1 Corinthians 14:9-19

New American Standard Bible

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 ^(A)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 ^(B)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 ^(C)edification of the church.

¹³ Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue is to pray that he may interpret. ¹⁴ For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive. ^15 (D)What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray with the mind also; I will ^(E)sing with the spirit, but I will sing with the mind also. ¹⁶ For otherwise, if you bless God ^[d]in the spirit only, how will the one who occupies the place of the ^[e]outsider know to say ^(F)the “Amen” at your ^(G)giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you are saying? ¹⁷ For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not ^(H)edified. ¹⁸ I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all; ¹⁹ nevertheless, in church I prefer to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.