1 Corinthians 14

¹Follow after love; yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

²For he that speaketh in a tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God; for no man understandeth; but in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

³But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men edification, and exhortation, and consolation.

⁴He that speaketh in a tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

⁵Now I would have you all speak with tongues, but rather that ye should prophesy: and greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

⁶But now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching?

⁷Even things without life, giving a voice, whether pipe or harp, if they give not a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

⁸For if the trumpet give an uncertain voice, who shall prepare himself for war?

⁹So also ye, unless ye utter by the tongue speech easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye will be speaking into the air.

¹⁰There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and no kind is without signification.

¹¹If then I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be to him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh will be a barbarian unto me.