Prophecy and Tongues
1 Pursue love, anddesire spiritualgifts,but especially that you may prophesy.
2 For he whospeaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understandshim;however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.
3 But he who prophesies speaksedification andexhortation and comfort to men.
4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesiesisgreater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.
Tongues Must Be Interpreted
6 But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either byrevelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching?
7 Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played?
8 For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle?
9 So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.
10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of themiswithout significance.
11 Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speakswillbea foreigner to me.
12 Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritualgifts, let it befor the edification of the churchthatyou seek to excel.
13 Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he mayinterpret.
14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
15 What istheconclusionthen? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding.I will sing with the spirit, and I will also singwith the understanding.
16 Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen”at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say?
17 For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.
18 I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all;
19 yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Tongues a Sign to Unbelievers
20 Brethren,do not be children in understanding; however, in malicebe babes, but in understanding be mature.
21 In the law it is written:
# “Withmenofother tongues and other lips
I will speak to this people;
And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,”
says the Lord.
22 Therefore tongues are for asign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe.
23 Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come inthosewhoareuninformed or unbelievers,will they not say that you are out of your mind?
24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all.
25 And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down onhisface, he will worship God and reportthat God is truly among you.
Order in Church Meetings
26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm,has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation.Let all things be done for edification.
27 If anyone speaks in a tongue,lettherebetwo or at the most three,eachin turn, and let one interpret.
28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.
29 Let two or three prophets speak, andlet the others judge.
30 But ifanythingis revealed to another who sits by,let the first keep silent.
31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged.
32 Andthe spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
33 For God is nottheauthorof confusion but of peace,as in all the churches of the saints.
34 Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; buttheyareto be submissive, as thelaw also says.
35 And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.
36 Or did the word of God comeoriginallyfrom you? Orwasityou only that it reached?
37 If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.
38 But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39 Therefore, brethren,desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.
40 Let all things be done decently and in order.