1. Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy.
2. For if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God, since people won’t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be mysterious.
3. But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them.
4. A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church.
5. I wish you could all speak in tongues, but even more I wish you could all prophesy. For prophecy is greater than speaking in tongues, unless someone interprets what you are saying so that the whole church will be strengthened.
6. Dear brothers and sisters, if I should come to you speaking in an unknown language, how would that help you? But if I bring you a revelation or some special knowledge or prophecy or teaching, that will be helpful.
7. Even lifeless instruments like the flute or the harp must play the notes clearly, or no one will recognize the melody.