1. Love, then, is what you should try for. And you should truly want to have the spiritual gifts. And the gift you should want most is to be able to prophesy.
2. I will explain why. One who has the gift of speaking in a different language is not speaking to people. He is speaking to God. No one understands him—he is speaking secret things through the Spirit.
3. But one who prophesies is speaking to people. He gives people strength, encouragement, and comfort.
4. The one who speaks in a different language is helping only himself. But the one who prophesies is helping the whole church.
5. I would like all of you to have the gift of speaking in different kinds of languages. But more, I want you to prophesy. The person who prophesies is greater than the one who can only speak in different languages—unless someone is there who can explain what he says. Then the whole church can be helped.
6. Brothers, will it help you if I come to you speaking in different languages? No! It will help you only if I bring you a new truth or some knowledge, or some prophecy, or some teaching.
7. It is the same as with non-living things that make sounds—like a flute or a harp. If different musical notes are not made clear, you will not know what song is being played. Each note must be played clearly for you to be able to understand the tune.
8. And in a war, if the trumpet does not sound clearly, the soldiers will not know it is time to prepare for fighting.
9. It is the same with you. The words you speak with your tongue must be clear. Unless you speak clearly, no one can understand what you are saying. You will be talking in the air!
10. It is true that there are many kinds of speech in the world. And they all have meaning.
11. So unless I understand the meaning of what someone says to me, we will be like strangers to each other.