1Pursue ahavah (agape), and eagerly desire the things of the Ruach Hakodesh (matanot HaRuach Hakodesh), and especially that you may speak forth a dvar hanevu'ah (word of prophecy).

2For the one speaking in a lashon (tongue) speaks not to Bnei Adam but to Hashem; for no one grasps with their ears, but the speaker by the Ruach Hakodesh speaks sodot (mysteries).

3However, the one speaking forth divrei nevu'ah (words of prophecy) speaks to Bnei Adam for chizzuk (strengthening) and musar encouragement and nechamah (comfort).

4The one speaking in a lashon (tongue) edifies himself; but, the one speaking forth a dvar hanevu'ah (word of prophecy) edifies kehillah.

5Now I desire all of you to speak in leshonot (tongues), and even more that you may speak forth a dvar hanevu'ah (word of prophecy). ¹⁸⁴Now greater is the one speaking forth a dvar nevu'ah (word of prophecy) than the one speaking in leshonot, unless he gives the pitron (interpretation) of the leshonot (tongues), that the kehillah (congregation) may receive the edification.

6But now, Achim b'Moshiach, if I come to you speaking in leshonot (tongues), what will I benefit you unless I speak to you either with a dvar hisgalus (a word of revelation) or with a dvar da'as or with a dvar nevu'ah or with a dvar hora'ah (word of teaching)?

7So even lifeless things, like the flute or harp, if they do not articulate a distinction in the notes, how will it be known what is being played on the flute or on the harp?

8Indeed, if a shofar gives an unclear trumpet call, who will prepare himself for krav (battle)? ¹⁸⁵

9So also unless you by your lashon (tongue) render an intelligible dvar Torah, how will the thing being uttered be known? For you will be merely speaking into the air.

10There are doubtless many kinds of foreign languages in the Olam Hazeh, and not one is meaningless.

11If, therefore, I do not have da'as of the meaning of the language, I will be to the speaker a foreigner and the speaker will be a foreigner to me. ¹⁸⁶

12So also you, als (since) you have a zeal for the matanot of the Ruach Hakodesh, endeavor to abound in them for the edification of the Kehillah (Congregation).

13Therefore, the speaker in a lashon (tongue), let him offer tefillos that he may give the pitron (interpretation).

14For if I daven (pray) in a lashon, my nashamah davens, but my sikhliyut (rationality) lies shemitah (fallow).

15Nu? (Well?) I will daven [in leshonot] with my nashamah, and I will daven also with my seichel; I will sing [in leshonot] with my nashamah, and I will sing niggunim also with my seichel.

16Otherwise, if you make a bracha [in leshonot] with your neshamah, how will the am ha'aretz, who have no idea what you are saying, answer the “Omein”? ¹⁸⁷

17For indeed you make the bracha well enough, but the other is not being edified.

18Modeh Ani Hashem that I speak in leshonot more than all of you,

19but in kehillah I want to speak five words with my sikhliyut (rationality), that also others I may instruct with a dvar hora'ah (word of teaching), rather than speak ten thousand words in a lashon (tongue).

20Achim b'Moshiach, be not yeladim in your machsh'vot (thoughts); be infantile in kavvanah ra'ah (malice), perhaps, but in your binah, be mature. ¹⁸⁸

21In the Torah it stands written, KI BELA'AGEI SAFAH UVELASHON ACHERET YEDABER EL HAAM HAZEH…V'LO AVU SHMO'A (Then with ones of foreign lip and with strange tongue he will speak to this people… but they were not willing to listen), says the L-rd. ¹⁸⁹

22So then the leshonot (tongues) are for an ot (miraculous sign), not to the ones believing, the ma'aminim in Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, but an ot (miraculous sign) to the Apikorosim; but divrei hanevu'ah (words of prophecy) are not for the Apikorosim, but for the ones believing, the ma'aminim in Moshiach.

23If, therefore, the kehillah has a farbrengen gathering and all speak in leshonot (tongues), and then in walks the am ha'aretz or the Apikorosim, will they not say that you are all meshuggah?

24However, if all speak forth divrei hanevu'ah (words of prophecy), and then in walks some Apikorosim or am ha'aretz, such a visitor is brought under conviction by all, he is brought into mishpat (judgment) by all,

25What is hiding in his lev (heart) becomes manifest, and, having fallen on his face, he worships Hashem, declaring that G-d is among you. ¹⁹⁰

26Nu? Well? Achim b'Moshiach, when you come together, each one has a mizmor (hymn, psalm), a musar (teaching with an ethical point), a dvar hisgalus (a dvar of revelation), a lashon (tongue), or a pitron (interpretation) of a lashon (tongue); let all things be for edification.

27If anyone speaks in a lashon (tongue), let the speakers be shenayim (two) or at most shloshah (three), and by turn, and let one give the pitron (interpretation).

28But if there is no one to give the pitron, let the one with the lashon (tongue) be silent in the kehillah and let him instead speak to himself and to Hashem.

29And let shenayim or shloshah nevi'im speak and let the other nevi'im be used with discernings of ruchot (spirits). ¹⁹¹

30And if a dvar hisgalus (a word of revelation) is given to a navi sitting by, let the first navi become silent.

31For you all are able one by one to speak forth a dvar hanevu'ah (word of prophecy), in order that all may learn and receive chizzuk (strengthening).

32And the neshamot of nevi'im are subject to the nevi'im.

33For Hashem is no Elohei HaMevucha (the G-d of Confusion, Tohu); He is Elohei HaShalom, and this is so in all the kehillot of the Kedoshim.

34Let the nashim in the kehillot be silent, for it is not permitted for them to blurt out, but let them become submissive, as it says in the Torah. ¹⁹²

35And if the nashim wish to inquire about something, let them inquire of their own be'alim b'bayis, for it is a bushah (shame) for an isha to blurt out in the kehillah. ¹⁹³

36Or from you did the dvar Hashem go forth, ¹⁹⁴or to you only did it reach?

37If anyone thinks himself to be a navi or a man of the Ruach Hakodesh, ¹⁹⁵let him have full da'as that the things I wrote to you are a mitzvoh of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach Adoneinu.

38But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.

39So then, Achim b'Moshiach of mine, earnestly desire to speak forth a dvar hanevu'ah (word of prophecy), and do not forbid speaking in leshonot (tongues).

40Let all things be done b'seder and without bushah (shame).