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13 Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may [a]translate. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15 (A)What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will (B)sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also. 16 Otherwise if you bless [b]in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the [c]uninformed say (C)the “Amen” at your (D)giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? 17 For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not (E)edified. 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than you all; 19 however, in the church I desire 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 14:13 Or interpret
  2. 1 Corinthians 14:16 Or with the
  3. 1 Corinthians 14:16 Unversed in spiritual gifts

13 So anyone who speaks in tongues should pray also for the ability to interpret what has been said. 14 For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is praying, but I don’t understand what I am saying.

15 Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the spirit,[a] and I will also pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will also sing in words I understand. 16 For if you praise God only in the spirit, how can those who don’t understand you praise God along with you? How can they join you in giving thanks when they don’t understand what you are saying? 17 You will be giving thanks very well, but it won’t strengthen the people who hear you.

18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than any of you. 19 But in a church meeting I would rather speak five understandable words to help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language.

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Footnotes

  1. 14:15 Or in the Spirit; also in 14:15b, 16.