Read-aloud uses AI-generated Orakel narrator voices when available. Voice names are Orakel styles, not provider names.
1 Corinthians Chapter 14 014:001 Follow after love, and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 014:002 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. 014:003 But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, exhortation, and consolation. 014:004 He who speaks in another language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the assembly.
014:005 Now I desire to have you all speak with other languages, but rather 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.
014:006 But now, brothers,{The word for "brothers" here and where context allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or "siblings."} 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? 014:007 Even things without life, giving a voice, whether pipe or harp, if they didn't give a distinction in the sounds, how would it be known what is piped or harped?
014:008 For if the trumpet gave an uncertain sound, who would prepare himself for war? 014:009 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. 014:010 There are, it may be, so many kinds of sounds in the world, and none of them is without meaning. 014:011 If then I don't know the meaning of the sound, I would be to him who speaks a foreigner, and he who speaks would be a foreigner to me.
014:012 So also you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound to the building up of the assembly. 014:013 Therefore let him who speaks in another language pray that he may interpret. 014:014 For if I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 014:015 What is it then? 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.
014:016 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? 014:017 For you most certainly give thanks well, but the other person is not built up. 014:018 I thank my God, I speak with other languages more than you all. 014:019 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.
014:020 Brothers, don't be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature. 014:021 In the law it is written, "By men of strange languages and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people. Not even thus will they hear me, says the Lord."{Isaiah 28:11-12} 014:022 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.
014:023 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? 014:024 But if all prophesy, and someone unbelieving or unlearned comes in, he is reproved by all, and he is judged by all. 014:025 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. 014:026 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, has an interpretation. Let all things be done to build each other up. 014:027 If any man speaks in another language, let it be two, or at the most three, and in turn; and let one interpret. 014:028 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in the assembly, and let him speak to himself, and to God. 014:029 Let the prophets speak, two or three, and let the others discern.
014:030 But if a revelation is made to another sitting by, let the first keep silent. 014:031 For you all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be exhorted. 014:032 The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets, 014:033 for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. As in all the assemblies of the saints, 014:034 let your wives keep silent in the assemblies, for it has not been permitted for them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as the law also says.
014:035 If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for a woman to chatter in the assembly. 014:036 What? Was it from you that the word of God went out? Or did it come to you alone? 014:037 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. 014:038 But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
014:039 Therefore, brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy, and don't forbid speaking with other languages. 014:040 Let all things be done decently and in order.