1 Corinthians 14:13-25

New American Standard Bible

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 (A)What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray with the mind also; I will ^(B)sing with the spirit, but I will sing with the mind also. ¹⁶ For otherwise, if you bless God ^[a]in the spirit only, how will the one who occupies the place of the ^[b]outsider know to say ^(C)the “Amen” at your ^(D)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 ^(E)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 (F)Brothers and sisters, ^(G)do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil ^(H)be infants, but in your thinking be mature. ²¹ In ^(I)the ^[c]Law it is written: “^(J)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 ^(K)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 ^[d]outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that ^(L)you are insane? ²⁴ But if all ^(M)prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ^[e]outsider enters, he is ^(N)convicted by all, he is called to account by all; ^25 (O)the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will ^(P)fall on his face and worship God, ^(Q)declaring that God is certainly among you.