1 Corinthians 14:18-40

18I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you,

19but in the church I want to speak five words with my mind to instruct others, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.

20Brothers and sisters, do not be children in your thinking. Instead, be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.

21It is written in the law: “By people with strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people, yet not even in this way will they listen to me,” says the Lord.

22So then, tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers.

23So if the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and unbelievers or uninformed people enter, will they not say that you have lost your minds?

24But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or uninformed person enters, he will be convicted by all, he will be called to account by all.

25The secrets of his heart are disclosed, and in this way he will fall down with his face to the ground and worship God, declaring, “God is really among you.”

26What should you do then, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each one has a song, has a lesson, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all these things be done for the strengthening of the church.

27If someone speaks in a tongue, it should be two, or at the most three, one after the other, and someone must interpret.

28But if there is no interpreter, he should be silent in the church. Let him speak to himself and to God.

29Two or three prophets should speak and the others should evaluate what is said.

30And if someone sitting down receives a revelation, the person who is speaking should conclude.

31For you can all prophesy one after another, so all can learn and be encouraged.

32Indeed, the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets,

33for God is not characterized by disorder but by peace. As in all the churches of the saints,

34the women should be silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak. Rather, let them be in submission, as in fact the law says.

35If they want to find out about something, they should ask their husbands at home, because it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in church.

36Did the word of God begin with you, or did it come to you alone?

37If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, he should acknowledge that what I write to you is the Lord’s command.

38If someone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.

39So then, brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid anyone from speaking in tongues.

40And do everything in a decent and orderly manner.