14. If I pray in a different language, my spirit is praying, but my mind does nothing.
15. So what should I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.
16. You might be praising God with your spirit. But a person there without understanding cannot say “Amen” to your prayer of thanks. He does not know what you are saying.
17. You may be thanking God in a good way, but the other person is not helped.
18. I thank God that my gift of speaking in different kinds of languages is greater than any of yours.
19. But in the church meetings I would rather speak five words that I understand than thousands of words in a different language. I would rather speak with my understanding, so that I can teach others.
20. Brothers, do not think like children. In evil things be like babies. But in your thinking you should be like full-grown men.
21. It is written in the Scriptures:“I will use strange words and foreign languagesto speak to these people.But even then they will not listen.” Isaiah 28:11-12That is what the Lord says.
22. So the gift of speaking in different kinds of languages is a sign for those who do not believe, not for those who believe. And prophecy is for people who believe, not for those who do not believe.
23. Suppose the whole church meets together and everyone speaks in different languages. If some people come in who are without understanding or do not believe, they will say you are crazy.
24. But suppose everyone is prophesying and someone comes in who does not believe or is without understanding. If everyone is prophesying, his sin will be shown to him, and he will be judged by all that he hears.
25. The secret things in his heart will be made known. So he will bow down and worship God. He will say, “Truly, God is with you.”
26. So, brothers, what should you do? When you meet together, one person has a song. Another has a teaching. Another has a new truth from God. Another speaks in a different language, and another person interprets that language. The purpose of all these things should be to help the church grow strong.
27. When you meet together, if anyone speaks in a different language, then it should be only two, or not more than three, who speak. They should speak one after the other. And someone should interpret what they say.