Modern Literal Version
[1 Corinthians 14]

     ^14:1 Pursue^* love^*; but yet be^* zealous for spiritual gifts, but rather in order that you^* may prophesy. ^14:2 For^* he who speaks in a foreign language does not speak to men, but to God; for^* no one hears with understanding, but he speaks mysteries in the spirit. ^14:3 But he who prophesies speaks to men for building up and encouragement and consolation. ^14:4 He who speaks in aforeign language builds himself up, but he who prophesies builds up the congregation^*. ^14:5 Now I wish for all of you^* to speak with foreign languages, but more in order that you^* may prophesy, for^* greater is he who prophesies than he who speaks with foreign languages, unless one translates, in order that the congregation^* may receive building up.

     ^14:6 But brethren, now if I come to you^* speaking in foreign languages, what will I profit you^*, if I do not speak to you^* either in revelation or in knowledge or in prophecy or in teaching? ^14:7Even the lifeless things give forth a voice, whether flute or harp, if they do not give a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or harped? ^14:8 For^* if the trumpet also gives an indistinct voice, who will prepare himself ^*for war? ^14:9 So you^* also, if you^* do not give distinct speech through the foreign language, how will it be known what is spoken? For^* you^* will be speaking to air. ^14:10 If the varieties of foreign voices in the world are so-many, as it may be, andyet none are unintelligible. ^14:11 Therefore if I do not know the power of the voice, I will be a barbarian to the one who speaks with it, and he who speaks will be a barbarian with^* me. ^14:12 So you^* also, since you^* are zealous ones of the spirits, seek^* in order that you^* may abound to the building up of the congregation^*. ^14:13 Hence let he who speaks in a foreign language pray in order that one may translate.

     ^14:14 For^* if I pray in a foreign language, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. ^14:15Therefore what is it? I will pray with the spirit and I will also pray with the mind. I will sing-praise with the spirit and I will also sing-praise with the mind. ^14:16 Otherwise if you give-thanks with the spirit, how will he who fills the place of the unskilled say the amen upon your thanksgiving, since he did not know what you are saying? ^14:17 For^* you indeed give-thanks well, but the other is not built up. ^14:18 I give-thanks to my God, I speak with foreign languages more than all of you^*. ^14:19 But in the congregation^*, I wish to speak five words through my mind in order that I might also instruct others, than ten-thousand words in a foreign language.

     ^14:20 Brethren, do^* not become children in your mindsets, (but be^* infants in malice), but become^* mature in your mindsets. ^14:21 It has been written in the law, 'I will be speaking to this people in different languages and by other lips, and thus they will not even hear me, says the Lord.' {Isa 28:11-12}^14:22 So-then foreign languages are ^*for a sign, not to those who believe, but to the unbelieving. But prophecy is for a sign, not to the unbelieving, but to those who believe.^14:23 Therefore, if the whole congregation^* comes together in the same place, and if all speak withforeign languages, and if unskilled or unbelieving people should enter, will they not be saying that you^* are insane? ^14:24 But if all prophesy and some unbelieving or unskilled person should enter, he is reproved {Or: convicted} by all. He is judged by all. ^14:25 And thus, the secret things of his heart become apparent, and so, having fallen down upon his face, he will be worshiping God, reporting that God really is among you^*.

     ^14:26 Therefore brethren, what is it? Whenever you^* come together, each of you^* has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a foreign language, has a translation. Let all things happen toward your building up. ^14:27 If anyone speaks in a foreign language, let it be according to two or three at the most and individually, and let one translate. ^14:28 But if there is no translator, let him be silent in the congregation^*, and let him speak to himself and to God. ^14:29 But let^* the prophets speak by two or three and let^* the others discern. ^14:30 But if a prophesy is revealed to another sitting by, let the first be silent. ^14:31 For^* all of you^* are able to prophesy, one by one, in order that all may learn and all might be encouraged. ^14:32 The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets; ^14:33 for^* God is not a God of unrest, but of peace.

     As in all the congregations^* of the holy-ones: ^14:34 let^* your^* women {Or: wives} be silent in the congregations^*; for^* it has not been permitted for them to speak, but to be subject, just-as the law also says. {Gen 3:16}^14:35 And if they wish to learn anything, let^* them ask their own husbands in their own house; for^* it is shameful for women {Or: wives} to speak in a congregation^*. ^14:36 What? Was it from you^* that the word of God went forth? Or did it arrive only^*for you^*?

     ^14:37 If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him fully know what I write to you^*, that they are the commandments from the Lord. ^14:38 But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

     ^14:39 So-then brethren, be^* zealous to prophesy and do^* not forbid people to speak with foreignlanguages. ^14:40 But let all things happen decently and according to some order.

Modern Literal Version Preface & Appendix , copyright 1987, 1999, 2013 by G. Allen Walker for the MLV New Testament Committee.
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