1 Corinthians 14 – read and compare multiple versions of the Bible

World English Bible

1 Corinthians 14 (WEBP)

[1] Follow after love and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
[2] 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.
[3] But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, exhortation, and consolation.
[4] He who speaks in another language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the assembly.
[5] 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.
[6] But now, brothers, 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?
[7] 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?
[8] For if the trumpet gave an uncertain sound, who would prepare himself for war?
[9] 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.
[10] There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without meaning.
[11] 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.
[12] So also you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound to the building up of the assembly.
[13] Therefore let him who speaks in another language pray that he may interpret.
[14] For if I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
[15] 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.
[16] 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?
[17] For you most certainly give thanks well, but the other person is not built up.
[18] I thank my God, I speak with other languages more than you all.
[19] 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.
[20] Brothers, don’t be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature.
[21] 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.”
[22] 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.
[23] 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?
[24] But if all prophesy, and someone unbelieving or unlearned comes in, he is reproved by all, and he is judged by all.
[25] 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.
[26] 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.
[27] If any man speaks in another language, let there be two, or at the most three, and in turn; and let one interpret.
[28] But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in the assembly, and let him speak to himself and to God.
[29] Let two or three of the prophets speak, and let the others discern.
[30] But if a revelation is made to another sitting by, let the first keep silent.
[31] For you all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be exhorted.
[32] The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets,
[33] for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the saints.
[34] 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,
[35] 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.”
[36] What!? Was it from you that the word of God went out? Or did it come to you alone?
[37] 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.
[38] But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
[39] Therefore, brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking with other languages.
[40] Let all things be done decently and in order.

1 Corinthians 14:6 The word for “brothers” here and where context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”
1 Corinthians 14:21
1 Corinthians 14:34

Scripture quotations are taken from The World English Bible™ of eBible.org, 2020 stable text edition. It is in the public domain.

King James w/Strong’s #s

1 Corinthians 14 (KJVS)

[1] Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
[2] For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
[3] But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
[4] He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
[5] I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
[6] Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
[7] And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
[8] For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
[9] So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.
[10] There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.
[11] Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.
[12] Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
[13] Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.
[14] For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
[15] 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.
[16] Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?
[17] For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
[18] I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:
[19] yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
[20] Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
[21] In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.
[22] Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
[23] If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
[24] But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
[25] and thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
[26] How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
[27] If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.
[28] But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
[29] Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
[30] If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
[31] For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
[32] And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
[33] For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
[34] Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
[35] And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
[36] What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?
[37] If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
[38] But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
[39] Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
[40] Let all things be done decently and in order.

1 Corinthians 14:2 Gr. heareth
1 Corinthians 14:7 Or, tunes
1 Corinthians 14:9 Gr. Significant
1 Corinthians 14:12 Gr. of spirits
1 Corinthians 14:20 Gr. perfect or of a ripe age
1 Corinthians 14:33 Gr. tumult, or unquietness

Scripture quotations from The Authorized King James Version of the Holy Bible, using the standardized text of 1769. It is in the public domain.

Greek Bible (LXX/BYZ)

