Dual Panel1Make love your aim; then be eager for the gifts of the Spirit, above all for prophecy.
2If anyone speaks in tongues he is talking with God, not with men and women; no one understands him, for he speaks divine mysteries in the Spirit.
3On the other hand, if anyone prophesies, he is talking to men and women, and his words have power to build; they stimulate and they encourage.
4Speaking in tongues may build up the speaker himself, but it is prophecy that builds up a Christian community.
5I am happy for you all to speak in tongues, but happier still for you to prophesy. The prophet is worth more than one who speaks in tongues -- unless indeed he can explain its meaning, and so help to build up the community.
6Suppose, my friends, that when I come to you I speak in tongues: what good shall I do you unless what I say contains something by way of revelation, or enlightenment, or prophecy, or instruction?
7Even with inanimate things that produce sounds -- a flute, say, or a lyre -- unless their notes are distinct, how can you tell what tune is being played?
8Or again, if the trumpet-call is not clear, who will prepare for battle?
9In the same way, if what you say in tongues yields no precise meaning, how can anyone tell what is being said? You will be talking to empty air.
10There are any number of different languages in the world; nowhere is without language.
11If I do not know the speaker's language, his words will be gibberish to me, and mine to him.
12You are, I know, eager for gifts of the Spirit; then aspire above all to excel in those which build up the church.
13Anyone who speaks in tongues should pray for the ability to interpret.
14If I use such language in prayer, my spirit prays, but my mind is barren.
15What then? I will pray with my spirit, but also with my mind; I will sing hymns with my spirit, but with my mind as well.
16Suppose you are praising God with the spirit alone: how will an ordinary person who is present be able to say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, when he does not know what you are saying?
17Your prayer of thanksgiving may be splendid, but it is no help to the other person.
18Thank God, I am more gifted in tongues than any of you,
19but in the congregation I would rather speak five intelligible words, for the benefit of others as well as myself, than thousands of words in the language of ecstasy.
20Do not be children in your thinking, my friends; be infants in evil, but in your thinking be grown-up.
21We read in the law: “I will speak to this people through strange tongues, and by the lips of foreigners; and even so they will not heed me, says the Lord.”
22Clearly then these “strange tongues” are not intended as a sign for believers, but for unbelievers, whereas prophecy is designed not for unbelievers but for believers.
23So if the whole congregation is assembled and all are using the “strange tongues” of ecstasy, and some uninstructed persons or unbelievers should enter, will they not think you are mad?
24But if all are uttering prophecies, the visitor, when he enters, hears from everyone something that searches his conscience and brings conviction,
25and the secrets of his heart are laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, declaring, “God is certainly among you!”
26To sum up, my friends: when you meet for worship, each of you contributing a hymn, some instruction, a revelation, an ecstatic utterance, or its interpretation, see that all of these aim to build up the church.
27If anyone speaks in tongues, only two should speak, or at most three, one at a time, and someone must interpret.
28If there is no interpreter, they should keep silent and speak to themselves and to God.
29Of the prophets, two or three may speak, while the rest exercise their judgement upon what is said.
30If someone else present receives a revelation, let the first speaker stop.
31You can all prophesy, one at a time, so that all may receive instruction and encouragement.
32It is for prophets to control prophetic inspiration,
33for God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all congregations of God's people,
34women should keep silent at the meeting. They have no permission to talk, but should keep their place as the law directs.
35If there is something they want to know, they can ask their husbands at home. It is a shocking thing for a woman to talk at the meeting.
36Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people to whom it came?
37If anyone claims to be inspired or a prophet, let him recognize that what I write has the Lord's authority.
38If he does not acknowledge this, his own claim cannot be acknowledged.
39In short, my friends, be eager to prophesy; do not forbid speaking in tongues;
40but let all be done decently and in order.