1Pursue love, and be eager for the spiritual things, and especially that you may prophesy.2For the one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God, for no one hears; he speaks mysteries in the spirit.3But the one who prophesies speaks to people for building and encouragement and comfort.4The one who speaks in a tongue builds himself up, but the one who prophesies builds up the assembly.5I desire that all of you speak in tongues, but even more that you may prophesy; the one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the assembly may receive building.6Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I benefit you unless I speak to you with revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?7Likewise lifeless things giving a voice, whether flute or harp, if they do not give a distinction to the sounds, how will what is played on the flute or what is played on the harp be known?8For if the trumpet gives an unclear sound, who will prepare for war?9So also you, if you do not give an intelligible word through the tongue, how will what is spoken be known? For you will be speaking into the air.10There are, it may happen, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none is without meaning.11If therefore I do not know the meaning of the voice, I will be a barbarian to the one speaking, and the one speaking will be a barbarian to me.12So also you, since you are zealots for spirits, seek to excel for the building of the assembly.13Therefore the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.15What then is the case? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the mind; I will sing praise with the spirit, and I will also sing praise with the mind.16Otherwise, if you give thanks with the spirit, how will the one who fills the place of the unlearned say the Amen after your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?17You give thanks well, but the other is not built up.18I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.19But in the assembly I desire to speak five words with my mind, so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.20Brothers, do not be children in your thinking, but be childlike in evil; in your thinking be mature.21In the law it is written, 'By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, yet even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.'22Tongues, therefore, are a sign not for those who believe but for the unbelieving, while prophecy is not for the unbelieving but for those who believe.23If therefore the whole assembly comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are raving?24But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an unlearned person enters, he is convicted by all, he is examined by all.25The hidden things of his heart become clear, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God, declaring that God is really among you.