1 Corinthians 12:1

⁴Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵There are various kinds of service, and the same Lord. ⁶There are various kinds of workings, but the same God who works all things in all. ⁷But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all. ⁸For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit, ⁹to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, ¹⁰and to another workings of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of languages, and to another the interpretation of languages. ¹¹But the one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires.

³⁷If any man thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize the things which I write to you, that they are the commandment of the Lord.

¹Follow after love and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. ²For he who speaks in another language speaks not to men, but to God, for no one understands, but in the Spirit he speaks mysteries. ³But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, exhortation, and consolation. ⁴He who speaks in another language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the assembly. ⁵Now I desire to have you all speak with other languages, but even more that you would prophesy. For he is greater who prophesies than he who speaks with other languages, unless he interprets, that the assembly may be built up.

⁶But now, brothers,^[+] if I come to you speaking with other languages, what would I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching? ⁷Even lifeless things that make a sound, whether pipe or harp, if they didn’t give a distinction in the sounds, how would it be known what is piped or harped? ⁸For if the trumpet gave an uncertain sound, who would prepare himself for war? ⁹So also you, unless you uttered by the tongue words easy to understand, how would it be known what is spoken? For you would be speaking into the air. ¹⁰There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without meaning. ¹¹If then I don’t know the meaning of the language, I would be to him who speaks a foreigner, and he who speaks would be a foreigner to me. ¹²So also you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound to the building up of the assembly.

¹³Therefore let him who speaks in another language pray that he may interpret. ¹⁴For if I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

¹⁵What should I do? 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. ¹⁶Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who fills the place of the unlearned say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks, seeing he doesn’t know what you say? ¹⁷For you most certainly give thanks well, but the other person is not built up. ¹⁸I thank my God, I speak with other languages more than you all.

¹¹He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds^[+] and teachers;

⁸But don’t forget this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

⁸For we don’t desire to have you uninformed, brothers,^[+] concerning our affliction which happened to us in Asia: that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, so much that we despaired even of life.

¹³But we don’t want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you don’t grieve like the rest, who have no hope.

¹Now I would not have you ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;