Follow after charity, be zealous for spiritual gifts; but rather that you may prophesy.

Sectamini caritatem, æmulamini spiritualia: magis autem ut prophetetis.

Make charity your aim, the spiritual gifts your aspiration; and, by preference, the gift of prophecy.

For he that speaketh in a tongue, speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man heareth. Yet by the Spirit he speaketh mysteries.

Qui enim loquitur lingua, non hominibus loquitur, sed Deo: nemo enim audit. Spiritu autem loquitur mysteria.

The man who talks in a strange tongue is talking to God, not to men; nobody understands him, he is holding mysterious converse with his own spirit;

But he that prophesieth, speaketh to men unto edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

Nam qui prophetat, hominibus loquitur ad ædificationem, et exhortationem, et consolationem.

whereas the prophet speaks to edify, to encourage, to comfort his fellow men.

He that speaketh in a tongue, edifieth himself: but he that prophesieth, edifieth the church.

Qui loquitur lingua, semetipsum ædificat: qui autem prophetat, ecclesiam Dei ædificat.

By talking in a strange tongue, a man may strengthen his own faith; by prophesying he can strengthen the faith of the church.

And I would have you all to speak with tongues, but rather to prophesy. For greater is he that prophesieth, than he that speaketh with tongues: unless perhaps he interpret, that the church may receive edification.

Volo autem omnes vos loqui linguis: magis autem prophetare. Nam major est qui prophetat, quam qui loquitur linguis; nisi forte interpretetur ut ecclesia ædificationem accipiat.

I would gladly see you all speaking with strange tongues, but I would rather you should prophesy, because the prophet ranks higher than the man who speaks with strange tongues. It would be different if he could translate them, to strengthen the faith of the church;

But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak to you either in revelation, or in knowledge, or in prophecy, or in doctrine?

Nunc autem, fratres, si venero ad vos linguis loquens: quid vobis prodero, nisi vobis loquar aut in revelatione, aut in scientia, aut in prophetia, aut in doctrina?

but as things are, brethren, what good can I do you by coming and talking to you in strange languages, instead of addressing you with a revelation, or a manifestation of inner knowledge, or a prophecy, or words of instruction?

Even things without life that give sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction of sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

Tamen quæ sine anima sunt vocem dantia, sive tibia, sive cithara; nisi distinctionem sonituum dederint, quomodo scietur id quod canitur, aut quod citharizatur?

Senseless things may be vocal, a flute, for example, or a harp; but even with these, there must be distinctions between the sounds they give, or how can we recognize what melody flute or harp is playing?

For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

Etenim si incertam vocem det tuba, quis parabit se ad bellum?

If a trumpet, for that matter, gives out an uncertain note, who will arm himself for battle?

So likewise you, except you utter by the tongue plain speech, how shall it be known what is said? For you shall be speaking into the air.

Ita et vos per linguam nisi manifestum sermonem dederitis: quomodo scietur id quod dicitur? eritis enim in aëra loquentes.

So it is with you; how can it be known what your message is, if you speak in a language whose accents cannot be understood? Your words will fall on empty air.

There are, for example, so many kinds of tongues in this world; and none is without voice.

Tam multa, ut puta genera linguarum sunt in hoc mundo: et nihil sine voce est.

No doubt all these different languages exist somewhere in the world, and each of them has its significance;

If then I know not the power of the voice, I shall be to him to whom I speak a barbarian; and he that speaketh, a barbarian to me.

Si ergo nesciero virtutem vocis, ero ei, cui loquor, barbarus: et qui loquitur, mihi barbarus.

but if I cannot understand what the language means, the effect is that I am a foreigner to the man who is speaking, and he is a foreigner to me.

So you also, forasmuch as you are zealous of spirits, seek to abound unto the edifying of the church.

Sic et vos, quoniam æmulatores estis spirituum, ad ædificationem ecclesiæ quærite ut abundetis.

So the case stands with you. Since you have set your hearts on spiritual gifts, ask for them in abundant measure, but only so as to strengthen the faith of the church;

And therefore he that speaketh by a tongue, let him pray that he may interpret.

Et ideo qui loquitur lingua, oret ut interpretetur.

the man who can speak in a strange tongue should pray for the power to interpret it.

For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is without fruit.

Nam si orem lingua, spiritus meus orat, mens autem mea sine fructu est.

If I use a strange tongue when I offer prayer, my spirit is praying, but my mind reaps no advantage from it.

What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, I will pray also with the understanding; I will sing with the spirit, I will sing also with the understanding.

Quid ergo est? Orabo spiritu, orabo et mente: psallam spiritu, psallam et mente.

What, then, is my drift? Why, I mean to use mind as well as spirit when I offer prayer, use mind as well as spirit when I sing psalms.

Else if thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that holdeth the place of the unlearned say, Amen, to thy blessing? because he knoweth not what thou sayest.

Ceterum si benedixeris spiritu, qui supplet locum idiotæ, quomodo dicet: Amen, super tuam benedictionem? quoniam quid dicas, nescit.

If thou dost pronounce a blessing in this spiritual fashion, how can one who takes his place among the uninstructed say Amen to thy thanksgiving? He cannot tell what thou art saying.

For thou indeed givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

Nam tu quidem bene gratias agis, sed alter non ædificatur.

Thou, true enough, art duly giving thanks, but the other’s faith is not strengthened.

I thank my God I speak with all your tongues.

Gratias ago Deo meo, quod omnium vestrum lingua loquor.

Thank God, I can speak any of the tongues you use;

But in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may instruct others also; than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Sed in ecclesia volo quinque verba sensu meo loqui, ut et alios instruam: quam decem millia verborum in lingua.

but in the church, I would rather speak five words which my mind utters, for your instruction, than ten thousand in a strange tongue.

