Bible in Basic English
"So if you, in using a strange tongue, say words which have no sense, how will anyone take in what you are saying? for you will be talking to the air."
— 1 Corinthians 14:9, Bible in Basic English
“So also you, unless you uttered by the tongue words easy to understand, how would it be known what is spoken? For you would be speaking into the air.”
But, now, my brothers, if I come to you using tongues, what profit will it be to you, if I do not give you a revelation, or knowledge, or the word of the prophet, or teaching?
Even things without life, having a voice, such as a music-pipe or other instrument, if they do not give out different sounds, who may be certain what is being played?
For if the war-horn gives out an uncertain note, who will get ready for the fight?
So if you, in using a strange tongue, say words which have no sense, how will anyone take in what you are saying? for you will be talking to the air.
There are, it may be, a number of different voices in the world, and no voice is without sense.
But if the sense of the voice is not clear to me, I am like a man from a strange country to him who is talking, and he will be the same to me.
So if you are desiring the things which the Spirit gives, let your minds be turned first to the things which are for the good of the church.