Parallel Verses
New American Standard Bible
So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be
King James Version
So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.
Holman Bible
In the same way, unless you use your tongue for intelligible speech, how will what is spoken be known? For you will be speaking into the air.
International Standard Version
In the same way, unless you speak an intelligible message with your language, how will anyone know what is being said? You'll be talking into the air!
A Conservative Version
So also ye, unless ye give understandable speech by the tongue, how will that which is spoken be known? For ye will be talking into the air.
American Standard Version
So also ye, unless ye utter by the tongue speech easy to understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye will be speaking into the air.
Amplified
So it is with you, if you speak words [in an unknown tongue] that are not intelligible and clear, how will anyone understand what you are saying? You will be talking into the air [wasting your breath]!
An Understandable Version
So, unless you people also speak clearly with your tongue, how will your speaking be understood? For it will be like you were speaking into the air.
Anderson New Testament
So, also, unless you, with the tongue, utter words that are intelligible, how shall that which is spoken be known? for you will speak into the air.
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.
Common New Testament
So it is with you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is intelligible, how will anyone know what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.
Daniel Mace New Testament
in like manner, if you express yourselves in words of obscure signification, you may as well talk to the wind, for how shall any comprehend you?
Darby Translation
Thus also ye with the tongue, unless ye give a distinct speech, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye will be speaking to the air.
Godbey New Testament
Thus also if you through the tongue may give an indistinct word, how will that which is spoken be known? for you will be speaking into the air.
Goodspeed New Testament
So if you in your ecstatic speaking utter words no one can understand, how will people know what you are saying? You will be talking to the empty air!
John Wesley New Testament
So likewise unless ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? For ye will speak to the air.
Julia Smith Translation
So also ye, except by the tongue ye give an evident word, how shall the speaking be known? for ye shall be speaking into the air.
King James 2000
So likewise you, except you utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for you shall speak into the air.
Lexham Expanded Bible
And so you through the tongue, unless you produce a clear message, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.
Modern King James verseion
So also you, if you do not give a clear word through the language, how will it be known what is being said? For you will be speaking into the air.
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
Even so, likewise, when ye speak with tongues, except ye speak words that have signification, how shall it be understood what is spoken? For ye shall but speak in the air.
Moffatt New Testament
Well, it is the same with yourselves. Unless your tongue utters language that is readily understood, how can people make out what you say? You will be pouring words into the empty air!
Montgomery New Testament
In the same way with you, if you utter unintelligible words with your tongue, how can what you say be understood? You will be speaking to the winds!
NET Bible
It is the same for you. If you do not speak clearly with your tongue, how will anyone know what is being said? For you will be speaking into the air.
New Heart English Bible
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.
Noyes New Testament
So also ye, unless ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall that be known which is spoken? For ye will be speaking into the air.
Sawyer New Testament
So also you by a tongue if you utter a word not easily understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for you will speak to the air.
The Emphasized Bible
So, also, ye, through means of the tongue, except ye give intelligible discourse, how shall it be known what is being spoken? for ye will be speaking, to the air.
Thomas Haweis New Testament
So also ye, unless with the tongue you speak an intelligible discourse, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye will speak to the air.
Twentieth Century New Testament
And so with you; unless, in using the gift of 'tongues,' you utter intelligible words, how can what you say be understood? You will be speaking to the winds!
Webster
So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye will speak into the air.
Weymouth New Testament
And so with you; if with the living voice you fail to utter intelligible words, how will people know what you are saying? You will be talking to the winds.
Williams New Testament
So it is with you; unless in your ecstatic speaking you speak a message that is clearly intelligible, how can the message spoken by you be understood? You might just as well be talking to the air!
World English Bible
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.
Worrell New Testament
So also ye, unless through the tongue ye give intelligible speech, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye will be speaking into the air!
Worsley New Testament
So also unless ye utter by the tongue intelligible words, how shall what is spoken be understood? for thus ye will be only talking to the wind.
Youngs Literal Translation
so also ye, if through the tongue, speech easily understood ye may not give -- how shall that which is spoken be known? for ye shall be speaking to air.
Themes
Interpretation » Of foreign tongues
Language » Power of speaking different » Sometimes abused
Prophecy and prophets » Prophesying vs. Tongues
Tongues » Tongues vs. Prophesying
Tongues (the gift) » The miraculous gift granted to some early Christians
Interlinear
Dia
Esomai
References
Word Count of 37 Translations in 1 Corinthians 14:9
Verse Info
Context Readings
Appropriate Use Of Prophecy And Tongues
8
For if the trumpet gives an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
9 So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be
Names
Cross References
1 Corinthians 9:26
I therefore so run, not as unto an uncertain thing; so I fight, not as one that beats the air;