1. Follow after love, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that you may prophesy.
2. For he that speaks in an unknown tongue speaks not unto men, but unto God: for no man understands him; but in the spirit he speaks mysteries.
3. But he that prophesies speaks unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
4. He that speaks in an unknown tongue edifies himself; but he that prophesies edifies the church.
5. I would that you all spoke with tongues, but rather that you prophesied: for greater is he that prophesies than he that speaks with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
6. Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
7. And even things without life which give sound, whether flute or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is played?
8. For if the trumpet gives an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself for the battle?
9. So likewise you, except you utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for you shall speak into the air.
10. There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without meaning.
11. Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaks a foreigner, and he that speaks shall be a foreigner unto me.
12. Even so you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that you may excel to the edifying of the church.
13. Therefore let him that speaks in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.
14. For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
15. What is it then? 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. Else when you shall bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupies the place of the unlearned say Amen at your giving of thanks, seeing he understands not what you said?
17. For you verily give thanks well, but the other is not edified.
18. I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than you all:
19. Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.