⁶ But now, brothers,^[a] if I come to you speaking with other languages, what would I profit you, unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching? ⁷ Even things without life, giving a voice, whether pipe or harp, if they didn’t give a distinction in the sounds, how would it be known what is piped or harped? ⁸ For if the trumpet gave an uncertain sound, who would prepare himself for war? ⁹ So also you, unless you uttered by the tongue words easy to understand, how would it be known what is spoken? For you would be speaking into the air. ¹⁰ There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without meaning. ¹¹ If then I don’t know the meaning of the language, I would be to him who speaks a foreigner, and he who speaks would be a foreigner to me. ¹² So also you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound to the building up of the assembly.