13 Therefore the person who speaks in a tongue should pray that he can interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit(A) prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.(B) 15 What then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with my understanding. I will sing praise with the spirit, and I will also sing praise with my understanding. 16 Otherwise, if you praise with the spirit,[a] how will the outsider[b] say “Amen”(C) at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? 17 For you may very well be giving thanks, but the other person is not being built up. 18 I thank(D) God that I speak in tongues more than all of you; 19 yet in the church I would rather speak five words(E) with my understanding, in order to teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

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Footnotes

  1. 14:16 Or praise by the Spirit
  2. 14:16 Lit the one filling the place of the uninformed

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.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 14:16 Or with the
  2. 1 Corinthians 14:16 Lit private person