¹Follow after love and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy .

²For he who speaks in another language speaks not to men , but to God , for no one understands, but in the Spirit he speaks mysteries .

³But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification , exhortation , and consolation .

⁴He who speaks in another language edifies himself , but he who prophesies edifies the assembly .

⁵Now I desire to have you all speak with other languages , but even more that you would prophesy . For he is greater who prophesies than he who speaks with other languages , unless he interprets , that the assembly may be built up .

⁶But now , brothers, if I come to you speaking with other languages , what would I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge , or of prophesying , or of teaching ?[#14:6 The word for “brothers” here and where context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”]

⁷Even lifeless things that make a sound , whether pipe or harp , if they didn’t give a distinction in the sounds , how would it be known what is piped or harped ?

⁸For if the trumpet gave an uncertain sound , who would prepare himself for war ?

⁹So also you , unless you uttered by the tongue words easy to understand , how would it be known what is spoken ? For you would be speaking into the air.

¹⁰There are , it may be , so many kinds of languages in the world , and none of them is without meaning.

¹¹If then I don’t know the meaning of the language , I would be to him who speaks a foreigner, and he who speaks would be a foreigner to me .

¹²So also you , since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound to the building up of the assembly .

¹³Therefore let him who speaks in another language pray that he may interpret .

¹⁴For if I pray in another language , my spirit prays , but my understanding is unfruitful.

¹⁵What should I do ? 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 .

¹⁶Otherwise , if you bless with the spirit , how will he who fills the place of the unlearned say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks , seeing he doesn’t know what you say ?

¹⁷For you most certainly give thanks well , but the other person is not built up .

¹⁸I thank my God , I speak with other languages more than you all .

¹⁹However, in the assembly I would rather speak five words with my understanding , that I might instruct others also , than ten thousand words in another language .

²⁰Brothers, don’t be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature .

²¹In the law it is written , “By men of strange languages and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people . They won’t even listen to me that way , says the Lord .”[#Isaiah 28:11-12]

²²Therefore other languages are for a sign , not to those who believe , but to the unbelieving; but prophesying is for a sign , not to the unbelieving, but to those who believe .

²³If therefore the whole assembly is assembled together and all speak with other languages , and unlearned or unbelieving people come in , won’t they say that you are crazy?

²⁴But if all prophesy , and someone unbelieving or unlearned comes in , he is reproved by all , and he is judged by all .

²⁵And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed . So he will fall down on his face and worship God , declaring that God is amongst you indeed .

²⁶What is it then , brothers? When you come together , each one of you has a psalm , has a teaching , has a revelation, has another language , or has an interpretation . Let all things be done to build each other up .

²⁷If any man speaks in another language , let there be two , or at the most three , and in turn ; and let one interpret .

²⁸But if there is no interpreter , let him keep silent in the assembly , and let him speak to himself and to God .

²⁹Let two or three of the prophets speak , and let the others discern .

³⁰But if a revelation is made to another sitting by , let the first keep silent .

³¹For you all can prophesy one by one , that all may learn and all may be exhorted .

³²The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets ,

³³for God is not a God of confusion but of peace , as in all the assemblies of the saints.

³⁴Let the wives be quiet in the assemblies , for it has not been permitted for them to be talking except in submission, as the law also says ,[#Deuteronomy 27:9]

³⁵if they desire to learn anything . “Let them ask their own husbands at home , for it is shameful for a wife to be talking in the assembly .”

³⁶What !? Was it from you that the word of God went out ? Or did it come to you alone ?

³⁷If any man thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual , let him recognise the things which I write to you , that they are the commandment of the Lord .

³⁸But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

³⁹Therefore , brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy , and don’t forbid speaking with other languages .

⁴⁰Let all things be done decently and in order .