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13 So then, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. 14 If[a] I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive. 15 What should I do?[b] I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing praises with my spirit, but I will also sing praises with my mind. 16 Otherwise, if you are praising God with your spirit, how can someone without the gift[c] say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? 17 For you are certainly giving thanks well, but the other person is not strengthened. 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you, 19 but in the church I want to speak five words with my mind to instruct others, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 14:14 tc ‡ Most witnesses, including some significant ones (א A Ds Ψ 048 M lat sy bo), have γάρ (gar, “for”) here, while an equally impressive array of witnesses lack the conjunction (P46 B F G 0243 1739 1881 sa). This conjunction was frequently added by scribes in epistolary literature as a clarifying word, making the connection with the preceding more explicit. As such, it has the earmarks of being a motivated reading and thus should be rejected. NA28 places the word in brackets, indicating doubts as to its authenticity.
  2. 1 Corinthians 14:15 tn Grk “what then is it?”
  3. 1 Corinthians 14:16 tn Grk “how can someone who fills the place of the unlearned say ‘Amen.’”

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