1 Corinthians 14:6-11

New International Version

⁶Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation^(A) or knowledge^(B) or prophecy or word of instruction?^(C) ⁷Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? ⁸Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?^(D) ⁹So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. ¹⁰Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. ¹¹If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me.^(E)

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1 Corinthians 14:6-11

King James Version

⁶Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?

⁷And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

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

⁹So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.

¹⁰There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.

¹¹Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.

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1 Corinthians 14:6-11

English Standard Version

⁶Now, brothers,^[a] if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some ^(A)revelation or knowledge or prophecy or ^(B)teaching? ⁷If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? ⁸And ^(C)if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? ⁹So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be ^(D)speaking into the air. ¹⁰There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, ¹¹but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be ^(E)a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me.

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Footnotes

1 Corinthians 14:6 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 20, 26, 39

1 Corinthians 14:6-11

New American Standard Bible

⁶But 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? ⁷Yet 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? ⁸For if ^(E)the trumpet produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle? ⁹So 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. ¹⁰There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of ^[a]languages in the world, and none is incapable of meaning. ¹¹So 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.