1 Corinthians 14

World English Bible · 2000 · New Testament · 16 chapters

Reading 1 Corinthians chapter 14 in the World English Bible, public-domain text from 2000.

Verses 1–10

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.

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The World English Bible (2000) is one of seven public-domain translations available in the OCC Bible Explorer. Use the full app to compare translations side by side, search across all translations, and explore Strong's Hebrew and Greek concordance entries linked to every word.