1Corinthians:14:1-25

---

Seeker Overlay ON

* Follow after love , and desire spiritual gifts , but rather that you may prophesy . * For he that speaks in an unknown tongue speaks not unto men , but unto God : for no man understands him ; howbeit in the spirit he speaks mysteries . * But he that prophesies speaks unto men to edification , and exhortation , and comfort . * He that speaks in an unknown tongue edifies himself ; but he that prophesies edifies the church . * I would that you all spoke with tongues but rather that you prophesied : for greater is he that prophesies than he that speaks with tongues , unless he interpret , that the church may receive edifying . * Now , brothers , if I come unto you speaking with tongues , what shall I profit you , unless I shall speak to you either by revelation , or by knowledge , or by prophesying , or by doctrine ? * And even things without life giving sound , whether pipe or harp , unless they give a distinction in the sounds , how shall it be known what is piped or harped ? * For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound , who shall prepare himself to the battle ? * So likewise you , unless you utter by the tongue words easy to be understood , how shall it be known what is spoken ? for you shall speak into the air . * There are , it may be , so many kinds of voices in the world , and none of them is without signification . * Therefore if I do not know the meaning of the voice , I shall be unto him that speaks a barbarian , and he that speaks shall be a barbarian unto me . * Even so you , forasmuch as you are zealous of spiritual gifts , seek that you may excel to the edifying of the church . * Therefore let him that speaks in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret . * For if I pray in an unknown tongue , my spirit prays , but my understanding is unfruitful . * What is it then ? I will pray with the spirit , and I will pray with the understanding also : I will sing with the spirit , and I will sing with the understanding also . * Else when you shall bless with the spirit , how shall he that occupies the room of the unlearned say Amen at your giving of thanks , seeing he does not understand what you say ? * For you truthfully give thanks well , but the other is not edified . * I thank my God , I speak with tongues more than you all : * yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding , that by my voice I might teach others also , than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue . * Brethren , be not children in understanding : howbeit in malice be you children , but in understanding be men . * In the law it is written , With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people ; and yet for all that will they not hear me , says the LORD . * Therefore tongues are for a sign , not to them that believe , but to them that believe not : but prophesying serves not for them that believe not , but for those who believe . * If therefore the whole church be come together into one place , and all speak with tongues , and there come in those that are unlearned , or unbelievers , will they not say that you are mad ? * But if all prophesy , and there come in one that believes not , or one unlearned , he is convinced of all , he is judged of all : * And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest ; and so falling down on his face he will worship God , and report that God is in you of a truth .

---