1 Corinthians 14

¹Follow after charity, be zealous for spiritual gifts; but rather that you may prophesy.

²For he that speaketh in a tongue, speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man heareth. Yet by the Spirit he speaketh mysteries.

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

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

⁵And I would have you all to speak with tongues, but rather to prophesy. For greater is he that prophesieth, than he that speaketh with tongues: unless perhaps he interpret, that the church may receive edification.

⁶But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak to you either in revelation, or in knowledge, or in prophecy, or in doctrine?

⁷Even things without life that give sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction of sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

⁸For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

⁹So likewise you, except you utter by the tongue plain speech, how shall it be known what is said? For you shall be speaking into the air.

¹⁰There are, for example, so many kinds of tongues in this world; and none is without voice.

¹¹If then I know not the power of the voice, I shall be to him to whom I speak a barbarian; and he that speaketh, a barbarian to me.

So you also, forasmuch as you are zealous of spirits, seek to abound unto the edifying of the church.