1 Corinthians 14 (BYZ)

[1] Διώκετε () τὴν () ἀγάπην· () ζηλοῦτε () δὲ () τὰ () πνευματικά, () μᾶλλον () δὲ () ἵνα () προφητεύητε. ()
[2] Ὁ () γὰρ () λαλῶν () γλώσσῃ () οὐκ () ἀνθρώποις () λαλεῖ, () ἀλλὰ () τῷ () θεῷ· () οὐδεὶς () γὰρ () ἀκούει, () πνεύματι () δὲ () λαλεῖ () μυστήρια. ()
[3] Ὁ () δὲ () προφητεύων () ἀνθρώποις () λαλεῖ () οἰκοδομὴν () καὶ () παράκλησιν () καὶ () παραμυθίαν. ()
[4] Ὁ () λαλῶν () γλώσσῃ () ἑαυτὸν () οἰκοδομεῖ, () ὁ () δὲ () προφητεύων () ἐκκλησίαν () οἰκοδομεῖ. ()
[5] Θέλω () δὲ () πάντας () ὑμᾶς () λαλεῖν () γλώσσαις, () μᾶλλον () δὲ () ἵνα () προφητεύητε· () μείζων () γὰρ () ὁ () προφητεύων () ἢ () ὁ () λαλῶν () γλώσσαις, () ἐκτὸς () εἰ () μὴ () διερμηνεύει, () ἵνα () ἡ () ἐκκλησία () οἰκοδομὴν () λάβῃ. ()
[6] Νυνὶ () δέ, () ἀδελφοί, () ἐὰν () ἔλθω () πρὸς () ὑμᾶς () γλώσσαις () λαλῶν, () τί () ὑμᾶς () ὠφελήσω, () ἐὰν () μὴ () ὑμῖν () λαλήσω () ἢ () ἐν () ἀποκαλύψει, () ἢ () ἐν () γνώσει, () ἢ () ἐν () προφητείᾳ () ἢ () ἐν () διδαχῇ; ()
[7] Ὅμως () τὰ () ἄψυχα () φωνὴν () διδόντα, () εἴτε () αὐλός, () εἴτε () κιθάρα, () ἐὰν () διαστολὴν () τοῖς () φθόγγοις () μὴ () διδῷ, () πῶς () γνωσθήσεται () τὸ () αὐλούμενον () ἢ () τὸ () κιθαριζόμενον; ()
[8] Καὶ () γὰρ () ἐὰν () ἄδηλον () φωνὴν () σάλπιγξ () δῷ, () τίς () παρασκευάσεται () εἰς () πόλεμον; ()
[9] Οὕτως () καὶ () ὑμεῖς () διὰ () τῆς () γλώσσης () ἐὰν () μὴ () εὔσημον () λόγον () δῶτε, () πῶς () γνωσθήσεται () τὸ () λαλούμενον; () Ἔσεσθε () γὰρ () εἰς () ἀέρα () λαλοῦντες. ()
[10] Τοσαῦτα, () εἰ () τύχοι, () γένη () φωνῶν () ἐστὶν () ἐν () κόσμῳ () καὶ () οὐδὲν () αὐτῶν () ἄφωνον. ()
[11] Ἐὰν () οὖν () μὴ () εἰδῶ () τὴν () δύναμιν () τῆς () φωνῆς, () ἔσομαι () τῷ () λαλοῦντι () βάρβαρος, () καὶ () ὁ () λαλῶν () ἐν () ἐμοὶ () βάρβαρος. ()
[12] Οὕτως () καὶ () ὑμεῖς, () ἐπεὶ () ζηλωταί () ἐστε () πνευμάτων, () πρὸς () τὴν () οἰκοδομὴν () τῆς () ἐκκλησίας () ζητεῖτε () ἵνα () περισσεύητε. ()
[13] Διόπερ () ὁ () λαλῶν () γλώσσῃ () προσευχέσθω () ἵνα () διερμηνεύῃ. ()
[14] Ἐὰν () γὰρ () προσεύχωμαι () γλώσσῃ, () τὸ () πνεῦμά () μου () προσεύχεται, () ὁ () δὲ () νοῦς () μου () ἄκαρπός () ἐστιν. ()
[15] Τί () οὖν () ἐστίν; () Προσεύξομαι () τῷ () πνεύματι, () προσεύξομαι () δὲ () καὶ () τῷ () νοΐ· () ψαλῶ () τῷ () πνεύματι, () ψαλῶ () δὲ () καὶ () τῷ () νοΐ. ()
[16] Ἐπεὶ () ἐὰν () εὐλογήσῃς () τῷ () πνεύματι, () ὁ () ἀναπληρῶν () τὸν () τόπον () τοῦ () ἰδιώτου () πῶς () ἐρεῖ () τὸ () Ἀμὴν () ἐπὶ () τῇ () σῇ () εὐχαριστίᾳ, () ἐπειδὴ () τί () λέγεις () οὐκ () οἶδεν; ()
[17] Σὺ () μὲν () γὰρ () καλῶς () εὐχαριστεῖς, () ἀλλ’ () ὁ () ἕτερος () οὐκ () οἰκοδομεῖται. ()
[18] Εὐχαριστῶ () τῷ () θεῷ () μου, () πάντων () ὑμῶν () μᾶλλον () γλώσσαις () λαλῶν· ()
[19] ἀλλ’ () ἐν () ἐκκλησίᾳ () θέλω () πέντε () λόγους () διὰ () τοῦ () νοός () μου () λαλῆσαι, () ἵνα () καὶ () ἄλλους () κατηχήσω, () ἢ () μυρίους () λόγους () ἐν () γλώσσῃ. ()
