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love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophesy. 2 For those who speak in a tongue do not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, he utters mysteries from his spirit. 3 But the person who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouragement, and comfort. 4 The person who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies builds up the church. 5 I would like all of you to speak in tongues, but even more that you prophesied. The person who prophesies is greater than the person who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be built up.
6 Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring to you a revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7 Even lifeless instruments producing sounds, such as the flute or harp, unless they make a distinction in the notes, how will anyone recognize the tune being played? 8 Again, if the trumpet gives an indistinct sound, who will prepare for battle? 9 So in the same way, unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what is being said? For you will be speaking into the air. 10 Without a doubt, there are many different kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without meaning. 11 If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker, and to speaker a foreigner to me. 12 So it is also with yourselves. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, strive to excel in receiving gifts that build up the church.
13 Therefore, anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he can interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15 What should I do then? I will pray with the spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with my mind. 16 Otherwise, if you say a blessing with the spirit, how can an uninformed person say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? 17 You may very well be giving thanks, but the other person is not being edified.
18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you, 19 but in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words, in order to teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20 Brothers, do not be like children in your thinking. In regards to evil, be like infants, but be like adults in your thinking. 21 It is written in the law:
“With men of other tongues
and by the lips of foreigners
I will speak to this people;
yet even then they will not listen to Me,”
says the Lord.
22 Tongues, then, are intended as a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers. However, prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 Therefore if the whole church comes together and everyone is speaking in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds? 24 But if all are prophesying, and an unbeliever or outsider comes in, he is convinced by all and called to account by all, 25 and the secrets of his heart will be revealed. So he will fall down on his face and proclaim, “God is really among you!”
26 What should be done then, brothers? When you come together, each of you has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. 27 If anyone speak in a tongue, there should only be two or at the most three, and each in turn, and someone must interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, that person should keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.
29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should carefully evaluate what is said. 30 But if a revelation comes to someone else sitting nearby, the first person should be silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be encouraged. 32 And the spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets, 33 since God is not a God of disorder but of peace.
As in all the congregations of the saints, 34 the women should remain silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak, but they should be submissive, as the law also says. 35 If they want to find out about something, they should ask their husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in church.
36 Did the word of God originate from you? Or are you the only people it has reached? 37 If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that what I write to you is the Lord’s command. 38 But if anyone ignores this, he should be ignored.
39 Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But everything should be done decently and in order.