1 Corinthians 14:6-12

The Voice

⁶ If I come to you, brothers and sisters, talking in unknown languages, what good would that be for any of you? You receive no benefit unless I speak to you some word of revelation, knowledge, prophecy, or instruction in your own language. ⁷ Look, if inanimate objects, musical instruments like a pipe or harp, don’t make a clear, distinct sound, how would you know what tune is being played? ⁸ If the bugle blares more like a clank, who would know to prepare for battle? ⁹ It’s the same with you. Unless you speak a message in a language everyone understands, they won’t know what you’re talking about. You’ll be talking into the wind. ¹⁰ This world is full of languages, each and every one of them having meaning; ¹¹ but if I don’t understand the meaning of some sound, then I become like a foreigner to the person speaking, and the person speaking will be like a foreigner to me. ¹² It’s the same with you; in your passion for spiritual gifts, seek to strengthen the community of believers, and you will all be better off.