1. Pursue charity. Be zealous for spiritual things, but only so that you may prophesy.
2. For whoever speaks in tongues, speaks not to men, but to God. For no one understands. Yet by the Spirit, he speaks mysteries.
3. But whoever prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation.
4. Whoever speaks in tongues edifies himself. But whoever prophesies edifies the Church.
5. Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but more so to prophesy. For he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks in tongues, unless perhaps he interprets, so that the Church may receive edification.
6. But now, brothers, if I were to come to you speaking in tongues, how would it benefit you, unless instead I speak to you in revelation, or in knowledge, or in prophecy, or in doctrine?
7. Even those things that are without a soul can make sounds, whether it is a wind or a stringed instrument. But unless they present a distinction within the sounds, how will it be known which is from the pipe and which is from the string?
8. For example, if the trumpet made an uncertain sound, who would prepare himself for battle?