14Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, and above all that you may prophesy. ²For the person who speaks in another language ^kis not speaking to men but to God, since no one understands him; however, he speaks mysteries in the Spirit. ^l³But the person who prophesies speaks to people for edification, encouragement, and consolation. ⁴The person who speaks in another language builds himself up, but he who prophesies builds up the church. ⁵I wish all of you spoke in other languages, but even more that you prophesied. The person who prophesies is greater than the person who speaks in languages, unless he interprets so that the church may be built up.

⁶But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in other languages, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you with a revelation ^mor knowledge or prophecy or teaching? ⁷Even inanimate things that produce sounds—whether flute or harp ⁿ—if they don’t make a distinction in the notes, how will what is played on the flute or harp be recognized? ⁸In fact, if the trumpet makes an unclear sound, who will prepare for battle? ^o⁹In the same way, unless you use your tongue for intelligible speech, how will what is spoken be known? For you will be speaking into the air. ¹⁰There are doubtless many different kinds of languages in the world, and all have meaning. ^p¹¹Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner ^qto the speaker, and the speaker will be a foreigner to me. ¹²So also you—since you are zealous ^rfor spiritual gifts, ^s^tseek to excel in building up the church.

¹³Therefore the person who speaks in another language should pray that he can interpret. ¹⁴For if I pray in another language, my spirit ^uprays, but my understanding is unfruitful. ^v¹⁵What then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with my understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with my understanding. ¹⁶Otherwise, if you praise with the spirit, ^whow will the uninformed person ^xsay “Amen” ^yat your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? ¹⁷For you may very well be giving thanks, but the other person is not being built up.

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Footnotes

l14:2 Or in spirit, or in his spirit
p14:10 and none is without a sound
q14:11 Gk barbaros = in Eng a “barbarian.” To a Gk, a barbaros was anyone who did not speak Gk.
s14:12 zealous of spirits; spirits = human spirits, spiritual powers, or the Holy Spirit
w14:16 Or praise by the Spirit
x14:16 the one filling the place of the uninformed

Cross references

k14:2 1Co 12:10
m14:6 1Pt 4:13
n14:7 Rv 5:8; 14:2; 15:2
o14:8 Nm 10:9; Is 58:1; Jr 4:19; Ezk 33:3–6; Jl 2:1
r14:12 Nm 25:13; Gl 1:14
t14:12 Ps 51:11; Lk 11:34; Jn 1:33; Ac 2:4; Rm 8:9; Gl 5:25; Ti 3:5; 1Jn 4:1; Rv 3:22
u14:14 Ps 51:12
v14:14 Gl 5:22; Ti 3:14
y14:16 Ps 72:19; Rv 22:21