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¹ Follow after love; yet desire earnestly spiritual [gifts], but rather that you may prophesy.² For he that speaks in a tongue speaks not to men, but to God; for no man understands; but in the spirit he speaks mysteries.³ But he that prophesies speaks to men edification, and exhortation, and consolation.⁴ He that speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but he that prophesies edifies the church.⁵ Now I would have you all speak with tongues, but rather that you should prophesy: and greater is he that prophesies than he that speaks with tongues, except he interprets, that the church may receive edifying.

⁶ But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching?⁷ Even things without life, giving a voice, whether pipe or harp, if they don't give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?⁸ For if the trumpet gives an uncertain voice, who shall prepare himself for war?⁹ So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech easy to understand, how shall it be known what is spoken? for you will be speaking into the air.¹⁰ There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and no [kind] is without significance.¹¹ If then I don't know the meaning of the voice, I shall be to him that speaks a barbarian, and he that speaks will be a barbarian to me.¹² So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual [gifts], seek that you may abound to the edifying of the church.¹³ Therefore let him that speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.¹⁴ For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

¹⁵ What is it then? 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.¹⁶ Or else if you bless in the spirit, how shall he that fills the place of the unlearned say the Amen at your giving of thanks, seeing he doesn't know what you say?¹⁷ For you truly give thanks well, but the other is not edified.¹⁸ I thank God, I speak with tongues more than all of you:¹⁹ nevertheless in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.²⁰ Brothers, don't be children in mind: yet in malice be babes, but in mind be men.

²¹ In the law it is written, By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people; and not even thus will they hear me, says the Lord.²² Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those that believe, but to the unbelieving: but prophesying [is for a sign], not to the unbelieving, but to those that believe.²³ If therefore the whole church is assembled together and all speak with tongues, and unlearned or unbelieving men come in, will they not say that you are insane?²⁴ But if all prophesy, and an unbelieving or unlearned one comes in, he is reproved by all, he is judged by all;²⁵ the secrets of his heart are made manifest; and so he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeed.

²⁶ What is it then, brothers? 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 to edifying.²⁷ If any man speaks in a tongue, [let it be] by two, or at the most three, and [that] in turn; and let one interpret:²⁸ but if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.²⁹ And let the prophets speak [by] two or three, and let the others discern.³⁰ But if a revelation is made to another sitting by, let the first keep silent.³¹ For you all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be exhorted;³² and the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets;³³ for God is not [a God] of confusion, but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,

³⁴ let the women keep silent in the churches: for it is not permitted to them to speak; but let them be in subjection, as also the law says.³⁵ 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.

³⁶ What? was it from you that the word of God went forth? or did it come to you alone?³⁷ If any man thinks himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him take knowledge of the things which I write to you, that they are the commandment of the Lord.³⁸ But if any man ignores [this], he is [to be] ignored.³⁹ Therefore, my brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.⁴⁰ But let all things be done decently and in order.