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Prophecy and Tongues

14 (A)Pursue love, yet (B)earnestly desire (C)spiritual gifts, but especially that you may (D)prophesy. For one who (E)speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one [a]understands, but [b]in his spirit he speaks (F)mysteries. But one who prophesies speaks to men for (G)edification and (H)exhortation and encouragement. One who (I)speaks in a tongue (J)edifies himself; but one who (K)prophesies (L)edifies the church. But I wish that you all (M)spoke in tongues, but (N)even more that you would prophesy. And greater is one who prophesies than one who (O)speaks in tongues, unless he [c]translates, so that the church may receive (P)edification.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 14:2 Lit hears
  2. 1 Corinthians 14:2 Or by the Spirit
  3. 1 Corinthians 14:5 Or interprets

Spiritual gifts and church order

14 Pursue love, and use your ambition to try to get spiritual gifts but especially so that you might prophesy. This is because those who speak in a tongue don’t speak to people but to God; no one understands it—they speak mysteries by the Spirit. Those who prophesy speak to people, building them up, and giving them encouragement and comfort. People who speak in a tongue build up themselves; those who prophesy build up the church. I wish that all of you spoke in tongues, but I’d rather you could prophesy. Those who prophesy are more important than those who speak in tongues, unless they are able to interpret them so that the church might be built up.

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