Thomson(i)
4 He who speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he who prophesieth, edifieth a congregation.
5 Now I wish you all to speak with tongues; but much rather that you should prophesy: For he who prophesieth is greater than he who speaketh with tongues, unless some one interpret, that the congregation may be edified.
6 For instance, should I, brethren, come to you, speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I explain to you what I say, be it either a revelation, or science, or a prophecy, or a doctrine.
7 In like manner with regard to inanimate things which give a sound, whether pipe or kithara, unless they produce distinct notes, how can it be known what that is, which is played on the pipe or kithara.
8 For if even a trumpet give an undistinguishable sound who will prepare himself for battle?
9 So also with regard to you, unless you utter with the tongue a discourse of a clear signification, how can that which is spoken be known? You will be indeed talking to the air.
10 Let there be ever so many kinds of sounds in the world, and none of them without signification,
11 if I do not know the meaning of the sound I shall be to the speaker a barbarian, and he who speaketh will be the same to me.
12 Such also is the case with you. Since you then are ambitious of spiritual gifts, seek to abound in such as tend to the improvement of the congregation.
13 Let him therefore who speaketh in an unknown tongue, pray that he may interpret.
14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
15 What then is to be done? I am to pray with the spirit and to pray with the understanding also. I am to sing with the spirit, and to sing with the understanding also.
16 Otherwise if thou bless with the spirit, how can he who occupieth the place of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving thanks, when he knoweth not what thou sayest?
17 Thou indeed givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than you all;
19 but in a congregation I would rather speak five words with my understanding that I may instruct others, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
20 Brethren, be not children in your understandings; but be infants in malice; and in your understandings full grown men.
21 It is written in the law, "By men of strange tongues and with strange lips I will speak to this people; yet for all this they will not hearken to me, saith the Lord."
22 So that these strange tongues are for a sign, not for them who believe; but for unbelievers. But prophesying is not for unbelievers, but for them who believe.
23 If therefore the whole congregation assemble and all speak with unknown tongues, and there should come in any uninstructed persons or unbelievers, would they not say that you are raving?
24 But if all prophesy, and any unbeliever or uninstructed person come in, he is convicted by all; examined by all;
25 and thus the secrets of his heart are laid open, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God, declaring that God is indeed among you.
26 What then, brethren, is to be done? When you come together every one of you hath a psalm; hath a doctrine; hath a strange tongue; hath a revelation; hath an interpretation; let all be for edification;