⁵And 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.

⁶But 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?

⁷Even 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?

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

⁹So 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.

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

¹¹If 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.

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

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

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

¹⁵What 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.

¹⁶Else, 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 sayest.

¹⁷For thou indeed givest thanks well: but the other is not edified.

¹⁸I thank my God I speak with all your tongues.

¹⁹But in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may instruct others also: than ten thousand words in a tongue.

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