Prophecy a Superior Gift

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.

13 Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.

14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.

15 aWhat is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will bsing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.

16 Otherwise if you bless 1in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the 2ungifted say athe “Amen” at your bgiving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying?

17 For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not aedified.

18 I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all;

19 however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Instruction for the Church

20 aBrethren, bdo not be children in your thinking; yet in evil cbe infants, but in your thinking be mature.