[20] Ἀδελφοί, () μὴ () παιδία () γίνεσθε () ταῖς () φρεσίν· () ἀλλὰ () τῇ () κακίᾳ () νηπιάζετε, () ταῖς () δὲ () φρεσὶν () τέλειοι () γίνεσθε. ()
[21] Ἐν () τῷ () νόμῳ () γέγραπται () ὅτι () Ἐν () ἑτερογλώσσοις () καὶ () ἐν () χείλεσιν () ἑτέροις () λαλήσω () τῷ () λαῷ () τούτῳ, () καὶ () οὐδ’ () οὕτως () εἰσακούσονταί () μου, () λέγει () κύριος. ()
[22] Ὥστε () αἱ () γλῶσσαι () εἰς () σημεῖόν () εἰσιν, () οὐ () τοῖς () πιστεύουσιν, () ἀλλὰ () τοῖς () ἀπίστοις· () ἡ () δὲ () προφητεία, () οὐ () τοῖς () ἀπίστοις, () ἀλλὰ () τοῖς () πιστεύουσιν. ()
[23] Ἐὰν () οὖν () συνέλθῃ () ἡ () ἐκκλησία () ὅλη () ἐπὶ () τὸ () αὐτό, () καὶ () πάντες () γλώσσαις () λαλῶσιν, () εἰσέλθωσιν () δὲ () ἰδιῶται () ἢ () ἄπιστοι, () οὐκ () ἐροῦσιν () ὅτι () μαίνεσθε; ()
[24] Ἐὰν () δὲ () πάντες () προφητεύωσιν, () εἰσέλθῃ () δέ () τις () ἄπιστος () ἢ () ἰδιώτης, () ἐλέγχεται () ὑπὸ () πάντων, () ἀνακρίνεται () ὑπὸ () πάντων, ()
[25] καὶ () οὕτως () τὰ () κρυπτὰ () τῆς () καρδίας () αὐτοῦ () φανερὰ () γίνεται· () καὶ () οὕτως () πεσὼν () ἐπὶ () πρόσωπον () προσκυνήσει () τῷ () θεῷ () ἀπαγγέλλων () ὅτι () Ὁ () θεὸς () ὄντως () ἐν () ὑμῖν () ἐστιν. ()
[26] Τί () οὖν () ἐστίν, () ἀδελφοί; () Ὅταν () συνέρχησθε, () ἕκαστος () ὑμῶν () ψαλμὸν () ἔχει, () διδαχὴν () ἔχει, () γλῶσσαν () ἔχει, () ἀποκάλυψιν () ἔχει, () ἑρμηνείαν () ἔχει. () Πάντα () πρὸς () οἰκοδομὴν () γινέσθω. ()
[27] Εἴτε () γλώσσῃ () τις () λαλεῖ, () κατὰ () δύο () ἢ () τὸ () πλεῖστον () τρεῖς, () καὶ () ἀνὰ () μέρος, () καὶ () εἷς () διερμηνευέτω· ()
[28] ἐὰν () δὲ () μὴ () ᾖ () διερμηνευτής, () σιγάτω () ἐν () ἐκκλησίᾳ· () ἑαυτῷ () δὲ () λαλείτω () καὶ () τῷ () θεῷ. ()
[29] Προφῆται () δὲ () δύο () ἢ () τρεῖς () λαλείτωσαν, () καὶ () οἱ () ἄλλοι () διακρινέτωσαν. ()
[30] Ἐὰν () δὲ () ἄλλῳ () ἀποκαλυφθῇ () καθημένῳ, () ὁ () πρῶτος () σιγάτω. ()
[31] Δύνασθε () γὰρ () καθ’ () ἕνα () πάντες () προφητεύειν, () ἵνα () πάντες () μανθάνωσιν, () καὶ () πάντες () παρακαλῶνται· ()
[32] καὶ () πνεύματα () προφητῶν () προφήταις () ὑποτάσσεται. ()
[33] Οὐ () γάρ () ἐστιν () ἀκαταστασίας () ὁ () θεός, () ἀλλὰ () εἰρήνης, () ὡς () ἐν () πάσαις () ταῖς () ἐκκλησίαις () τῶν () ἁγίων. ()
[34] Αἱ () γυναῖκες () ὑμῶν () ἐν () ταῖς () ἐκκλησίαις () σιγάτωσαν· () οὐ () γὰρ () ἐπιτέτραπται () αὐταῖς () λαλεῖν, () ἀλλ’ () ὑποτάσσεσθαι, () καθὼς () καὶ () ὁ () νόμος () λέγει. ()
[35] Εἰ () δέ () τι () μαθεῖν () θέλουσιν, () ἐν () οἴκῳ () τοὺς () ἰδίους () ἄνδρας () ἐπερωτάτωσαν· () αἰσχρὸν () γάρ () ἐστιν () γυναιξὶν () ἐν () ἐκκλησίᾳ () λαλεῖν. ()
[36] Ἢ () ἀφ’ () ὑμῶν () ὁ () λόγος () τοῦ () θεοῦ () ἐξῆλθεν; () Ἢ () εἰς () ὑμᾶς () μόνους () κατήντησεν; ()
[37] Εἴ () τις () δοκεῖ () προφήτης () εἶναι () ἢ () πνευματικός, () ἐπιγινωσκέτω () ἃ () γράφω () ὑμῖν, () ὅτι () κυρίου () εἰσὶν () ἐντολαί. ()
[38] Εἰ () δέ () τις () ἀγνοεῖ, () ἀγνοείτω. ()
[39] Ὥστε, () ἀδελφοί, () ζηλοῦτε () τὸ () προφητεύειν, () καὶ () τὸ () λαλεῖν () γλώσσαις () μὴ () κωλύετε· ()
[40] πάντα () εὐσχημόνως () καὶ () κατὰ () τάξιν () γινέσθω. ()

