1 Corinthians 14:5-27

5Now I wish that you all 1spoke in tongues, but 2even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who 3speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive 4edifying.

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 5revelation or of 6knowledge or of 7prophecy or of 8teaching? 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 9the 10bugle 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 11speaking into the air. 10There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of 12languages 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 1314barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a 15barbarian 16to me. 12So also you, since you are zealous of 17spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the 18edification 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. 1519What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will 20sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also. 16Otherwise if you bless 21in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the 22ungifted say 23the “Amen” at your 24giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? 17For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not 25edified. 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.

2026Brethren, 27do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil 28be infants, but in your thinking be mature. 21In 29the Law it is written, “30By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people, and even so they will not listen to Me,” says the Lord. 22So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but 31prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those who believe. 23Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and 32ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that 33you are mad? 24But if all 34prophesy, and an unbeliever or an 35ungifted man enters, he is 36convicted by all, he is called to account by all; 2537the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will 38fall on his face and worship God, 39declaring that God is certainly among you.

2640What is the outcome then, 41brethren? When you assemble, 42each one has a 43psalm, has a 44teaching, has a 45revelation, has a 46tongue, has an 47interpretation. Let 48all things be done for edification. 27If anyone speaks in a 49tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must 50interpret;