FOLLOW after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that
ye may prophesy.
2
For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but
unto God: for no man understandeth
him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
3
But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and
exhortation, and comfort.
4
He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that
prophesieth edifieth the church.
5
I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye
prophesied: for greater is he that
prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except 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 revelation, or by knowledge, or by
prophesying, or by doctrine?
7 And even things without
life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in
the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
8 For if the trumpet give
an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the 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 speak
into the air.
10 There are, it may be,
so many kinds 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
barbarian, 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 the
edifying of the church.
13 Wherefore let him that
speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.
14 For if I pray in an
unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will
pray with the understanding also: I
will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
16 Else, when thou shalt
bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the
unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not
what thou sayest?
17 For thou verily givest
thanks well, but the other is not edified.
18 I thank my God, I
speak with tongues more than ye all:
19 Yet in the church I
had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might
teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
20 Brethren, be not
children in understanding: howbeit
in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
21 In the law
it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto
this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the LORD.
22 Wherefore tongues are
for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them
that believe not, but for them which believe.
23 If therefore the whole
church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and
there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say
that ye are mad?
24 But if all prophesy,
and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced
of all, he is judged of all:
25 And thus are the
secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will
worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
26 How is it then,
brethren? When ye come together,
every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a
revelation, hath an interpretation.
Let all things be done unto edifying.
27 If any man speak in an
unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by
course; and let one interpret.
28 But if there be no
interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to
himself, and to God.
29 Let the prophets speak
two or three, and let the other judge.
30 If any thing be
revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
31 For ye may all
prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
32 And the spirits of the
prophets are subject to the prophets.
33 For God is not the
author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
34 Let your women keep
silence in the churches: for it is
not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under
obedience, as also saith the law.
35 And if they will learn
any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
36 What! Came the word of God out from you? Or came it unto you only?
37 If any man think
himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things
that I write unto you are the commandments of the LORD.
38 But if any man be
ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39 Wherefore, brethren,
covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
40 Let all things be done
decently and in order.