1 Corinthians 14:8-13

New American Standard Bible

⁸ For if ^(A)the trumpet produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle? ⁹ So you too, unless you produce intelligible speech by the tongue, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will just be ^(B)talking to the air. ¹⁰ There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of ^[a]languages in the world, and none is incapable of meaning. ¹¹ So if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be ^(C)unintelligible to the one who speaks, and the one who speaks will be unintelligible ^[b]to me. ¹² So you too, since you are eager to possess ^[c]spiritual gifts, strive to excel for the ^(D)edification of the church.

¹³ Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue is to pray that he may interpret.