16 Now the word of the Lord came to Jehu^(A) son of Hanani^(B) against Baasha: ² “Because I raised you up from the dust^(C) and made you ruler over My people Israel,^(D) but you have walked in the way of Jeroboam and have caused My people Israel to sin,^(E) provoking Me with their sins, ³ take note: I will sweep away Baasha and his house, and I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat:^(F)

⁵ The rest of the events of Baasha’s reign, along with all his accomplishments and might, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.^{(H) 6} Baasha rested with his fathers and was buried in Tirzah. His son Elah became king in his place. ⁷ Through the prophet Jehu^(I) son of Hanani the word of the Lord also came against Baasha and against his house because of all the evil he had done in the Lord’s sight, provoking Him with the work of his hands and being like the house of Jeroboam, and because Baasha had struck down the house of Jeroboam.^(J)

Israel’s King Elah

⁸ In the twenty-sixth year of Judah’s King Asa, Elah son of Baasha became king over Israel and reigned in Tirzah^(K) two years.

⁹ His servant Zimri,^(L) commander of half his chariots, conspired against him while Elah was in Tirzah getting drunk^(M) in the house of Arza, who was in charge of the household^(N) at Tirzah. ¹⁰ In the twenty-seventh year of Judah’s King Asa, Zimri went in, struck Elah down, killing him. Then Zimri became king in his place.^(O)

¹¹ When he became king, as soon as he was seated on his throne, Zimri struck down the entire house of Baasha. He did not leave a single male,^[a](P) including his kinsmen and his friends. ¹² So Zimri destroyed the entire house of Baasha, according to the word of the Lord He had spoken against Baasha through Jehu the prophet.^{(Q) 13} This happened because of all the sins of Baasha and those of his son Elah, which they committed and caused Israel to commit, provoking the Lord God of Israel^(R) with their worthless idols.^(S)

¹⁴ The rest of the events of Elah’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings.^(T)

Israel’s King Zimri

¹⁵ In the twenty-seventh year of Judah’s King Asa, Zimri became king for seven days in Tirzah.^(U) Now the troops were encamped against Gibbethon of the Philistines.^{(V) 16} When these troops heard that Zimri had not only conspired but had also struck down the king, then all Israel made Omri, the army commander, king over Israel that very day in the camp. ¹⁷ Omri along with all Israel marched up from Gibbethon and besieged Tirzah.^{(W) 18} When Zimri saw that the city was captured, he entered the citadel of the royal palace and burned it down over himself. He died ¹⁹ because of the sin he committed by doing what was evil in the Lord’s sight and by following the example of Jeroboam and the sin he caused Israel to commit.^(X)

²⁰ The rest of the events of Zimri’s reign, along with the conspiracy that he instigated, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings. ²¹ At that time the people of Israel were divided: half the people followed Tibni son of Ginath, to make him king, and half followed Omri. ²² However, the people who followed Omri proved stronger than those who followed Tibni son of Ginath. So Tibni died and Omri became king.

Israel’s King Omri

²³ In the thirty-first year of Judah’s King Asa, Omri became king over Israel and reigned 12 years. He reigned six years in Tirzah,^{(Y) 24} then he bought the hill of Samaria^(Z) from Shemer for 150 pounds^[b] of silver, and he built up the hill. He named the city he built Samaria^[c] based on the name Shemer, the owner of the hill.

²⁵ Omri did what was evil in the Lord’s sight; he did more evil than all who were before him.^{(AA) 26} He followed the example of Jeroboam son of Nebat and in his sins that he caused Israel to commit, provoking the Lord God of Israel with their worthless idols.^{(AB) 27} The rest of the events of Omri’s reign, along with his accomplishments and the might he exercised, are written in the Historical Record of Israel’s Kings. ²⁸ Omri rested with his fathers and was buried in Samaria. His son Ahab became king in his place.

Israel’s King Ahab

²⁹ Ahab son of Omri became king over Israel in the thirty-eighth year of Judah’s King Asa; Ahab son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria 22 years. ³⁰ But Ahab son of Omri did what was evil in the Lord’s sight more than all who were before him.^{(AC) 31} Then, as if following the sin of Jeroboam son of Nebat were a trivial matter, he married Jezebel,^(AD) the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians,^(AE) and then proceeded to serve Baal and worship him.^{(AF) 32} He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal^(AG) that he had built in Samaria. ³³ Ahab also made an Asherah pole.^(AH) Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel than all the kings of Israel who were before him.^(AI)

³⁴ During his reign, Hiel the Bethelite built Jericho. At the cost of Abiram his firstborn, he laid its foundation, and at the cost of Segub his youngest, he set up its gates, according to the word of the Lord He had spoken through Joshua son of Nun.^(AJ)

Prophecy: A Superior Gift

14 Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, and above all that you may prophesy. ² For the person who speaks in another language^(A) is not speaking to men but to God, since no one understands him; however, he speaks mysteries in the Spirit.^{[a] 3} But the person who prophesies speaks to people for edification, encouragement, and consolation. ⁴ The person who speaks in another language builds himself up, but he who prophesies builds up the church. ⁵ I 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.

⁶ But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in other languages, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you with a revelation^(B) or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? ⁷ Even inanimate things that produce sounds—whether flute or harp^(C)—if they don’t make a distinction in the notes, how will what is played on the flute or harp be recognized? ⁸ In fact, if the trumpet makes an unclear sound, who will prepare for battle?^{(D) 9} In 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. ¹⁰ There are doubtless many different kinds of languages in the world, and all have meaning.^{[b] 11} Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner^[c] to the speaker, and the speaker will be a foreigner to me. ¹² So also you—since you are zealous^(E) for spiritual gifts,^[d](F) seek to excel in building up the church.

¹³ Therefore the person who speaks in another language should pray that he can interpret. ¹⁴ For if I pray in another language, my spirit^(G) prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.^{(H) 15} What 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. ¹⁶ Otherwise, if you praise with the spirit,^[e] how will the uninformed person^[f] say “Amen”^(I) at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? ¹⁷ For you may very well be giving thanks, but the other person is not being built up. ¹⁸ I thank^(J) God that I speak in other languages more than all of you; ¹⁹ yet in the church I would rather speak five words^(K) with my understanding, in order to teach others also, than 10,000 words in another language.

²⁰ Brothers, don’t be childish in your thinking, but be infants in regard to evil and adult in your thinking.^{(L) 21} It is written in the law:

says the Lord. ²² It follows that speaking in other languages is intended as a sign,^[h] not for believers but for unbelievers. But prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers. ²³ Therefore, 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? ²⁴ But if all are prophesying and some unbeliever or uninformed person comes in, he is convicted by all and is judged by all. ²⁵ The secrets of his heart will be revealed, and as a result he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is really among you.”^(N)

Order in Church Meetings

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

As in all the churches of the saints,^{(R) 34} the women^[j] should be silent in the churches,^(S) for they are not permitted to speak, but should be submissive, as the law also says. ³⁵ And if they want to learn something, they should ask their own husbands^(T) at home, for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church meeting. ³⁶ Did the word of God originate from you, or did it come to you only?

³⁷ If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, he should recognize that what I write to you is the Lord’s command. ³⁸ But if anyone ignores this, he will be ignored.^{[k] 39} Therefore, my brothers, be eager^(U) to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in other languages. ⁴⁰ But everything must be done decently^(V) and in order.