⁶ Brothers,^[a] if I come to you speaking in tongues, what good will I do you, unless I communicate to you a revelation, or some knowledge, or a prophecy, or some teaching? ⁷ Even lifeless instruments that produce sound, such as a flute or a harp, if they do not make the notes distinct from one another, how will anyone know what is being played on the flute or harp? ⁸ If the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will get ready for battle? ⁹ So also with you: Unless you use your tongue to produce intelligible speech, how will anyone know what is being spoken? To be sure, you will be speaking only into the air.

¹⁰ There are perhaps ever so many kinds of languages in the world, and not one of them is without meaning. ¹¹ Accordingly, if I do not understand the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker, and he will be a foreigner to me. ¹² So also with you: Since you are eager for spiritual gifts, seek to use them abundantly in a way that will build up the church.