014:011 If, however, I do not know the meaning of the particular language, I shall seem to the speaker of it, and he to me, to be merely talking some foreign tongue.
014:012 Therefore, seeing that you are ambitious for spiritual gifts,
seek to excel in them so as to benefit the Church.
014:013 Therefore let a man who has the gift of tongues pray for the power
of interpreting them.
014:014 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my
understanding is barren.
014:015 How then does the matter stand? I will pray in spirit,
and I will pray with my understanding also. I will praise God
in spirit, and I will praise Him with my understanding also.
014:016 Otherwise, if you bless God in spirit only, how shall he who is
in the position of an ungifted man say the `Amen' to your giving
of thanks, when he does not know what your words mean?
014:017 Rightly enough you are giving thanks, and yet your neighbor is not benefited.
014:018 I speak in a tongue, thank God, more than all of you;
014:019 but in the Church I would rather speak five words with
my understanding—so as to instruct others also—than ten
thousand words in an unknown tongue.
014:020 Brethren, do not prove yourselves to be children in your minds.
As regards evil, indeed, be utter babes, but as regards
your minds prove yourselves to be men of ripe years.