Book of Common Prayer

Paul shows that the gift of prophecy (that is, of interpreting or preaching) excels the gift of languages, and how they both ought to be used.

14 Labour for love, and covet spiritual gifts, and most chiefly to prophesy. ² For he who speaks in an unknown tongue speaks not to people, but to God, for no one understands him. However, in the Spirit he speaks mysteries. ³ But he who prophesies speaks to people, for edifying, for exhortation, and for comfort. ⁴ He who speaks in an unknown tongue, profits himself; he who prophesies, edifies the congregation.

⁵ I would that you all spoke with tongues, but rather that you prophesied. For greater is he who prophesies than he who speaks with tongues – unless he expounds it also, so that the congregation may have edifying. ⁶ Now brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, how do I profit you, unless I speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by instruction?

⁷ Moreover, when things without life give sound, whether it be a pipe or a harp, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how can it be known what is piped or harped? ⁸ And also, if the trumpet gives an uncertain call, who will prepare himself to fight? ⁹ So also likewise, when you speak with tongues, unless you speak words that have meaning, how can it be understood what is spoken? For you will be but speaking in the air.

¹⁰ Many kinds of voices are in the world, and none of them are without signification. ¹¹ If I do not know what the voice means, I will be as a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me. ¹² So then, since you covet spiritual gifts, seek to have them in plenty for the edifying of the congregation.

¹⁶ Behold, I send you forth as sheep among wolves. Be therefore wise as serpents and innocent as doves. ¹⁷ Beware of men, for they will deliver you up to the councils, and will scourge you in their synagogues. ¹⁸ And you will be brought to the head governors and kings for my sake, in witness to them and to the Gentiles.

¹⁹ But when they deliver you up, do not be anxious about how or what you will speak, for it will be given you even in that same hour what you should say. ²⁰ For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

²¹ Brother will betray brother to death, and the father the son. And children will arise against their fathers and mothers, and will put them to death. ²² And you will be hated by all men for my name. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. ²³ When they persecute you in one place, flee into another. I tell you for a truth, you will not finish all the cities of Israel before the Son of man comes.