Then the LORD came down to look over the city and the tower that the men were building.

Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the animals, all the earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth."

The LORD God said, "Since man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil, he must not reach out, and also take from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever."

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: Who should I send? Who will go for Us? I said: Here I am. Send me.

He frustrates the schemes of the crafty so that they achieve no success.

He traps the wise in their craftiness so that the plans of the deceptive are quickly brought to an end.

He deprives trusted advisers of speech and takes away the elders' good judgment.

The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord ridicules them.

The LORD frustrates the counsel of the nations; He thwarts the plans of the peoples.

Then they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages, as the Spirit gave them ability for speech.

When this sound occurred, the multitude came together and was confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language.

How is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language?

Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,

The coastland peoples spread out into their lands. These are [Japheth's sons] by their clans, in their nations. Each [group] had its own language.

These are Ham's sons, by their clans, according to their languages, in their own lands and their nations.

These are the clans of Noah's sons, according to their family records, in their nations. The nations on earth spread out from these after the flood.

They did not realize that Joseph understood them, since there was an interpreter between them.

The LORD will bring a nation from far away, from the ends of the earth, to swoop down on you like an eagle, a nation whose language you don't understand,

Lord, confuse and confound their speech, for I see violence and strife in the city;

I am about to bring a nation from far away against you, house of Israel. [This is] the LORD's declaration. It is an established nation, an ancient nation, a nation whose language you do not know and whose speech you do not understand.

For the person who speaks in [another] language is not speaking to men but to God, since no one understands him; however, he speaks mysteries in the Spirit.

The person who speaks in [another] language builds himself up, but he who prophesies builds up the church.

But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in [other] languages, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you with a revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?

In fact, if the trumpet makes an unclear sound, who will prepare for battle?

There are doubtless many different kinds of languages in the world, and all have meaning.