1 Corinthians 14:19-22
Amplified Bible
19 nevertheless, in public worship I would rather say five understandable words in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue [which others cannot understand].
Instruction for the Church
20 Brothers and sisters, do not be children [immature, childlike] in your thinking; be infants in [matters of] evil [completely innocent and inexperienced], but in your minds be mature [adults]. 21 It is written in the Law, “By men of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, and not even then will they listen to Me,” says the Lord.(A) 22 Therefore, [unknown] tongues are [meant] for a [supernatural] sign, not to believers but to unbelievers [who might be receptive]; while prophecy [foretelling the future, speaking a new message from God to the people] is not for unbelievers but for believers.
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1 Corinthians 14:19-22
New International Version
19 But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.(A)
20 Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children.(B) In regard to evil be infants,(C) but in your thinking be adults. 21 In the Law(D) it is written:
“With other tongues
and through the lips of foreigners
I will speak to this people,
but even then they will not listen to me,(E)
says the Lord.”[a]
22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy,(F) however, is not for unbelievers but for believers.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 14:21 Isaiah 28:11,12
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