¹³ For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say.^{(A) 14} For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays,^(B) but my mind is unfruitful. ¹⁵ So 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. ¹⁶ Otherwise 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? ¹⁷ You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.^(G)

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