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. (A)I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing (B)with the understanding. 16 Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” (C)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.

Tongues a Sign to Unbelievers

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

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14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays,(A) but my mind is unfruitful. 15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit,(B) but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing(C) with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. 16 Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer,[a] say “Amen”(D) to your thanksgiving,(E) since they do not know what you are saying? 17 You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.(F)

18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.(G)

20 Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children.(H) In regard to evil be infants,(I) but in your thinking be adults.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 14:16 The Greek word for inquirer is a technical term for someone not fully initiated into a religion; also in verses 23 and 24.