1 Corinthians 14:13-19

International Standard Version

¹³ Therefore, the person who speaks in a foreign language should pray for the ability to interpret it. ¹⁴ For if I pray in a foreign language, my spirit prays but my mind is not productive. ¹⁵ What does this mean? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing psalms with my spirit, but I will also sing psalms with my mind. ¹⁶ Otherwise, if you say a blessing with your spirit, how can an otherwise uneducated person^[a] say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you’re saying? ¹⁷ It’s good for you to give thanks, but it does not build up the other person. ¹⁸ I thank God that I speak in foreign languages more than all of you. ¹⁹ But in church I would rather speak five words with my mind to instruct others than 10,000 words in a foreign language.