minds.
21 It is written in the law: "By people speaking strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, and even so they will not listen to me, says the Lord."	21 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.”
22 Thus, tongues are a sign not for those who believe but for unbelievers, whereas prophecy is not for unbelievers but for those who believe.	22 And so, tongues are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers; and prophecies are not for unbelievers, but for believers.
23 So if the whole church meets in one place and everyone speaks in tongues, and then uninstructed people or unbelievers should come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds?	23 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?
24 But if everyone is prophesying, and an unbeliever or uninstructed person should come in, he will be convinced by everyone and judged by everyone,	24 But if everyone prophesies, and one who is ignorant or unbelieving enters, he may be convinced by it all, because he understands it all.
25 and the secrets of his heart will be disclosed, and so he will fall down and worship God, declaring, "God is really in your midst."	25 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.
26 So what is to be done, brothers? When you assemble, one has a psalm, another an instruction, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Everything should be done for building up.	26 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.
27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, let it be two or at most three, and each in turn, and one should interpret.	27 If anyone is speaking in tongues, let there be only two, or at most three, and then in turn, and let someone interpret.
28 But if there is no interpreter, the person should keep silent in the church and speak to himself and to God.	28 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.
29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others discern.	29 And let the prophets speak, two or three, and let the others discern.
30 But if a revelation is given to another person sitting there, the first one should be silent.	30 But then, if something is revealed to another who is sitting, let the first one become silent.
31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged.	31 For you are all able to prophesy one at a time, so that all may learn and all may be encouraged.
32 Indeed, the spirits of prophets are under the prophets' control,	32 For the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
33 since he is not the God of disorder but of peace. As in all the churches of the holy ones,	33 And God is not of dissension, but of peace, just as I also teach in all the churches of the saints.
34 women should keep silent in the churches, for they are not allowed to speak, but should be subordinate, as even the law says.	34 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.
35 But if they want to learn anything, they should ask their husbands at home. For it is improper for a woman to speak in the church.	35 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.
36 Did the word of God go forth from you? Or has it come to you alone?	36 So now, did the Word of God proceed from you? Or was it sent to you alone?
37 If anyone thinks that he is a prophet or a spiritual person, he should recognize that what I am writing to you is a commandment of the Lord.	37 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.
38 If anyone does not acknowledge this, he is not acknowledged.	38 If anyone does not recognize these things, he should not be recognized.
39 So, (my) brothers, strive eagerly to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues,	39 And so, brothers, be zealous to prophesy, and do not prohibit speaking in tongues.
40 but everything must be done properly and in order.	40 But let everything be done respectfully and according to proper order.