Old Testament

New Testament

1 Corinthians 14:13-26 Modern English Version (MEV)

13. Let him who speaks in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.

14. For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

15. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding.

16. Otherwise, when you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the unlearned say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, seeing he does not understand what you say?

17. For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.

18. I thank my God that I speak in tongues more than you 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. Brothers, do not be children in your thinking; rather be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.

21. In the law it is written: “With men of other tonguesand other lipsI will speak to this people;but even then they will not hear Me,”says the Lord.

22. So tongues are for a sign, not to believers, but to unbelievers. But prophesying does not serve unbelievers, but believers.

23. Therefore if the whole church assembles in one place and all speak with tongues, and those who are unlearned or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?

24. But if all prophesy and there comes in one who does not believe or one unlearned, he is convinced by all and judged by all.

25. Thus the secrets of his heart are revealed. And so falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.

26. How is it then, brothers? When you come together, every one of you has a psalm, a teaching, a tongue, a revelation, and an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.

Read complete chapter 1 Corinthians 14