1 Corinthians 14:1-19 (New American Standard)
View In My BibleProphecy a Superior Gift
1 1Pursue love, yet 2desire earnestly 3spiritual gifts, but especially that you may 4prophesy. 2 For one who 5speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God ; for no one aunderstands, but bin his spirit he speaks 6mysteries. 3 But one who prophesies speaks to men for 7edification and 8exhortation and consolation. 4 One who 9speaks in a tongue 10edifies himself ; but one who 11prophesies 12edifies the church. 5 Now I wish that you all 13spoke in tongues, but 14even more that you would prophesy ; and greater is one who prophesies than one who 15speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive 16edifying. 6 But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of 17revelation or of 18knowledge or of 19prophecy or of 20teaching ? 7 Yet even lifeless things, either flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp ? 8 For if 21the cbugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle ? 9 So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken ? For you will be 22speaking into the air. 10 There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of dlanguages in the world, and no kind is without meaning. 11 If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be to the one who speaks a e23barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a fbarbarian gto me. 12 So also you, since you are zealous of hspiritual gifts, seek to abound for the 24edification of the church. 13 Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15 25What is the outcome then ? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also ; I will 26sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also. 16 Otherwise if you bless iin the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the jungifted say 27the "Amen " at your 28giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying ? 17 For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not 29edified. 18 I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all ; 19 however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California. All rights reserved. (New American Standard Version - Holy Bible)
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