1 Corinthians 14:6-11

Disciples’ Literal New Testament

Speaking In Tongues Is Just Speaking Into The Air Unless It Is Understood

⁶ But now^[a], brothers, if I come to you speaking^[b] in tongues, what will I profit you unless I speak to you either^[c] by^[d] a revelation or by knowledge or by a prophecy or by a teaching? ⁷ Likewise the lifeless things giving a sound— whether a flute or harp— if it does not give a distinction in the tones, how will the thing being fluted or the thing being harped be known? ⁸ For indeed, if a trumpet gives an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for battle? ⁹ So also you with the tongue— if you do not give a clear word, how will the thing being spoken be known? For you will be speaking into the air! ¹⁰ There are perhaps so-many kinds of spoken sounds^[e] in the world, and none is meaningless. ¹¹ If then I do not know the force of the spoken sound, I will be a barbarian to the one speaking, and the one speaking a barbarian with me.