1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. |
2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. |
3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. |
4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. |
5 I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. |
6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? |
7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? |
8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? |
9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air. |
10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. |
11 Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me. |
12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. |
