1 Corinthians 14:4-11

4The one who 1speaks in a tongue 2edifies himself; but the one who 3prophesies 4edifies the church. 5Now I wish that you all 5spoke in tongues, but 6rather that you would prophesy; and greater is the one who prophesies than the one who 7speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive 8edification.

6But now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you either by way of 9revelation, or of 10knowledge, or of 11prophecy, or of 12teaching? 7Yet even lifeless instruments, whether flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp? 8For if 13the trumpet produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle? 9So you too, unless you produce intelligible speech by the tongue, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will just be 14talking to the air. 10There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of 15languages in the world, and none is incapable of meaning. 11So if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be 16unintelligible to the one who speaks, and the one who speaks will be unintelligible 17to me.