1 Corinthians 14:1–14

aFollow after charity, and aadesire bspiritual gifts, but rather that ye may cprophesy. 2 For he that dspeaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man †eunderstandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. 3 But he that cprophesieth speaketh unto men to fedification, and gexhortation, and hcomfort. 4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that cprophesieth iedifieth the church. 5 I would that ye all dspake with tongues, but jrather that ye cprophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, kexcept he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. 6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by lrevelation, or by mknowledge, or by cprophesying, or by ndoctrine? 7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the ||osounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? 8 For if pthe trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to qthe battle? 9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words †easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall rspeak into the air. 10 There are, sit may be, tso many ukinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. 11 Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a xbarbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me. 12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous †of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to fthe edifying of the church. 13 Wherefore let him that dspeaketh in an unknown tongue pray kthat he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.