Diligently pursue love, yet earnestly desire the things of the spirit, especially that you prophesy.
For whoever speaks in a tongue does not speak to people, but to God, for no one understands, but by the spirit he speaks sacred secrets.
But whoever prophesies speaks to people for building them up, and encouragement, and comfort.
Whoever speaks in a tongue builds himself up, while the one who prophesies builds up the church.
Now I want all of you to speak in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy, for greater is the one who prophesies than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church is built up.
But now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you, unless I speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophecy, or by a teaching?
Even lifeless things that produce a sound, whether flute or harp, if they do not give a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is being played or what is being harped?
For indeed, if the trumpet gives an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for war?
It is the same for you. Unless with your tongue you give a message that is easy to understand, how will it be known what is being said? For you will be speaking into the air.
There are, undoubtedly, very many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is voiceless.
But if I do not know the meaning of the voice, I will be a foreigner to the one who speaks, and the one who speaks will be a foreigner to me.
So also you, since you are zealous for spirits, strive to abound in them with a view to the edification of the church.
Therefore, let the one who speaks in a tongue pray so that he can interpret.
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
What, then, is to be done? 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.
Otherwise, if you praise with the spirit, how will anyone who is unlearned say “Amen!” at your giving of thanks, seeing he does not know what you are saying?
For indeed you are giving thanks very well, but the other is not being built up.
I thank God; I speak in tongues more than you all.
But in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding in order to instruct others, than 10,000 words in a tongue.
Brothers and sisters, do not be children in your thinking, yet with respect to evil be children, but in your thinking be mature.
In the law it is written, By people with other tongues and by the lips of others I will speak to this people, and not even then will they listen to me, says the Lord.
So then, tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to the unbelieving, but prophecy is not a sign to the unbelieving, but to those who believe.
Now, if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and unlearned ones or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are raving mad?
But if everyone prophesies, and an unbelieving or unlearned one enter, he is convinced by all, he is called to account by all,
the hidden things of his heart are revealed, and as a result he will fall facedown and worship God, declaring, “God is truly among you.”
Orderly Worship
How is it then, brothers and sisters, that when you come together, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation? Let all things be done for building people up.
If anyone speaks in a tongue, let it be by two, or at the most three, and one at a time, and one must interpret!
But if there is no one to interpret, let him keep silence in the church, and let him speak to himself and to God.
And let the prophets speak by two or three, and let the others thoroughly examine what was said.
But if something is revealed to another sitting by, let the first keep silent.
For you are all able to prophesy one by one, so that all can learn, and all can be encouraged.
And spirits spoken by prophets are subject to the prophets;
for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace, as in all the churches of the holy ones.
[Let the women keep silence in the churches, for it is not permitted for them to speak, but they are to be in submission, as also says the law.
And if they want to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for a woman to speak in the church.]
What? Was it from you that the word of God went out? Or did it come to you alone?
If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, he must fully realize that the things I write to you—that they are a commandment of the Lord.
If anyone does not acknowledge this, he is not acknowledged.
So then, my brothers and sisters, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid anyone to speak in tongues.
But let all things be done decently and in an orderly way.