1 Corinthians 14:1-20

11Pursue love, yet 2desire earnestly 3spiritual gifts, but especially that you may 4prophesy. 2For one who 5speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one 6understands, but 7in his spirit he speaks 8mysteries. 3But one who prophesies speaks to men for 9edification and 10exhortation and consolation. 4One who 11speaks in a tongue 12edifies himself; but one who 13prophesies 14edifies the church. 5Now I wish that you all 15spoke in tongues, but 16even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who 17speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive 18edifying.

6But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of 19revelation or of 20knowledge or of 21prophecy or of 22teaching? 7Yet 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? 8For if 23the 24bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle? 9So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be 25speaking into the air. 10There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of 26languages in the world, and no kind is without meaning. 11If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be to the one who speaks a 2728barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a 29barbarian 30to me. 12So also you, since you are zealous of 31spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the 32edification of the church.

13Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. 14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 1533What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will 34sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also. 16Otherwise if you bless 35in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the 36ungifted say 37the “Amen” at your 38giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? 17For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not 39edified. 18I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all; 19however, 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.

2040Brethren, 41do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil 42be infants, but in your thinking be mature.