16 Suppose some strangers are in your worship service, when you are praising God with your spirit. If they don't understand you, how will they know to say, “Amen”?
17 You may be worshiping God in a wonderful way, but no one else will be helped.
18 I thank God that I speak unknown languages more than any of you.
19 But words that make sense can help the church. This is why in church I would rather speak five words that make sense than to speak 10,000 words in a language that others don't know.
20 My friends, stop thinking like children. Think like mature people and be as innocent as tiny babies.
21 In the Scriptures the Lord says,“I will use strangerswho speak unknown languagesto talk to my people.They will speak to themin foreign languages,but still my peoplewon't listen to me.”
22 Languages others don't know may mean something to unbelievers, but not to the Lord's followers. Prophecy, on the other hand, is for followers, not for unbelievers.