⁵Now I would have you all speak with tongues, but rather that ye should prophesy: and greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. ⁶But now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching? ⁷Even things without life, giving a voice, whether pipe or harp, if they give not a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? ⁸For if the trumpet give an uncertain voice, who shall prepare himself for war? ⁹So also ye, unless ye utter by the tongue speech easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye will be speaking into the air. ¹⁰There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and no kind is without signification. ¹¹If then I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be to him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh will be a barbarian unto me. ¹²So also ye, since ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may abound unto the edifying of the church. ¹³Wherefore let him that speaketh in a tongue pray that he may interpret. ¹⁴For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. ¹⁵What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. ¹⁶Else if thou bless with the spirit, how shall he that filleth the place of the unlearned say the Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he knoweth not what thou sayest? ¹⁷For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. ¹⁸I thank God, I speak with tongues more than you all: ¹⁹howbeit in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

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