Prophecy: A Superior Gift

1Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, and above all that you may prophesy. 2For the person who speaks in another •languagea is not speaking to men but to God, since no one understands him; however, he speaks •mysteries in the Spirit.b 3But the person who prophesies speaks to people for edification, encouragement, and consolation. 4The person who speaks in another language builds himself up, but he who prophesies builds up the church. 5I wish all of you spoke in other languages, but even more that you prophesied. The person who prophesies is greater than the person who speaks in languages, unless he interprets so that the church may be built up.

6But now, •brothers, if I come to you speaking in other languages, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you with a revelationc or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7Even inanimate things that produce sounds — whether flute or harpd — if they don’t make a distinction in the notes, how will what is played on the flute or harp be recognized? 8In fact, if the trumpet makes an unclear sound, who will prepare for battle?e 9In the same way, unless you use your tongue for intelligible speech, how will what is spoken be known? For you will be speaking into the air. 10There are doubtless many different kinds of languages in the world, and all have meaning.f 11Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreignerg to the speaker, and the speaker will be a foreigner to me. 12So also you — since you are zealoush for spiritual gifts,i, j seek to excel in building up the church.

13Therefore the person who speaks in another language should pray that he can interpret. 14For if I pray in another language, my spiritk prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.l 15What then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with my understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with my understanding. 16Otherwise, if you praise with the spirit,m how will the uninformed personn say “•Amen”o at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? 17For you may very well be giving thanks, but the other person is not being built up. 18I thankp God that I speak in other languages more than all of you; 19yet in the church I would rather speak five wordsq with my understanding, in order to teach others also, than 10,000 words in another language.

20Brothers, don’t be childish in your thinking, but be infants in regard to evil and adult in your thinking.r 21It is written in the law:

I will speak to these people

by people of other languages

and by the lips of foreigners,

and even then, they will not listen to Me,s, t

says the Lord. 22It follows that speaking in other languages is intended as a sign,u not for believers but for unbelievers. But prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers. 23Therefore, if the whole church assembles together and all are speaking in other languages and people who are uninformed or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds? 24But if all are prophesying and some unbeliever or uninformed person comes in, he is convicted by all and is judged by all. 25The secrets of his heart will be revealed, and as a result he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is really among you.”v

Order in Church Meetings

26What then is the conclusion, brothers? Whenever you come together, each onew has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, another language, or an interpretation.x All things must be done for edification. 27If any person speaks in another language, there should be only two, or at the most three, each in turn, and someone must interpret. 28But if there is no interpreter, that person should keep silent in the church and speak to himself and to God. 29Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should evaluate.y 30But if something has been revealed to another person sitting there, the first prophet should be silent. 31For you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may learn and everyone may be encouraged.z 32And the prophets’ spirits are under the control of the prophets, 33since God is not a God of disorder but of peace.

As in all the churches of the •saints,aa 34the womenab should be silent in the churches,ac for they are not permitted to speak, but should be submissive, as the law also says. 35And if they want to learn something, they should ask their own husbandsad at home, for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church meeting. 36Did the word of God originate from you, or did it come to you only?

37If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, he should recognize that what I write to you is the Lord’s command. 38But if anyone ignores this, he will be ignored.ae 39Therefore, my brothers, be eageraf to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in other languages. 40But everything must be done decentlyag and in order.