1 Corinthians 14:6-19 (Epistle)
- 6
- But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching?
- 7
- Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played?
- 8
- For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle?
- 9
- So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.
- 10
- There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance.
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- Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me.
- 12
- Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.
- 13
- Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.
- 14
- For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
- 15
- What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.
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- Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say?
- 17
- For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.
- 18
- I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all;
- 19
- yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.