7. Even inanimate things that produce sounds — whether flute or harp — if they don’t make a distinction in the notes, how will what is played on the flute or harp be recognized?
8. In fact, if the trumpet makes an unclear sound, who will prepare for battle?
9. In the same way, unless you use your tongue for intelligible speech, how will what is spoken be known? For you will be speaking into the air.
10. There are doubtless many different kinds of languages in the world, and all have meaning.
11. Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker will be a foreigner to me.
12. So also you — since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek to excel in building up the church.
13. Therefore the person who speaks in another language should pray that he can interpret.
14. For if I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
15. What then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with my understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with my understanding.
16. Otherwise, if you praise with the spirit, how will the uninformed person say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying?
17. For you may very well be giving thanks, but the other person is not being built up.
18. I thank God that I speak in other languages more than all of you;
19. yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, in order to teach others also, than 10,000 words in another language.
20. Brothers, don’t be childish in your thinking, but be infants in regard to evil and adult in your thinking.