^{1 Ref} Go after love; still desiring to have the things which the Spirit gives, but most of all that you may have the prophet's power.

^{2 Ref} For he who makes use of tongues is not talking to men but to God; because no one has the sense of what he is saying; but in the Spirit he is talking of secret things.

^{3 Ref} But the word of the prophet gives men knowledge and comfort and strength.

^{4 Ref} He who makes use of tongues may do good to himself; but he who gives the prophet's word does good to the church.

^{5 Ref} Now though it is my desire for you all to have the power of tongues, it would give me more pleasure to be hearing the prophet's word from you; for this is a greater thing than using tongues, if the sense is not given at the same time, for the good of the church.

^{6 Ref} But, now, my brothers, if I come to you using tongues, what profit will it be to you, if I do not give you a revelation, or knowledge, or the word of the prophet, or teaching?

^{7 Ref} Even things without life, having a voice, such as a music-pipe or other instrument, if they do not give out different sounds, who may be certain what is being played?

^{8 Ref} For if the war-horn gives out an uncertain note, who will get ready for the fight?

^{9 Ref} So if you, in using a strange tongue, say words which have no sense, how will anyone take in what you are saying? for you will be talking to the air.

¹⁰ There are, it may be, a number of different voices in the world, and no voice is without sense.

^{11 Ref} But if the sense of the voice is not clear to me, I am like a man from a strange country to him who is talking, and he will be the same to me.

^{12 Ref} So if you are desiring the things which the Spirit gives, let your minds be turned first to the things which are for the good of the church.

^{13 Ref} For this reason, let the man who has the power of using tongues make request that he may, at the same time, be able to give the sense.

^{14 Ref} For if I make use of tongues in my prayers, my spirit makes the prayer, but not my mind.

^{15 Ref} What then? let my prayer be from the spirit, and equally from the mind; let my song be from the spirit, and equally from mind.

^{16 Ref} For if you give a blessing with the spirit, how will the man who has no knowledge say, So be it, after your prayer, seeing that he has not taken in what you are saying?

^{17 Ref} For your giving of the blessing is certainly well done, but of no profit to the man without knowledge.

^{18 Ref} I give praise to God that I am able to make use of tongues more than you all: