1 Corinthians 14:13-19

New International Version

¹³For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say.^(A) ¹⁴For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays,^(B) but my mind is unfruitful. ¹⁵So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit,^(C) but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing^(D) with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. ¹⁶Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer,^[a] say “Amen”^(E) to your thanksgiving,^(F) since they do not know what you are saying? ¹⁷You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.^(G)

¹⁸I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. ¹⁹But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.^(H)

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Footnotes

1 Corinthians 14:16 The Greek word for inquirer is a technical term for someone not fully initiated into a religion; also in verses 23 and 24.

1 Corinthians 14:13-19

New American Standard Bible

¹³Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue is to pray that he may interpret. ¹⁴For 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. ¹⁶For 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? ¹⁷For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not ^(E)edified. ¹⁸I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all; ¹⁹nevertheless, 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.