1 Corinthians 13:13–14:12
13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the 1greatest of these is alove.
1 aPursue love, yet bdesire earnestly cspiritual gifts, but especially that you may dprophesy.
2 For one who aspeaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one 1understands, but 2in his spirit he speaks bmysteries.
3 But one who prophesies speaks to men for aedification and bexhortation and consolation.
4 One who aspeaks in a tongue bedifies himself; but one who cprophesies bedifies the church.
5 Now I wish that you all aspoke in tongues, but beven more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who aspeaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive cedifying.
6 But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of arevelation or of bknowledge or of cprophecy or of dteaching?
7 Yet even lifeless things, either flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp?
8 For if athe 1bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle?
9 So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be aspeaking into the air.
10 There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of 1languages in the world, and no kind is without meaning.
11 If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be to the one who speaks a 1abarbarian, and the one who speaks will be a 1barbarian 2to me.
12 So also you, since you are zealous of 1spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the aedification of the church.