1 Corinthians 14:2 τῷ ¦ CT om.
1 Corinthians 14:5a γὰρ ¦ CT δὲ
1 Corinthians 14:5b διερμηνεύει ¦ CT TR διερμηνεύῃ
1 Corinthians 14:6a Νυνὶ ¦ CT Νῦν
1 Corinthians 14:6b ἐν ¦ [NA]
1 Corinthians 14:7 διδῷ ¦ CT TR δῷ
1 Corinthians 14:8 φωνὴν σάλπιγξ ¦ NA TH WH σάλπιγξ φωνὴν
1 Corinthians 14:10a ἐστὶν ¦ CT εἰσιν
1 Corinthians 14:10b αὐτῶν ¦ CT SCR om.
1 Corinthians 14:13 Διόπερ ¦ CT διὸ
1 Corinthians 14:14 γὰρ ¦ [NA WH]
1 Corinthians 14:15 δὲ ¦ [WH]
1 Corinthians 14:16 εὐλογήσῃς τῷ ¦ SBL TH εὐλογῇς ¦ NA WH εὐλογῇς [ἐν]
1 Corinthians 14:18a μου ¦ CT om.
1 Corinthians 14:18b λαλῶν ¦ CT λαλῶ
1 Corinthians 14:19a ἀλλ’ ¦ NA27 SBL TH WH ἀλλὰ
1 Corinthians 14:19b διὰ τοῦ νοὸς ¦ CT τῷ νο̈ὶ
1 Corinthians 14:20 γίνεσθε … γίνεσθε ¦ TH γείνεσθε … γείνεσθε
1 Corinthians 14:21 ἑτέροις ¦ CT ἑτέρων
1 Corinthians 14:23 γλώσσαις λαλῶσιν ¦ CT λαλῶσιν γλώσσαις
1 Corinthians 14:25a καὶ οὕτως ¦ CT om.
1 Corinthians 14:25b γίνεται ¦ TH γείνεται
1 Corinthians 14:25c Ὁ θεὸς ὄντως ¦ CT PCK Ὄντως ὁ θεὸς
1 Corinthians 14:26a ὑμῶν ¦ CT om.
1 Corinthians 14:26b γλῶσσαν ἔχει ἀποκάλυψιν ¦ CT ἀποκάλυψιν ἔχει γλῶσσαν
1 Corinthians 14:26c ἑρμηνείαν ¦ TH WH ἑρμηνίαν
1 Corinthians 14:26d γινέσθω ¦ TH γεινέσθω ¦ TR γενέσθω
1 Corinthians 14:33 ἀλλὰ ¦ NA28 PCK TR ἀλλ’
1 Corinthians 14:34a ὑμῶν ¦ CT om.
1 Corinthians 14:34b ἐπιτέτραπται ¦ CT Ἐπιτρέπεται
1 Corinthians 14:34c ἀλλ’ ¦ NA27 SBL TH WH ἀλλὰ
1 Corinthians 14:34d ὑποτάσσεσθαι ¦ CT ὑποτασσέσθωσαν
1 Corinthians 14:35a μαθεῖν ¦ WH μανθάνειν
1 Corinthians 14:35b γυναιξὶν ἐν ἐκκλησίᾳ λαλεῖν ¦ CT γυναικὶ λαλεῖν ἐν ἐκκλησίᾳ
1 Corinthians 14:37a ἐπιγινωσκέτω ¦ TH ἐπιγεινωσκέτω
1 Corinthians 14:37b κυρίου ¦ PT TR τοῦ κυρίου
1 Corinthians 14:37c εἰσὶν ἐντολαί ¦ NA TH WH ἐστὶν ἐντολή ¦ SBL ἐστίν
1 Corinthians 14:38 ἀγνοείτω ¦ CT ἀγνοεῖται
1 Corinthians 14:39a ἀδελφοί ¦ SBL TH WH ἀδελφοί μου ¦ NA ἀδελφοί [μου]
1 Corinthians 14:39b γλώσσαις μὴ κωλύετε ¦ CT μὴ κωλύετε γλώσσαις
1 Corinthians 14:40a πάντα ¦ CT πάντα δὲ
1 Corinthians 14:40b γινέσθω ¦ TH γεινέσθω

Old Testament scripture quotations and versification from Septuaginta, edited by Alfred Rahlfs (Stuttgart: Württembergische Bibelanstalt, 1935). New Testament quotations are from the Byzantine Text (Guardian Press, LLC, Robinson-Pierpont Byzantine Textform, 2026). Both are in the public domain.