y, these three: but
the greatest of these is charity.

1 Corinthians Chapter 14

The gift of prophesying is to be preferred before that of speaking
strange tongues.

14:1. Follow after charity, be zealous for spiritual gifts; but rather
that you may prophesy.

Prophesy... That is, declare or expound the mysteries of faith.

14:2. For he that speaketh in a tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto
God: for no man heareth. Yet by the Spirit he speaketh mysteries.

Not unto men... Viz., so as to be heard, that is, so as to be understood
by them.

14:3. But he that prophesieth speaketh to men unto edification and
exhortation and comfort.

14:4. He that speaketh in a tongue edifieth himself: but he that
prophesieth, edifieth the church.

14:5. And I would have you all to speak with tongues, but rather to
prophesy. For greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with
tongues: unless perhaps he interpret, that the church may receive
edification.

14:6. But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what
shall I profit you, unless I speak to you either in revelation or in
knowledge or in prophecy or in doctrine?

14:7. Even things without life that give sound, whether pipe or harp,
except they give a distinction of sounds, how shall it be known what is
piped or harped?

14:8. For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare
himself to the battle?

14:9. So likewise you, except you utter by the tongue plain speech, how
shall it be known what is said? For you shall be speaking into the air.

14:10. There are, for example, so many kinds of tongues in this world:
and none is without voice.

14:11. If then I know not the power of the voice, I shall be to him to
whom I speak a barbarian: and he that speaketh a barbarian to me.

14:12. So you also, forasmuch as you are zealous of spirits, seek to
abound unto the edifying of the church.

Of spirits... Of spiritual gifts.

14:13. And therefore he that speaketh by a tongue, let him pray that he
may interpret.

14:14. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth: but my
understanding is without fruit.

14:15. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, I will pray also
with the understanding, I will sing with the spirit, I will sing also
with the understanding.

14:16. Else, if thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that
holdeth the place of the unlearned say, Amen, to thy blessing? Because
he knoweth not what thou say