New Testament in a Year

14 Follow after love and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. ² For he who speaks in another language speaks not to men, but to God, for no one understands, but in the Spirit he speaks mysteries. ³ But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, exhortation, and consolation. ⁴ He who speaks in another language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the assembly. ⁵ Now I desire to have you all speak with other languages, but even more that you would prophesy. For he is greater who prophesies than he who speaks with other languages, unless he interprets, that the assembly may be built up.

⁶ But now, brothers,^[a] if I come to you speaking with other languages, what would I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching? ⁷ Even lifeless things that make a sound, whether pipe or harp, if they didn’t give a distinction in the sounds, how would it be known what is piped or harped? ⁸ For if the trumpet gave an uncertain sound, who would prepare himself for war? ⁹ So also you, unless you uttered by the tongue words easy to understand, how would it be known what is spoken? For you would be speaking into the air. ¹⁰ There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without meaning. ¹¹ If then I don’t know the meaning of the language, I would be to him who speaks a foreigner, and he who speaks would be a foreigner to me. ¹² So also you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound to the building up of the assembly.

¹³ Therefore let him who speaks in another language pray that he may interpret. ¹⁴ For if I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

¹⁵ What should I do? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also. I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. ¹⁶ Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who fills the place of the unlearned say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks, seeing he doesn’t know what you say? ¹⁷ For you most certainly give thanks well, but the other person is not built up. ¹⁸ I thank my God, I speak with other languages more than you all. ¹⁹ However, in the assembly I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in another language.

²⁰ Brothers, don’t be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature.