24whereas our presentable parts have no such need. But God has composed the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it,25so that there should be no division in the body, but that its members should have mutual concern for one another.26If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

The Greater Gifts

27Now you are the body of Christ, and each of you is a member of it.28And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues.29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?30Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?31But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way.

Love

1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a ringing gong or a clanging cymbal.2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.3If I give all I possess to the poor and exult in the surrender of my body, but have not love, I gain nothing.

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs.6Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth.7It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be restrained; where there is knowledge, it will be dismissed.9For we know in part and we prophesy in part,10but when the perfect comes, the partial passes away.11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I set aside childish ways.12Now we see but a dim reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.13And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of these is love.

Prophecy and Tongues

1Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.2For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries in the Spirit.3But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, encouragement, and comfort.4The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.5I wish that all of you could speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be edified.

6Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?7Even in the case of lifeless instruments, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone recognize the tune they are playing unless the notes are distinct?8Again, if the trumpet sounds a muffled call, who will prepare for battle?9So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.10Assuredly, there are many different languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.11If, then, I do not know the meaning of someone’s language, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me.12It is the same with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, strive to excel in gifts that build up the church.

13Therefore, the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.

15What then shall 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.16Otherwise, if you speak a blessing in spirit, how can someone who is uninstructed say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?17You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other one is not edified.18I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.19But in the church, I would rather speak five coherent words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

20Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.

22Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.23So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who are uninstructed or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds?24But if an unbeliever or uninstructed person comes in while everyone is prophesying, he will be convicted and called to account by all,