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20 Dear brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind. 21 It is written in the Scriptures[a]:

“I will speak to my own people
    through strange languages
    and through the lips of foreigners.
But even then, they will not listen to me,”[b]
    says the Lord.

22 So you see that speaking in tongues is a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for the benefit of believers, not unbelievers.

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Footnotes

  1. 14:21a Greek in the law.
  2. 14:21b Isa 28:11-12.

Tongues a Sign to Unbelievers

20 Brethren, (A)do not be children in understanding; however, in malice (B)be babes, but in understanding be mature.

21 (C)In the law it is written:

(D)“With men of other tongues and other lips
I will speak to this people;
And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,”

says the Lord.

22 Therefore tongues are for a (E)sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe.

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