BLB(i)
1 Earnestly pursue love, and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, and especially that you might prophesy.
2 For the one speaking in a tongue speaks not to men, but to God. For no one hears, but in the Spirit he utters mysteries.
3 But the one prophesying speaks to men for edification and encouragement and consolation.
4 The one speaking in a tongue edifies himself, but the one prophesying edifies the church.
5 Now I desire you all to speak in tongues, but rather that you should prophesy. Now the one prophesying is greater than the one speaking in tongues, unless he should interpret, so that the church might receive edification.
6 But now brothers, if I should come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you, unless I should speak to you either in revelation, or in knowledge, or in prophecy, or in teaching?
7 Even lifeless things giving a sound, whether the flute or harp, unless they give distinction to the sounds, how will it be known what is being piped or being harped?
8 And indeed if the trumpet gives an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle?
9 So also you, unless you give intelligible speech with the tongue, how will it be known what is being spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.
10 There are, if it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none without meaning.
11 Therefore unless I know the power of the sound, I will be a barbarian to the one speaking, and the one speaking, a barbarian to me.
12 So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, search for the edification of the church, that you should cause it to abound.
13 Therefore he who speaks in a tongue, let him pray that he might interpret.
14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
15 What then is it? I will pray with the spirit, but also I will pray with the mind. I will sing praise with the spirit, but also I will sing praise with the mind.
16 Otherwise if you bless with the spirit, how will the one filling the place of the uninstructed say the “Amen” at your thanksgiving, since he knows not what you say?
17 For truly you are giving thanks well, but the other is not edified.
18 I thank God, speaking in tongues more than all of you.
19 But in the church, I desire to speak five words with my mind, that also I might instruct others, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20 Brothers, do not be children in the minds. Yet in the evil, be little children; but in the thinking, be full grown.
21 In the Law it has been written: “By other tongues, and by other lips, I will speak to this people, and not even thus will they hear Me, says the Lord.”
22 So then, tongues are for a sign, not to those believing, but to the unbelieving; but prophecy is not to the unbelieving, but to the believing.
23 Therefore if the whole church gathers together in one place and all should speak in tongues, but uninstructed ones or unbelievers come in, will not they say that you are mad?
24 But if all prophesy, and some unbeliever or uninstructed should come in, he is convicted by all, he is examined by all,
25 and the secrets of his heart become manifest. And thus having fallen upon his face, he will worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you.