1 Corinthians 14:5–19

⁵I wish all of you spoke in other languages, but even more that you prophesied. The person who prophesies is greater than the person who speaks in languages, unless he interprets so that the church may be built up.

⁶But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in other languages, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you with a revelation ^mor knowledge or prophecy or teaching? ⁷Even inanimate things that produce sounds—whether flute or harp ⁿ—if they don’t make a distinction in the notes, how will what is played on the flute or harp be recognized? ⁸In fact, if the trumpet makes an unclear sound, who will prepare for battle? ^o9In the same way, unless you use your tongue for intelligible speech, how will what is spoken be known? For you will be speaking into the air. ¹⁰There are doubtless many different kinds of languages in the world, and all have meaning. ^p11Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner ^qto the speaker, and the speaker will be a foreigner to me. ¹²So also you—since you are zealous ^rfor spiritual gifts, ^stseek to excel in building up the church.

¹³Therefore the person who speaks in another language should pray that he can interpret. ¹⁴For if I pray in another language, my spirit ^uprays, but my understanding is unfruitful. ^v15What then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with my understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with my understanding. ¹⁶Otherwise, if you praise with the spirit, ^whow will the uninformed person ^xsay “Amen” ^yat your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? ¹⁷For you may very well be giving thanks, but the other person is not being built up. ¹⁸I thank ^zGod that I speak in other languages more than all of you; ¹⁹yet in the church I would rather speak five words ^awith my understanding, in order to teach others also, than 10,000 words in another language.