1 Corinthians 14
Wycliffe's Bible
1(Pur)Sue ye charity (Follow love, or Go after love), (and) love ye spiritual things, but more that ye prophesy. 2And he that speaketh in tongue(s), speaketh not to men, but to God; for no man heareth (it) (And he who speaketh in a strange and ecstatic language, speaketh not to men, but to God; for no one can understand it). But the Spirit speaketh mysteries. 3For he that prophesieth, speaketh to men to edification (speaketh to men for edification), and admonishing, and comforting. 4He that speaketh in tongue(s), that is, in (a) strange language, edifieth himself (He who speaketh in a strange and ecstatic language, edifieth himself); but he that prophesieth, edifieth the church of God. 5And I will, that all ye speak in tongues, but more that ye prophesy. For he that prophesieth, is more than he that speaketh in (strange and ecstatic) languages, (or in tongues); but peradventure he expound, (or he interpret, or he declare), that the church take edification. (And I do desire, that ye all speak in strange and ecstatic languages, or in tongues, but more importantly, that ye all prophesy. For he who prophesieth, is more helpful to others than he who speaketh in a strange and ecstatic language; unless of course, the speaker in tongues can also expound, or interpret, so that the entire church can receive edification.)

6But now, brethren, if I come to you, and speak in tongues, what shall I profit to you [what shall it profit to you], [no] but if I speak to you either in revelation, either in science, either in prophecy, either in teaching? (But now, brothers, if I come to you, and speak in a strange and ecstatic language, what shall it profit you, unless I also speak to you either from revelation, or from knowledge, or from prophecy, or from teaching?) 7For those things that be without soul, (or without life), and giveth voices, (or maketh sounds), (yea), either pipe, either harp, but those give (a) distinction of soundings [no but if they shall give (a) distinction of soundings], how shall it be known that that is sung, either that that is trumped, (or harped). 8For if a trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall make himself ready to battle? (who shall prepare himself for battle?) 9So but ye give an open word by tongue(s), how shall that that is said be known? (And so, unless ye open, or ye interpret, the words spoken in a strange and ecstatic language, how shall what is said be understood?) For ye shall be speaking in vain, (or in the air). 10There be many kinds of languages, (or of tongues), in this world, and nothing is without voice (and nothing is without a sound). 11But if I know not the virtue of a voice (But if I do not know the meaning of a sound), I shall be to him, to whom I shall speak, (like) a barbaric; and he that speaketh to me, shall be (like) a barbaric. 12So ye, for ye be lovers of spirits, (that is, of ghostly gifts, or of spiritual gifts), seek ye that ye be plenteous to (the) edification of the church.

13And therefore he that speaketh in (a strange and ecstatic) language, (or in tongues), pray, that he expound (it) [pray, that he interpret (it)]. (And so he who speaketh in a strange and ecstatic tongue, beseech him to interpret it.) 14For if I pray in tongue(s), my spirit prayeth; mine understanding, (or my mind, or my reasoning), is without fruit. (For if I pray in a strange and ecstatic language, my spirit prayeth; but my thinking, or my reasoning, is without fruit.) 15What then? I shall pray in (my) spirit, I shall pray in (my) mind; I shall say psalm in (my) spirit, I shall say psalm also in (my) mind. 16For if thou blessest in (thy) spirit, who filleth the place of an idiot (For if thou blessest from thy spirit, if an unlearned man be there), how shall he say Amen on thy blessing, for he knoweth not, what thou sayest? 17For thou doest well (thy) thankings, (or thy graces), but another man is not edified. 18I thank my God, for I speak in the language of all (of) you; [I do graces to my God, for I speak in the tongue of all (of) you;] 19but in the church I will (rather) speak five words in my wit (but in the church I would rather speak five words from my mind, or out of my reasoning), (so) that also I teach other men, than ten thousand words in (a) tongue [not understood].

20Brethren, do not ye be made children in wits (Brothers, do not be made like children in your thinking, or in your reasoning), but in malice be ye children; but in wits be ye perfect. 21For in the law it is written, That in other tongues and other lips I shall speak to this people, and neither so they shall hear me, saith the Lord. 22Therefore (strange and ecstatic) languages be into (a) token, not to faithful men, but to men out of the faith; but prophecies be not to men out of the faith, but to faithful men. (And so tongues be a sign, not for men in the faith, but for men out of the faith; and prophecies be a sign, not for men out of the faith, but for men in the faith.) 23Therefore if all the church come together into one, and all men speak in tongues, if idiots, either men out of the faith enter, whether they shall not say, What, be ye mad? (And so if all the church come together as one, and everyone speak in a strange and ecstatic language, if the unlearned, or those not in the faith enter, shall they not say, What is this? ye be crazy!) 24But if all men prophesy, if any unfaithful man or idiot enter, he is convicted of all, he is wisely deemed of all (these words). (But if everyone prophesy, if anyone not in the faith, or someone unlearned, enter, he is convicted by all of these words, he is wisely judged by all of them.) 25For the hid things of his heart be known, and so he shall fall down on the face, and shall worship God, and show verily that God is in you. (For the hidden things of his heart be known, and so he shall fall down on the face, and shall worship God, and truly show that God is there with you.)

26What then, brethren? When ye come together, each of you hath a psalm, he hath teaching, he hath apocalypse, (or revelation), he hath tongue(s) (he hath a strange and ecstatic language), he hath expounding; all (these) things be they done to edification. 27Whether a man speaketh in tongue(s) (And if someone speaketh in a strange and ecstatic language), (be this done) by two men, either three at the most, and by parts, (so) that (some)one (can) interpret. 28But if there be not an interpreter, be he still, (or speak he not), in the church, and speak he (only) to himself and to God. 29Prophets twain or three say, and others wisely deem. (Let two or three prophets speak, and others wisely judge what they say.) 30But if anything be showed to a sitter, (or to one who is sitting), the former be still (the first speaker stop speaking). 31For ye may all prophesy, each by himself, that all men learn (so that everyone can learn), and all admonish. 32And the spirits of (the) prophets be subject to (other) prophets; 33for why God is not of dissension, but of peace; as I teach in all churches of holy men (as I teach in all the churches of the saints, or of God’s people).

34Women in churches be still; for it is not suffered to them to speak, but to be subject, as the law saith. (Women should be silent in church; for it is not allowed for them to speak, but they should be subordinate, like the Law saith.) 35But if they will anything learn, ask they their husbands at home; for it is foul thing to a woman to speak in the church. (And if they desire to learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home; for it is a foul thing for a woman to speak in the church.) 36Whether the word of God came forth of you, or to you alone it came? (Did the word of God come forth from you, or did it come to you alone?)

37If any man is seen to be a prophet, or spiritual, know he those things that I write to you, for those be the commandments of the Lord [for they be the commandments of the Lord]. 38And if any man not knoweth, he shall be unknowing.

39Therefore, brethren, love ye to prophesy, and do not ye forbid to speak in tongues. (And so brothers, love prophesy, and do not forbid any to speak in strange and ecstatic languages.) 40But be all things done honestly, and by due order in you. (But let all things be done with seemliness, and by due order among you.)

WYCLIFFE’S BIBLE

Comprising of
Wycliffe’s Old Testament

and

Wycliffe’s New Testament
(Revised Edition)


Translated by

JOHN WYCLIFFE
and JOHN PURVEY


A modern-spelling edition of their
14TH century Middle English translation,
the first complete English vernacular version,
with an Introduction by

TERENCE P. NOBLE

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