Prophecy a Superior Gift
1 Pursue [this] love [with eagerness, make it your goal], yet earnestly desireandcultivate the spiritualgifts[to be used by believers for the benefit of the church], but especially that you mayprophesy [to foretell the future, to speak a new message from God to the people].
2 For one who speaks in anunknowntongue does not speak to people but to God; for no one understands himorcatches his meaning, but by the Spirit he speaks mysteries [secret truths, hidden things].
3 But [on the other hand] the one who prophesies speaks to people for edification [to promote their spiritual growth] and [speaks words of] encouragement [to uphold and advise them concerning the matters of God] and [speaks words of] consolation [to compassionately comfort them].
4 One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church [promotes growth in spiritual wisdom, devotion, holiness, and joy].
5 Now I wish that all of you spoke inunknowntongues, butevenmore [I wish] that you would prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater [and more useful] than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he translatesorexplains [what he says], so that the church maybe edified [instructed, improved, strengthened].
6 Now, believers, if I come to you speaking inunknowntongues, how will I benefit you unless I also speak to you [clearly] either by revelation [revealing God’s mystery], or by knowledge [teaching about God], or by prophecy [foretelling the future, speaking a new message from God to the people], or by instruction [teaching precepts that develop spiritual maturity]?
7 Yetevenlifeless things, whether flute or harp, when producing a sound, if they do not produce distinct [musical] tones, how will anyone [listening] know what is piped or played?
8 And if the [war] bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle?
9 So it is with you, if you speak words [in an unknown tongue] that are not intelligibleandclear, how will anyone understand what you are saying? You will be talking into the air [wasting your breath]!
10 There are, I suppose, a great many kinds of languages in the world [unknown to us], and none is lacking in meaning.
11 But if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will [appear to] be aforeigner to the one who is speaking [since he knows exactly what he is saying], and the one who is speaking will [appear to] be a foreigner to me.
12 So it is with you, since you are so very eager to have spiritual giftsandmanifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in ways that will build up the church [spiritually].
13 Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may [be gifted to] translateorexplain [what he says].
14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive [because it does not understand what my spirit is praying].
15 Then what am I to do? I will pray with thespirit [by the Holy Spirit that is within me] and I will pray with the mind [using words I understand]; I will sing with the spirit [by the Holy Spirit that is within me] and I will sing with the mind [using words I understand].
16 Otherwise if you bless [and give thanks to God] in the spirit only, how will any outsiderorsomeone who is not gifted [in spiritual matters] say the “Amen” [of agreement] to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?
17 You are giving thanks well enough [in a way that God is glorified], but the other person [who does not understand you] is not edified [and spiritually strengthened since he cannot join in your thanksgiving].
18 I thank God that I speak in [unknown] tongues more than all of you;
19 nevertheless, in public worship I would rather say fiveunderstandablewords in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue [which others cannot understand].
Instruction for the Church
20 Brothers and sisters, do not be children [immature, childlike] in your thinking; be infants in [matters of] evil [completely innocent and inexperienced], but in your minds be mature [adults].
21 It is written in the Law, “By men of strange tongues and by the lips of foreignersIwill speak to this people,and not even then will they listen toMe,” says the Lord.
22 Therefore, [unknown] tongues are [meant] for a [supernatural] sign, not to believers but to unbelievers [who might be receptive]; while prophecy [foretelling the future, speaking a new message from God to the people] is not for unbelievers but for believers.
23 So then, if the whole church gathers together and all of you speak in [unknown] tongues, and outsidersorthose who are not gifted [in spiritual matters] or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?
24 But if all prophesy [foretelling the future, speaking a new message from God to the people], and an unbeliever or outsider comes in, he is convicted [of his sins] by all, and he is called to account by all [because he can understand what is being said];
25 the secrets of his heart are laid bare. And so, falling on his face, he will worship God, declaring that God is really among you.
26 What then isthe right course,believers? When you meet together, each one has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation (disclosure of special knowledge), a tongue,oran interpretation. Let everything be constructiveandedifyinganddone for the good of all the church.
27 If anyone speaks in a tongue,it should be limitedto two or at the most three, andeach one speakingin turn, and one must interpret [what is said].
28 But if there is no one to interpret, the one [who wishes to speak in a tongue] must keep silent in church; let him speak to himself and to God.
29 Let two or three prophets speak [as inspired by the Holy Spirit], while the rest pay attentionandweigh carefully what is said.
30 But if an inspired revelation is made to another who is seated, then the first one must be silent.
31 For [in this way] you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may be instructed and everyone may be encouraged;
32 for the spirits of prophets are subject to the prophets [the prophecy is under the speaker’s control, and he can stop speaking];
33 for God [who is the source of their prophesying] is nota Godof confusionanddisorder but of peaceandorder.
As [is the practice] in all the churches of the saints (God’s people),
34 thewomen should be silent in the churches, for they are not authorized to speak, but are to take a subordinate place, as the Law says.
35 If there is anything they want to learn [that is, if they have questions about anything being said or taught], they are to ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for awoman to talk in church.
36 Did the word of the Lord originate from you [Corinthians], or has it come to you only [so that you know best what God requires]?
37 If anyone thinksandclaims that he is a prophet [a true spokesman for God] or spiritually astute [filled with and energized by the Holy Spirit], let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment.
38 If anyone does not recognize this [that it is a command of the Lord], he is not recognized [by God].
39 Therefore, believers, desire earnestly to prophesy [to foretell the future, to speak a new message from God to the people], and do not forbid speaking inunknowntongues.
40 But all things must be done appropriately and in an orderly manner.