9. So likewise you, except you utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for you shall speak into the air.
10. There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without meaning.
11. Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaks a foreigner, and he that speaks shall be a foreigner unto me.
12. Even so you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that you may excel to the edifying of the church.
13. Therefore let him that speaks in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.
14. For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
15. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
16. Else when you shall bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupies the place of the unlearned say Amen at your giving of thanks, seeing he understands not what you said?
17. For you verily give thanks well, but the other is not edified.
18. I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than you all:
19. Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
20. Brethren, be not children in understanding: but in malice be children, but in understanding be men.
21. In the law it is written,
22. Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serves not for them that believe not, but for them that believe.
23. If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that you are mad?
24. But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believes not, or one unlearned, he is convicted of all, he is judged of all:
25. And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.