7 Elisha replied, “Hear the word of the Lord. This is what the Lord says: About this time tomorrow, a seah^[a] of the finest flour will sell for a shekel^[b] and two seahs^[c] of barley for a shekel^(A) at the gate of Samaria.”

² The officer on whose arm the king was leaning^(B) said to the man of God, “Look, even if the Lord should open the floodgates^(C) of the heavens, could this happen?”

“You will see it with your own eyes,” answered Elisha, “but you will not eat^(D) any of it!”

The Siege Lifted

³ Now there were four men with leprosy^[d](E) at the entrance of the city gate. They said to each other, “Why stay here until we die? ⁴ If we say, ‘We’ll go into the city’—the famine is there, and we will die. And if we stay here, we will die. So let’s go over to the camp of the Arameans and surrender. If they spare us, we live; if they kill us, then we die.”

⁵ At dusk they got up and went to the camp of the Arameans. When they reached the edge of the camp, no one was there, ⁶ for the Lord had caused the Arameans to hear the sound^(F) of chariots and horses and a great army, so that they said to one another, “Look, the king of Israel has hired^(G) the Hittite^(H) and Egyptian kings to attack us!” ⁷ So they got up and fled^(I) in the dusk and abandoned their tents and their horses and donkeys. They left the camp as it was and ran for their lives.

⁸ The men who had leprosy^(J) reached the edge of the camp, entered one of the tents and ate and drank. Then they took silver, gold and clothes, and went off and hid them. They returned and entered another tent and took some things from it and hid them also.

⁹ Then they said to each other, “What we’re doing is not right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves. If we wait until daylight, punishment will overtake us. Let’s go at once and report this to the royal palace.”

¹⁰ So they went and called out to the city gatekeepers and told them, “We went into the Aramean camp and no one was there—not a sound of anyone—only tethered horses and donkeys, and the tents left just as they were.” ¹¹ The gatekeepers shouted the news, and it was reported within the palace.

¹² The king got up in the night and said to his officers, “I will tell you what the Arameans have done to us. They know we are starving; so they have left the camp to hide^(K) in the countryside, thinking, ‘They will surely come out, and then we will take them alive and get into the city.’”

¹³ One of his officers answered, “Have some men take five of the horses that are left in the city. Their plight will be like that of all the Israelites left here—yes, they will only be like all these Israelites who are doomed. So let us send them to find out what happened.”

¹⁴ So they selected two chariots with their horses, and the king sent them after the Aramean army. He commanded the drivers, “Go and find out what has happened.” ¹⁵ They followed them as far as the Jordan, and they found the whole road strewn with the clothing and equipment the Arameans had thrown away in their headlong flight.^(L) So the messengers returned and reported to the king. ¹⁶ Then the people went out and plundered^(M) the camp of the Arameans. So a seah of the finest flour sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley sold for a shekel,^(N) as the Lord had said.

¹⁷ Now the king had put the officer on whose arm he leaned in charge of the gate, and the people trampled him in the gateway, and he died,^(O) just as the man of God had foretold when the king came down to his house. ¹⁸ It happened as the man of God had said to the king: “About this time tomorrow, a seah of the finest flour will sell for a shekel and two seahs of barley for a shekel at the gate of Samaria.”

¹⁹ The officer had said to the man of God, “Look, even if the Lord should open the floodgates^(P) of the heavens, could this happen?” The man of God had replied, “You will see it with your own eyes, but you will not eat any of it!” ²⁰ And that is exactly what happened to him, for the people trampled him in the gateway, and he died.

15 Then the Lord said to me: “Even if Moses^(A) and Samuel^(B) were to stand before me, my heart would not go out to this people.^(C) Send them away from my presence!^(D) Let them go! ² And if they ask you, ‘Where shall we go?’ tell them, ‘This is what the Lord says:

³ “I will send four kinds of destroyers^(H) against them,” declares the Lord, “the sword^(I) to kill and the dogs^(J) to drag away and the birds^(K) and the wild animals to devour and destroy.^{(L) 4} I will make them abhorrent^(M) to all the kingdoms of the earth^(N) because of what Manasseh^(O) son of Hezekiah king of Judah did in Jerusalem.

¹¹ The Lord said,

¹⁹ Therefore this is what the Lord says:

Concerning Spiritual Gifts

12 Now about the gifts of the Spirit,^(A) brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.^{(B) 2} You know that when you were pagans,^(C) somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.^{(D) 3} Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,”^(E) and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,”^(F) except by the Holy Spirit.^(G)

⁴ There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit^(H) distributes them. ⁵ There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. ⁶ There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone^(I) it is the same God^(J) at work.

