1 Corinthians 14:1-25 - Appropriate Use Of Prophecy And Tongues

¹ Pursue love, and be emulous of spiritual things, and rather that ye might prophesy. ² For he speaking in a tongue speaks not to men, but to God: (for none hears; and in the spirit he speaks mysteries.) ³ And he prophesying speaks to men for building the house, and entreaty, and encouragement. ⁴ And he speaking in a tongue builds himself; and he prophesying builds the church. ⁵ And I will ye all to speak with tongues, and rather that ye prophesy; for geater he prophesying, than he speaking with tongues, unless he interpret accurately, that the church receive building up.

⁶ And now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I speak to you either in revelation, or in knowledge, or in prophecy, or in teaching? ⁷ As inanimate things giving a voice, whether pipe or harp, if it give not a distinction to sounds, how shall the piping or harping be known? ⁸ For also if the trumpet give an uncertain voice, who shall prepare himself for war? ⁹ So also ye, except by the tongue ye give an evident word, how shall the speaking be known? for ye shall be speaking into the air. ¹⁰ If perchance, such kind of voices be in the world, and none of them speechless. ¹¹ If therefore I know not the power of the voice, I shall be to him speaking a foreigner, and he speaking a foreigner to me. ¹² So also ye, since ye are zealous of spirits, for the building up of the church seek that ye may abound.

¹³ Wherefore he speaking in a tongue, let, him pray that he might interpret. ¹⁴ For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, and my mind is unfruitful. ¹⁵ What therefore is it? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray also with the mind: I will play on the harp in the spirit, and I will play also on the harp in the mind. ¹⁶ When if thou praise in the spirit, how shall he filling the place of the private individual say Amen at thy thanksgiving) since he knows not what thou sayest ¹⁷ For thou truly givest thanks well, but the other is not built up. ¹⁸ I thank my God, speaking in tongues more than you all: ¹⁹ But in the church, I will to speak five words by my mind, that I might also sound. in the ears of others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

²⁰ Brethren, be not children in reflection: but in wickedness act like children, and in reflection be ye perfected. ²¹ It has been written in the law, That in other tongues and in other lips will I speak to this people; and not so will they hear me, says the Lord. ²² So that tongues are for a sign, not to the believing, but to the unbelieving: and the gift of prophecy, not to the unbelieving, but to the believing. ²³ If therefore the whole church come together upon the same, and all speak with tongues, and the private individual, or unbelieving, come in, will they not say that ye are enraged? ²⁴ And If all prophesy, and any unbelieving, or ignorant private individual come in, he is refuted by all, he is examined by all: ²⁵ And so the hidden things of his heart are made manifest; and so having fallen upon the face, he will worship God, proclaiming that God is truly with you.