Read the Bible

¹ Pursue love; nevertheless be envious of the spiritual gifts, - and, rather, that ye may be prophesying.² For, he that speaketh with a tongue, not unto men, doth speak, but, unto God, - for, no one, understandeth, although, in spirit, he is speaking sacred secrets;³ But, be that prophesieth, unto men, doth speak - edification, and exhortation, and comfort.⁴ He that speaketh with a tongue, buildeth up, himself, whereas, he that prophesieth, buildeth up, an assembly.⁵ Howbeit I wish you all to speak with tongues, but, rather, that ye may prophesy, - moreover, greater, is he that prophesieth, than he that speaketh with tongues, - unless indeed he translate, that, the assembly, may receive upbuilding.

⁶ But, now, brethren - if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit, you, except I speak, unto you, either by way of revelation, or knowledge, or prophesying, or teaching?⁷ In like manner, the things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, if, a distinction in the sounds, they do not give, how shall it be known, what is being piped or harped?⁸ For, if also, an uncertain sound, a trumpet, should give, who shall prepare himself for battle?⁹ So, also, ye, through means of the tongue, except ye give intelligible discourse, how shall it be known what is being spoken? for ye will be speaking, to the air.¹⁰ There may happen to be so many kinds of languages in the world, and, not one, unspoken: - ¹¹ If, then, I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be, unto him that is speaking, a foreigner, and, he that is speaking, shall be, in my case, a foreigner.¹² So, ye, also - since ye are, envious, of spirits, unto the upbuilding of the assembly, seek to be pre-eminent.¹³ Wherefore, he that speaketh with a tongue, let him pray that he may translate;¹⁴ For, if I am praying in a tongue, my spirit, is praying, but, my mind, is unfruitful.

¹⁵ What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray also with the mind, - I will strike the strings with the spirit, butI will strike the strings also with the mind.¹⁶ Else, if thou be blessing in a spirit, he that filleth up the place of the ungifted person, how shall he say the Amen upon thy thanksgiving? since indeed, what thou art saying, he knoweth not;¹⁷ For, thou, indeed, excellently art giving thanks, but, the other, is not being built up.¹⁸ I give thanks unto God! - More than ye all, am I speaking with tongues;¹⁹ But, in assembly, I desire to speak five words with my mind, that, others also, I may instruct, than myriads of words in a tongue.²⁰ Brethren! do not become children, in your understandings; but, in baseness, become babes, while, in your understandings, ye become, full-grown.

²¹ In the law, it is written - With strange tongues, and with lips of strangers, will I speak unto this people; and, not even so, will they hearken unto me, - saith the Lord.²² So that, the tongues, are for a sign - not unto them that believe, but, unto them that believe not; whereas, prophesying, is not for them that believe not, but, for them that believe.²³ If, then, the whole assembly come together with one consent, and, all, are speaking with tongues, - and there come in persons unskilled or unbelieving, will they not say that ye are raving?²⁴ But, if, all, be prophesying, - and there come in one who is unbelieving or unskilled, he is convicted by all, he is searched by all, the secrets of his heart, become manifest,²⁵ And, so, falling down upon his face, he will do homage unto God, reporting that, in reality, God is, among you.

²⁶ What, then, is it, brethren? Whensoever ye are coming together, each one, hath a psalm, hath a teaching, hath a revelation, hath a tongue, hath a translation: - let, all things, be done, unto building up.²⁷ If, with a tongue, one is speaking, let it be by two, or, at the most, three, - and by turns; and let, one, be translating;²⁸ But, if there be none to translate, let him keep silence in assembly, and, unto himself, be speaking, and, unto God!²⁹ Prophets, moreover, let two or three speak, and let, the others, judge.³⁰ If, however, unto another, a revelation be made, as he is sitting, let the first be silent;³¹ For, one by one, ye can, all, be prophesying, - that, all, may learn, and, all, be encouraged.³² And, spirits of prophets, unto prophets, do submit themselves;³³ For God is not a God of confusion, but, of peace: - as in all the assemblies of the saints.

³⁴ As for the women, in the assemblies, let them be silent, for it is not permitted them to be speaking; but let them be in submission, - even as, the law, saith.³⁵ If, however, they are wishing to learn something, at home, their own husbands, let them question; for it is a shame for a woman to be speaking in assembly.

³⁶ Or, from you, did the word of God come forth? Or, unto you alone, did it extend?³⁷ If anyone thinketh himself to be a prophet, or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge the things which I am writing to you, - that they are, a commandment, of the Lord.³⁸ But, if anyone knoweth not, he is unknown!³⁹ So, then, my brethren, - be zealous to prophesy, and do not forbid, to be speaking with tongues;⁴⁰ But let, all things, with comeliness, and by arrangement, be done.