◄ 1 Corinthians 14:9 ►
Verse  (Click for Chapter)
Good News Translation
In the same way, how will anyone understand what you are talking about if your message given in strange tongues is not clear? Your words will vanish in the air!

New Revised Standard Version
So with yourselves; if in a tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is being said? For you will be speaking into the air.

Contemporary English Version
This is how it is when you speak unknown languages. If no one can understand what you are talking about, you will only be talking to the wind.

New American Bible
Similarly, if you, because of speaking in tongues, do not utter intelligible speech, how will anyone know what is being said? For you will be talking to the air.

Douay-Rheims Bible
So likewise you, except you utter by the tongue plain speech, how shall it be known what is said? For you shall be speaking into the air.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

So likewise you, except you utter by the tongue plain speech, how shall it be known what is said? For you shall be speaking into the air.

easy.

1 Corinthians 14:19 But in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may instruct others also: than ten thousand words in a tongue.

for.

1 Corinthians 9:26 I therefore so run, not as at an uncertainty: I so fight, not as one beating the air.

Context
Prophecy and Tongues
…8For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? 9So likewise you, except you utter by the tongue plain speech, how shall it be known what is said? For you shall be speaking into the air. 10There are, for example, so many kinds of tongues in this world: and none is without voice.…
Cross References
1 Corinthians 9:26
I therefore so run, not as at an uncertainty: I so fight, not as one beating the air.

1 Corinthians 14:10
There are, for example, so many kinds of tongues in this world: and none is without voice.

1 Corinthians 14:8
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