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

¹ Labour after charity, and be desirous of spiritual gifts: but especially that ye may prophesy. ² For he, that speaketh in an unknown tongue, speaketh not to men, but to God: for no one understandeth, though in spirit he speaketh mysteries. ³ But he, that prophesieth, speaketh edification, and exhortation, and comfort to men. ⁴ He, that speaketh in an unknown tongue, edifieth himself: but he, that prophesieth, edifieth the church. ⁵ I could wish that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edification.

⁶ Now, my brethren, if I come to you speaking with many tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak intelligibly to you of revelation, or knowledge, or prophecy, or doctrine? ⁷ As inanimate things which give a found, whether pipe or harp, unless they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall what is piped or harped be understood? ⁸ For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for the battle? ⁹ So also unless ye utter by the tongue intelligible words, how shall what is spoken be understood? for thus ye will be only talking to the wind. ¹⁰ There are, it may be, as many kinds of voices in the world as people, and none of them insignificant. ¹¹ But if I know not the force of the words, I shall be to him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh will be a barbarian to me. ¹² So ye also, since ye are so desirous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound in them to the edification of the church.

¹³ Wherefore let him, that speaketh in an unknown tongue, pray that he may interpret. ¹⁴ For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit indeed prayeth, but my meaning is fruitless. ¹⁵ What is then to be done? I will pray with the Spirit, but I will pray to be understood: I will sing with the spirit, but I will sing to be understood. ¹⁶ For if thou bless in the spirit, how shall the unlearned say Amen to thy thanksgiving, when he knoweth not what thou sayst? ¹⁷ thou indeed givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. ¹⁸ I thank God, I speak with tongues more than you all. ¹⁹ But in a public assembly I had rather speak five words to be understood, that I may instruct others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

²⁰ My brethren, be not children in sense: but in malice be infants, and in your judgements shew yourselves to be men. ²¹ It is written in the law, "By men of another language, and by other lips, will I speak to this people, and even so they will not listen to me, saith the Lord." ²² So that tongues are for a sign, not to believers but to unbelievers: but prophecy not to unbelievers but to those that believe. ²³ If then the whole church be come together and all speak in unknown tongues, and there come in illiterate persons, or infidels, will they not say that ye are mad? ²⁴ But if all prophesy, and there come in an unbeliever, or one unlearned, he is convinced by all, he is judged by all. ²⁵ And thus the secrets of his heart are made manifest; so that falling down upon his face he will worship God, declaring that God is indeed among you.