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Brothers and sisters, how will it help you if I come to you speaking in ·different languages [L tongues; v. 2], unless I bring you a ·new truth [revelation] or ·some new knowledge [L knowledge], or prophecy, or teaching? It is the same as with lifeless things that make sounds—like a flute or a harp. If they do not make ·clear [distinct] musical notes, ·you will not [L how will you…?] know what is being played. And in a war, if the trumpet does not give a clear sound, who will prepare for battle? It is the same with you. Unless you speak ·clearly [intelligible words] with your tongue, ·no one can [L how will anyone…?] understand what you are saying. You will be talking into the air! 10 It may be true that there are all kinds of sounds in the world, and none is without meaning. 11 But unless I understand the meaning of what someone says to me, we will be like ·foreigners [barbarians] to each other. 12 It is the same with you. Since you ·eagerly desire [are zealous for] ·spiritual gifts [or manifestations of the Spirit], seek ·most of all to have [to excel in] the gifts that ·help the church grow stronger [build up/edify the church].

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But de as it is nyn, brothers adelphos, if ean I come erchomai to pros you hymeis speaking laleō in tongues glōssa, how tis will I benefit ōpheleō you hymeis unless ean mē I impart laleō to you hymeis some ē revelation apokalypsis or ē knowledge gnōsis or ē prophecy prophēteia or ē teaching didachē? It is the same homōs with · ho lifeless apsychos things that produce didōmi sound phōnē, whether eite flute aulos or eite harp kithara; if ean they do didōmi not make didōmi a difference diastolē between ho notes phthongos, how pōs will what ho is being played on the flute auleō or ē the ho harp kitharizō be understood ginōskō? Again kai, if ean the bugle salpinx gives didōmi an uncertain adēlos call phōnē, who tis will get ready paraskeuazō for eis battle polemos? So houtōs · kai it is with you hymeis; if ean you do didōmi not speak didōmi a clear eusēmos message logos with dia your ho tongue glōssa, how pōs will anyone know ginōskō what ho is being said laleō? You will be eimi speaking laleō into eis the air aēr. 10 There are eimi who-knows-how-many tosoutos ei kinds genos of languages phōnē in en the world kosmos, and kai none oudeis is without meaning aphōnos. 11 But oun if ean I do not grasp oida the ho meaning dynamis of the ho language phōnē, I will be eimi a foreigner barbaros to the ho speaker laleō and kai the ho speaker laleō a foreigner barbaros to en me egō. 12 So houtōs · kai it is with you hymeis. Since epei you are eimi eager zēlōtēs for manifestations of the Spirit pneuma, seek zēteō to hina excel perisseuō for pros the ho edification oikodomē of the ho church ekklēsia.

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