1 Corinthians 14:6-28  New American Standard Bible

⁶ But now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you either by way of ^(A)revelation, or of ^(B)knowledge, or of ^(C)prophecy, or of ^(D)teaching? ⁷ Yet even lifeless instruments, whether flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp? ⁸ For if ^(E)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 ^(F)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 ^(G)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 ^(H)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 (I)What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray with the mind also; I will ^(J)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 ^(K)the “Amen” at your ^(L)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 ^(M)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.

Instruction for the Church

^20 (N)Brothers and sisters, ^(O)do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil ^(P)be infants, but in your thinking be mature. ²¹ In ^(Q)the ^[f]Law it is written: “^(R)By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people, and even so they will not listen to Me,” says the Lord. ²² So then, tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but ^(S)prophecy is not for unbelievers, but for those who believe. ²³ Therefore if the whole church gathers together and all the people speak in tongues, and ^[g]outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that ^(T)you are insane? ²⁴ But if all ^(U)prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ^[h]outsider enters, he is ^(V)convicted by all, he is called to account by all; ^25 (W)the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will ^(X)fall on his face and worship God, ^(Y)declaring that God is certainly among you.

^26 (Z)What is the outcome then, ^(AA)brothers and sisters? When you assemble, ^(AB)each one has a ^(AC)psalm, has a ^(AD)teaching, has a ^(AE)revelation, has a ^(AF)tongue, has an ^(AG)interpretation. ^(AH)All things are to be done for edification. ²⁷ If anyone speaks in a ^(AI)tongue, it must be by two or at the most three, and each one in turn, and one is to ^(AJ)interpret; ²⁸ but if there is no interpreter, he is to keep silent in church; and have him speak to himself and to God.