1Pursue love, and be eager for the spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
2For the one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God, for no one understands; yet in the Spirit he speaks mysteries.
3But the one who prophesies speaks to people edification and encouragement and comfort.
4The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.
5Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more that you may prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edification.
6But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I benefit you, unless I speak to you either in revelation or in knowledge or in prophecy or in teaching?
7Likewise even lifeless things that produce sound, whether flute or lyre—if they do not give distinction to the notes, how will what is played on the flute or on the lyre be recognized?
8For also if a trumpet gives an indistinct sound, who will prepare for battle?
9So also you, unless through the tongue you produce an intelligible word, how will what is spoken be recognized? For you will be speaking into the air.
10There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none is without meaning.
11If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the one speaking, and the one speaking a foreigner to me.
12So also you, since you are eager for spiritual gifts, seek to abound in them for the edification of the church.
13Therefore let the one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.
14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
15What then is it? I will pray with the spirit, but I will also pray with the mind; I will sing praise with the spirit, but I will also sing praise with the mind.
16Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will the one who fills the place of the uninstructed say the “Amen” at your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?
17For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.
18I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you;
19but in church I would rather speak five words with my mind, so that I might also instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20Brothers, do not be children in your thinking, but in evil be infants, while in your thinking be mature.
21In the law it is written: “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of others I will speak to this people, and even so they will not listen to me,” says the Lord.
22So then tongues are for a sign not to those who believe but to the unbelievers, while prophecy is not for the unbelievers but for those who believe.
23If then the whole church comes together in the same place and all speak in tongues, and uninstructed people or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds?
24But if all prophesy, and some unbeliever or uninstructed person comes in, he is convicted by all, he is examined by all;
25the hidden things of his heart become manifest, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God, declaring that God is truly among you.
26What then is it, brothers? When you come together, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.
27If anyone speaks in a tongue, let it be by two or at the most three, and in turn, and let one interpret.
28But if there is no interpreter, let him be silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.
29Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.
30But if something is revealed to another who is seated, let the first be silent.
31For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be encouraged.
32And the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets,
33for God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,
34let the women be silent in the churches, for it is not permitted for them to speak, but let them be in submission, just as the Law also says.
35But if they wish to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.
36Or did the word of God go out from you? Or did it reach you alone?
37If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that what I write to you is a command of the Lord.
38But if anyone disregards this, he is disregarded.
39So then, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
40But let all things be done decently and in order.
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