Brethren, do not become children in sense: but in malice be children, and in sense be perfect.

Fratres, nolite pueri effici sensibus, sed malitia parvuli estote: sensibus autem perfecti estote.

Brethren, do not be content to think childish thoughts; keep the innocence of children, with the thoughts of grown men.

In the law it is written: In other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; and neither so will they hear me, saith the Lord.

In lege scriptum est: Quoniam in aliis linguis et labiis aliis loquar populo huic: et nec sic exaudient me, dicit Dominus.

We read in the law, I will speak to this people with an unknown tongue, with the lips of strangers, and even so they will not listen to me, says the Lord.

Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to believers, but to unbelievers; but prophecies not to unbelievers, but to believers.

Itaque linguæ in signum sunt non fidelibus, sed infidelibus: prophetiæ autem non infidelibus, sed fidelibus.

Thus talking with a strange tongue is a sign given to unbelievers, not to the faithful; whereas prophecy is meant for the faithful, not for unbelievers.

If therefore the whole church come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in unlearned persons or infidels, will they not say that you are mad?

Si ergo conveniat universa ecclesia in unum, et omnes linguis loquantur, intrent autem idiotæ, aut infideles: nonne dicent quod insanitis?

And now, what will happen if the uninstructed or the unbelievers come in when the whole church has met together, and find everyone speaking with strange tongues at once? Will they not say you are mad?

But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or an unlearned person, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all.

Si autem omnes prophetent, intret autem quis infidelis, vel idiota, convincitur ab omnibus, dijudicatur ab omnibus:

Whereas, if some unbeliever or some uninstructed person comes in when all alike are prophesying, everyone will read his thoughts, everyone will scrutinize him,

The secrets of his heart are made manifest; and so, falling down on his face, he will adore God, affirming that God is among you indeed.

occulta cordis ejus manifesta fiunt: et ita cadens in faciem adorabit Deum, pronuntians quod vere Deus in vobis sit.

all that is kept hidden in his heart will be revealed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, publicly confessing that God is indeed among you.

How is it then, brethren? When you come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a revelation, hath a tongue, hath an interpretation: let all things be done to edification.

Quid ergo est, fratres? Cum convenitis, unusquisque vestrum psalmum habet, doctrinam habet, apocalypsim habet, linguam habet, interpretationem habet: omnia ad ædificationem fiant.

What am I urging, then, brethren? Why, when you meet together, each of you with a psalm to sing, or some doctrine to impart, or a revelation to give, or ready to speak in strange tongues, or to interpret them, see that all is done to your spiritual advantage.

If any speak with a tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and in course, and let one interpret.

Sive lingua quis loquitur, secundum duos, aut ut multum tres, et per partes, et unus interpretatur.

If there is speaking with strange tongues, do not let more than two speak, or three at the most; let each take his turn, with someone to interpret for him,

But if there be no interpreter, let him hold his peace in the church, and speak to himself and to God.

Si autem non fuerit interpres, taceat in ecclesia: sibi autem loquatur, et Deo.

and if he can find nobody to interpret, let him be silent in the church, conversing with his own spirit and with God.

And let the prophets speak, two or three; and let the rest judge.

Prophetæ autem duo, aut tres dicant, et ceteri dijudicent.

As for the prophets, let two or three of them speak, while the rest sit in judgement on their prophecies.

But if any thing be revealed to another sitting, let the first hold his peace.

Quod si alii revelatum fuerit sedenti, prior taceat.

If some revelation comes to another who is sitting by, let him who spoke first keep silence;

For you may all prophesy one by one; that all may learn, and all may be exhorted:

Potestis enim omnes per singulos prophetare: ut omnes discant, et omnes exhortentur:

there is room for you all to prophesy one by one, so that the whole company may receive instruction and comfort;

And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

et spiritus prophetarum prophetis subjecti sunt.

and it is for the prophets to exercise control over their own spiritual gifts.

For God is not the God of dissension, but of peace: as also I teach in all the churches of the saints.

Non enim est dissensionis Deus, sed pacis: sicut et in omnibus ecclesiis sanctorum doceo.

God is the author of peace, not of disorder; such is the teaching I give in all the churches of the saints.

Let women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted them to speak, but to be subject, as also the law saith.

Mulieres in ecclesiis taceant, non enim permittitur eis loqui, sed subditas esse, sicut et lex dicit.

And women are to be silent in the churches; utterance is not permitted to them; let them keep their rank, as the law tells them:

But if they would learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is a shame for a woman to speak in the church.

Si quid autem volunt discere, domi viros suos interrogent. Turpe est enim mulieri loqui in ecclesia.

if they have any question to raise, let them ask their husbands at home. That a woman should make her voice heard in the church is not seemly.

Or did the word of God come out from you? Or came it only unto you?

An a vobis verbum Dei processit? aut in vos solos pervenit?

Tell me, was it from you that God’s word was sent out? Are you the only people it has reached?

If any seem to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him know the things that I write to you, that they are the commandments of the Lord.

Si quis videtur propheta esse, aut spiritualis, cognoscat quæ scribo vobis, quia Domini sunt mandata.

If anybody claims to be a prophet, or to have spiritual gifts, let him prove it by recognizing that this message of mine to you is God’s commandment.

But if any man know not, he shall not be known.

Si quis autem ignorat, ignorabitur.

If he does not recognize it, he himself shall receive no recognition.

Wherefore, brethren, be zealous to prophesy; and forbid not to speak with tongues.

Itaque fratres æmulamini prophetare: et loqui linguis nolite prohibere.

Set your hearts, then, brethren, on prophesying; and as for speaking with strange tongues, do not interfere with it.

But let all things be done decently, and according to order.

Omnia autem honeste, et secundum ordinem fiant.

Only let us have everything done suitably, and with right order.