1 Corinthians 14:1–17

The Gifts the Holy Spirit Gives

14Follow the way of love. You should also want the gifts the Holy Spirit gives. Most of all, you should want the gift of prophecy.

²Anyone who speaks in a language he had not known before doesn’t speak to people. He speaks only to God. In fact, no one understands that person. What he says with his spirit remains a mystery. ³But anyone who prophesies speaks to people. He says things to make them stronger, to give them hope and to comfort them. ⁴Those who speak in other languages build themselves up. But those who prophesy build up the church.

⁵I would like all of you to speak in other languages. But I would rather have you prophesy. Those who prophesy are more helpful than those who speak in other languages. But that is not the case if those who speak in other languages explain what they have said. Then the whole church can be built up.

⁶Brothers and sisters, suppose I were to come to you and speak in other languages. What good would I be to you? None! I would need to come with new truth or knowledge, or a prophecy or a teaching.

⁷Here are some examples. Certain objects make sounds. Take a flute or a harp. No one will know what the tune is unless different notes are played. ⁸Also, if the trumpet call isn’t clear, who will get ready for battle?

⁹It’s the same with you. You must speak words that people understand. If you don’t, no one will know what you are saying. You will just be speaking into the air.

¹⁰It is true that there are all kinds of languages in the world. And they all have meaning. ¹¹But if I don’t understand what someone is saying, I am a stranger to that person. And that person is a stranger to me.

¹²It’s the same with you. You want to have gifts of the Spirit. So try to do your best in using gifts that build up the church.

¹³For that reason, those who speak in languages they had not known before should pray that they can explain what they say. ¹⁴If I pray in another language, my spirit prays. But my mind does not pray. ¹⁵So what should I do? I will pray with my spirit. But I will also pray with my mind. I will sing with my spirit. But I will also sing with my mind.

¹⁶Suppose you are praising God with your spirit. And suppose there are visitors among you who don’t understand what’s going on. How can they say “Amen” when you give thanks? They don’t know what you are saying. ¹⁷You might be giving thanks well enough. But the others are not being built up.