1 Corinthians 14:6-19

Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition

⁶ But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak to you either in revelation, or in knowledge, or in prophecy, or in doctrine?

⁷ Even things without life that give sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction of sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

⁸ For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

⁹ So likewise you, except you utter by the tongue plain speech, how shall it be known what is said? For you shall be speaking into the air.

¹⁰ There are, for example, so many kinds of tongues in this world; and none is without voice.

¹¹ If then I know not the power of the voice, I shall be to him to whom I speak a barbarian; and he that speaketh, a barbarian to me.

¹² So you also, forasmuch as you are zealous of spirits, seek to abound unto the edifying of the church.

¹³ And therefore he that speaketh by a tongue, let him pray that he may interpret.

¹⁴ For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is without fruit.

¹⁵ What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, I will pray also with the understanding; I will sing with the spirit, I will sing also with the understanding.

¹⁶ Else if thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that holdeth the place of the unlearned say, Amen, to thy blessing? because he knoweth not what thou sayest.

¹⁷ For thou indeed givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

¹⁸ I thank my God I speak with all your tongues.

¹⁹ But in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may instruct others also; than ten thousand words in a tongue.