⁷ Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.^{(K) 8} To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom,^(L) to another a message of knowledge^(M) by means of the same Spirit, ⁹ to another faith^(N) by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing^(O) by that one Spirit, ¹⁰ to another miraculous powers,^(P) to another prophecy,^(Q) to another distinguishing between spirits,^(R) to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,^[a](S) and to still another the interpretation of tongues.^{[b] 11} All these are the work of one and the same Spirit,^(T) and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

Unity and Diversity in the Body

¹² Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body,^(U) so it is with Christ.^{(V) 13} For we were all baptized^(W) by^[c] one Spirit^(X) so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free^(Y)—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.^{(Z) 14} Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.^(AA)

¹⁵ Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? ¹⁸ But in fact God has placed^(AB) the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.^{(AC) 19} If they were all one part, where would the body be? ²⁰ As it is, there are many parts, but one body.^(AD)

²¹ The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” ²² On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, ²³ and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, ²⁴ while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, ²⁵ so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. ²⁶ If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ,^(AE) and each one of you is a part of it.^{(AF) 28} And God has placed in the church^(AG) first of all apostles,^(AH) second prophets,^(AI) third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing,^(AJ) of helping, of guidance,^(AK) and of different kinds of tongues.^{(AL) 29} Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰ Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues^[d]?^(AM) Do all interpret? ³¹ Now eagerly desire^(AN) the greater gifts.

Love Is Indispensable

And yet I will show you the most excellent way.

13 If I speak in the tongues^[e](AO) of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy^(AP) and can fathom all mysteries^(AQ) and all knowledge,^(AR) and if I have a faith^(AS) that can move mountains,^(AT) but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor^(AU) and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,^[f](AV) but do not have love, I gain nothing.

⁴ Love is patient,^(AW) love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.^{(AX) 5} It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking,^(AY) it is not easily angered,^(AZ) it keeps no record of wrongs.^{(BA) 6} Love does not delight in evil^(BB) but rejoices with the truth.^{(BC) 7} It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.^(BD)

⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies,^(BE) they will cease; where there are tongues,^(BF) they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part^(BG) and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when completeness comes,^(BH) what is in part disappears. ¹¹ When 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 put the ways of childhood^(BI) behind me. ¹² For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror;^(BJ) then we shall see face to face.^(BK) Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.^(BL)

¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.^(BM) But the greatest of these is love.^(BN)

Intelligibility in Worship

14 Follow the way of love^(BO) and eagerly desire^(BP) gifts of the Spirit,^(BQ) especially prophecy.^{(BR) 2} For anyone who speaks in a tongue^[g](BS) does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them;^(BT) they utter mysteries^(BU) by the Spirit. ³ But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening,^(BV) encouraging^(BW) and comfort. ⁴ Anyone who speaks in a tongue^(BX) edifies^(BY) themselves, but the one who prophesies^(BZ) edifies the church. ⁵ I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,^[h] but I would rather have you prophesy.^(CA) The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues,^[i] unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.^(CB)

⁶ Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation^(CC) or knowledge^(CD) or prophecy or word of instruction?^{(CE) 7} Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? ⁸ Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?^{(CF) 9} So 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. ¹⁰ Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. ¹¹ If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me.^{(CG) 12} So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit,^(CH) try to excel in those that build up^(CI) the church.

¹³ For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say.^{(CJ) 14} For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays,^(CK) but my mind is unfruitful. ¹⁵ So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit,^(CL) but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing^(CM) with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. ¹⁶ Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer,^[j] say “Amen”^(CN) to your thanksgiving,^(CO) since they do not know what you are saying? ¹⁷ You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.^(CP)

¹⁸ I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. ¹⁹ But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.^(CQ)

²⁰ Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children.^(CR) In regard to evil be infants,^(CS) but in your thinking be adults. ²¹ In the Law^(CT) it is written:

²² Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy,^(CV) however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. ²³ So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?^{(CW) 24} But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, ²⁵ as the secrets^(CX) of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”^(CY)

Good Order in Worship

²⁶ What then shall we say, brothers and sisters?^(CZ) When you come together, each of you^(DA) has a hymn,^(DB) or a word of instruction,^(DC) a revelation, a tongue^(DD) or an interpretation.^(DE) Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.^{(DF) 27} If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. ²⁸ If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.

²⁹ Two or three prophets^(DG) should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.^{(DH) 30} And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. ³¹ For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. ³² The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.^{(DI) 33} For God is not a God of disorder^(DJ) but of peace^(DK)—as in all the congregations^(DL) of the Lord’s people.^(DM)

³⁴ Women^[l] should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak,^(DN) but must be in submission,^(DO) as the law^(DP) says. ³⁵ If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.^[m]

³⁶ Or did the word of God^(DQ) originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? ³⁷ If anyone thinks they are a prophet^(DR) or otherwise gifted by the Spirit,^(DS) let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command.^{(DT) 38} But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored.^[n]

³⁹ Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager^(DU) to prophesy,^(DV) and do not forbid speaking in tongues. ⁴⁰ But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly^(DW) way.