Chapter 14

1Pursue love. Also eagerly desire the Spirit’s gifts, especially the ability to speak a message from God.

2Anyone speaking in a Spirit-given language is speaking not to people but to God, because no one understands. By the Spirit, that person speaks things hidden from the listeners.

3But someone who speaks a message from God speaks to people in order to strengthen, encourage, and comfort them.

4Someone who speaks in a Spirit-given language strengthens only themselves, but someone who speaks a message from God strengthens the gathered community.

5I want all of you to speak in Spirit-given languages, but I would rather have you speak messages from God. The person who does this is of greater help than someone who speaks in such languages—unless the speech is interpreted so that the gathered community can be strengthened.

6Now, brothers and sisters, suppose I come to you speaking in Spirit-given languages. How will I help you unless I also communicate something God has revealed, some knowledge, a message from God, or a teaching?

7Think even of lifeless instruments that make sounds, such as a flute or harp. If their notes are not distinct, how will anyone recognize the tune being played?

8If a trumpet gives an unclear signal, who will get ready for battle?

9It is the same with you. Unless your tongue produces words people can understand, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will simply be speaking into the air.

10There may be a great many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is meaningless.

11But if I do not understand the meaning of a language, the speaker and I will sound like foreigners to each other.

12The same principle applies to you. Since you eagerly desire gifts from the Spirit, seek to excel in gifts that strengthen the gathered community.

13Therefore, anyone who speaks in a Spirit-given language should pray for the ability to interpret it.

14If I pray in such a language, my spirit is praying, but my mind produces nothing useful for others.

15So what should I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will also sing praise with my mind.

16Otherwise, if you praise God only with your spirit, how can an uninformed person present say “Amen”—expressing agreement—when you give thanks? That person does not know what you are saying.

17You may be giving thanks very well, but the other person is not being strengthened.

18I thank God that I speak in Spirit-given languages more than all of you.

19But in a community gathering, I would rather speak five words with my mind, so that I can instruct others, than ten thousand words in a Spirit-given language.

20Brothers and sisters, do not think like children. Be as innocent as infants when it comes to evil, but be mature in your thinking.

21God says in the Law, “I will speak to this people through speakers of other languages and through the lips of foreigners. Even then they will not listen to me.”

22So these Spirit-given languages serve as a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while messages from God are meant not for unbelievers but for believers.

23Suppose the whole community gathers and everyone speaks in Spirit-given languages. If uninformed people or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you have lost your minds?

24But suppose everyone is speaking messages from God when an unbeliever or an uninformed person enters. What everyone says exposes that person’s wrongdoing and calls the person to account.

25The secrets of that person’s heart become clear. Then the person will fall facedown and worship God, declaring, “God really is among you!”

26So what should happen, brothers and sisters? When you gather, one person has a song of praise, another has a teaching, another has something God has revealed, another speaks in a Spirit-given language, and another has an interpretation. Everything must be done to strengthen the community.

27If anyone speaks in a Spirit-given language, only two—or at most three—should speak. They must take turns, and someone must interpret.

28If there is no interpreter, the speaker must remain silent in the community gathering and speak privately to themselves and to God.

29Two or three people may speak messages from God, and the others should carefully evaluate what they say.

30If God reveals something to another person who is sitting there, the first speaker should become silent.

31You can all speak messages from God one at a time, so that everyone may learn and everyone may be encouraged.

32Prophetic impulses remain under the prophets’ control.

33God does not produce disorder but peace. This is the practice in all the communities of God’s people.

34Women must remain silent in the community gatherings. They are not permitted to speak there but should accept proper authority, as the Law also says.

35If they want to learn something, they should ask their own husbands at home, because it is shameful for a woman to speak in the community gathering.

36Did God’s message begin with you? Or are you the only people it has reached?

37If anyone thinks they speak messages from God or possess gifts from the Spirit, they should recognize that what I am writing to you comes from the Lord.

38Anyone who refuses to recognize this is not recognized.

39So then, my brothers and sisters, eagerly desire to speak messages from God, and do not forbid speaking in Spirit-given languages.

40But everything must be done properly and in an orderly way.