3. But those who prophesy are speaking to people. They help people grow stronger in faith, and they give encouragement and comfort.
4. Those who speak in a different language are helping only themselves. But those who prophesy are helping the whole church.
5. I would like all of you to have the gift of speaking in different languages. But what I want more is for you to prophesy. Anyone who prophesies is more important than those who can only speak in different languages. However, if they can also interpret those languages, they are as important as the one who prophesies. If they can interpret, then the church can be helped by what they say.
6. Brothers and sisters, will it help you if I come to you speaking in different languages? No, it will help you only if I bring you a new truth or some knowledge, prophecy, or teaching.
7. This is true even with lifeless things that make sounds—like a flute or a harp. If the different musical notes are not made clear, you can’t understand what song is being played. Each note must be played clearly for you to be able to understand the tune.
8. And in a war, if the trumpet does not sound clearly, the soldiers will not know it is time to prepare for fighting.
9. It is the same with you. If you don’t speak clearly in a language people know, they cannot understand what you are saying. You will be talking to the air!
10. It is true that there are many different languages in the world, and they all have meaning.
11. But if I don’t understand the meaning of what someone is saying, it will just be strange sounds to me, and I will sound just as strange to them.
12. That’s why you who want spiritual gifts so much should prefer those gifts that help the church grow stronger.
13. So those who have the gift of speaking in a different language should pray that they can also interpret what they say.
14. If I pray in a different language, my spirit is praying, but my mind does nothing.
15. So what should I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.
16. You might be praising God with your spirit. But someone there without understanding cannot say “Amen” to your prayer of thanks, because they don’t know what you are saying.
17. You may be thanking God in a good way, but others are not helped.
18. I thank God that my gift of speaking in different kinds of languages is greater than any of yours.
19. But in the church meetings I would rather speak five words that I understand than thousands of words in a different language. I would rather speak with my understanding, so that I can teach others.