1 Corinthians 14:1-5

New International Reader's Version

Worship in a Way That Helps People Understand

14 Follow the way of love. You should also want the gifts the Holy Spirit gives. Most of all, you should want the gift of prophecy. ² Anyone who speaks in a language they had not known before doesn’t speak to people. They speak only to God. In fact, no one understands them. What they say by the Spirit remains a mystery. ³ But the person who prophesies speaks to people. That person prophesies to make people stronger, to give them hope, and to comfort them. ⁴ Anyone who speaks in other languages builds up only themselves. But the person who prophesies builds up the church. ⁵ I would like all of you to speak in other languages. But I would rather have you prophesy. The person who prophesies is more helpful than those who speak in other languages. But that is not the case if someone explains what was said in the other languages. Then the whole church can be built up.