1. Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially the gift of speaking what God has revealed.
2. When a person speaks in another language, he doesn’t speak to people but to God. No one understands him. His spirit is speaking mysteries.
3. But when a person speaks what God has revealed, he speaks to people to help them grow, to encourage them, and to comfort them.
4. When a person speaks in another language, he helps himself grow. But when a person speaks what God has revealed, he helps the church grow.
5. I wish that all of you could speak in other languages, but especially that you could speak what God has revealed. The person who speaks what God has revealed is more important than the person who speaks in other languages. This is true unless he can interpret what he says to help the church grow.
6. Brothers and sisters, it wouldn’t do you any good if I came to you speaking in other languages, unless I explained revelation, knowledge, prophecy, or doctrine to you.
7. Musical instruments like the flute or harp produce sounds. If there is no difference in the notes, how can a person tell what tune is being played?
8. For example, if the trumpet doesn’t sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?
9. In the same way, if you don’t speak in a way that can be understood, how will anyone know what you’re saying? You will be talking into thin air.
10. No matter how many different languages there are in the world, not one of them is without meaning.
11. If I don’t know what a language means, I will be a foreigner to the person who speaks it and that person will be a foreigner to me.
12. In the same way, since you’re eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in them so that you help the church grow.