1 KOR. 14

Karama za Unabii na Kunena kwa Lugha

1  tUfuateni upendo, na kutaka sana karama za rohoni, lakini zaidi kwamba mpate kuhutubu. 2 Maana yeye anenaye kwa lugha, hasemi na watu, bali husema na Mungu; maana hakuna asikiaye; lakini anena mambo ya siri katika roho yake. 3 Bali yeye ahutubuye, asema na watu maneno ya kuwajenga, na kuwafariji, na kuwatia moyo. 4 Yeye anenaye kwa lugha hujijenga nafsi yake; bali ahutubuye hulijenga kanisa.

5 tNami nataka ninyi nyote mnene kwa lugha, lakini zaidi sana mpate kuhutubu, maana yeye ahutubuye ni mkuu kuliko yeye anenaye kwa lugha, isipokuwa afasiri, ili kusudi kanisa lipate kujengwa.
6 Ila sasa, ndugu, nikija kwenu na kunena kwa lugha, nitawafaidia nini, isipokuwa nasema nanyi kwa njia ya ufunuo, au kwa njia ya elimu, au kwa njia ya hotuba, au kwa njia ya fundisho? 7 Hata vitu visivyo na uhai vitoapo sauti, ikiwa ni filimbi, ikiwa ni kinubi, visipotoa sauti zilizo na tofauti, itatambulikanaje ni wimbo gani unaopigwa kwa filimbi au kwa kinubi? 8 Kwa maana baragumu ikitoa sauti isiyojulikana, ni nani atakayejifanya tayari kwa vita?

9 Vivyo hivyo na ninyi, msipotoa kwa ulimi neno lililo dhahiri, neno lile linenwalo litajulikanaje? Maana mtakuwa mkinena hewani tu.
10 Yamkini ziko sauti za namna nyingi duniani, wala hakuna moja isiyo na maana. 11 Basi nisipoijua maana ya ile sauti nitakuwa kama mjinga kwake yeye anenaye; naye anenaye atakuwa mjinga kwangu. 12 Vivyo hivyo na ninyi, kwa kuwa mnatamani sana kuwa watu wenye karama za roho, takeni kwamba mzidi sana kuwa nazo ili kulijenga kanisa. 13 Kwa sababu hiyo yeye anenaye kwa lugha na aombe apewe kufasiri. 14 Maana nikiomba kwa lugha, roho yangu huomba, lakini akili zangu hazina matunda. 15 tImekuwaje, basi? Nitaomba kwa roho, tena nitaomba kwa akili pia; mtaimba kwa roho, tena nitaimba kwa akili pia. 16 Kwa maana wewe ukibariki kwa roho, yeye aketiye katika mahali pa mjinga ataitikaje, Amina, baada ya kushukuru kwako, akiwa hayajui usemayo? 17 Maana ni kweli, wewe washukuru vema, bali yule mwingine hajengwi. 18 Namshukuru Mungu ya kuwa nanena kwa lugha zaidi ya ninyi nyote;

19 lakini katika kanisa napenda kunena maneno matano kwa akili zangu, nipate kuwafundisha wengine, zaidi ya kunena maneno kumi elfu kwa lugha.
20  tNdugu zangu, msiwe watoto katika akili zenu; lakini katika uovu mgeuzwe watoto wachanga, bali katika akili zenu mkawe watu wazima. 21 tImeandikwa katika torati, Nitasema na watu hawa kwa watu wa lugha nyingine, na kwa midomo ya wageni, wala hata hivyo hawatanisikia, asema Bwana. 22 Basi, hizi lugha ni ishara, si kwao waaminio, bali kwao wasioamini lakini kuhutubu si kwa ajili yao wasioamini, bali kwa ajili yao waaminio. 23 tHaya! Ikiwa kanisa lote limekusanyika pamoja, na wote wanene kwa lugha, kisha ikawa wameingia watu wajinga au wasioamini, je! Hawatasema ya kwamba mna wazimu? 24 tLakini wote wakihutubu, kisha akaingia mtu asiyeamini, au mjinga, abainishwa na wote, ahukumiwa na wote;

25 tsiri za moyo wake huwa wazi; na hivyo atamwabudu Mungu, akianguka kifudifudi, na kukiri ya kuwa Mungu yu kati yenu bila shaka.

Ibada yenye Utaratibu

33 Kwa maana Mungu si Mungu wa machafuko, bali wa amani; vile vile kama ilivyo katika makanisa yote ya watakatifu.
34  tWanawake na wanyamaze katika kanisa, maana hawana ruhusa kunena bali watii, kama vile inenavyo torati nayo. 35 Nao wakitaka kujifunza neno lo lote, na wawaulize waume zao wenyewe nyumbani mwao; maana ni aibu wanawake kunena katika kanisa.

36 Au je! Neno la Mungu lilitoka kwenu? Au kuwafikia ninyi peke yenu?
37  tMtu akijiona kuwa ni nabii au mtu wa rohoni, na ayatambue hayo ninayowaandikia, ya kwamba ni maagizo ya Bwana.

38 Lakini mtu akiwa mjinga, na awe mjinga.
39 Kwa ajili ya hayo, ndugu, takeni sana kuhutubu, wala msizuie kunena kwa lugha. 40 tLakini mambo yote na yatendeke kwa uzuri na kwa utaratibu.

1 CORINTHIANS 14

Speaking Unknown Languages //and Prophesying

1 Love should be your guide. Be eager to have the gifts that come from the Holy Spirit, especially the gift of prophecy. 2 If you speak languages that others don't know, God will understand what you are saying, though no one else will know what you mean. You will be talking about mysteries that only the Spirit understands.

3 But when you prophesy, you will be understood, and others will be helped. They will be encouraged and made to feel better.
4 By speaking languages that others don't know, you help only yourself. But by prophesying you help everyone in the church.

5 I am glad for you to speak unknown languages, although I prefer that you would prophesy. In fact, prophesying does much more good than speaking unknown languages, unless someone can help the church by explaining what you mean.
6 My friends, what good would it do, if I came and spoke unknown languages to you and didn't explain what I meant? How would I help you, unless I told you what God had shown me or gave you some knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7 If all musical instruments sounded alike, how would you know the difference between a flute and a harp?

8 If a bugle call isn't clear, how would you know to get ready for battle?
9 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. 10 There are many different languages in this world, and all of them make sense. 11 But if I don't understand the language that someone is using, we will be like foreigners to each other.

12 If you really want spiritual gifts, choose the ones that will be most helpful to the church.
13 When we speak languages that others don't know, we should pray for the power to explain what we mean. 14 For example, if I use an unknown language in my prayers, my spirit prays but my mind is useless.

15 Then what should I do? There are times when I should pray with my spirit, and times when I should pray with my mind. Sometimes I should sing with my spirit, and at other times I should sing with my mind.
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 t In the Scriptures the Lord says,
“I will use strangers
who speak unknown languages
to talk to my people.
They will speak to them
in foreign languages,
but still my people
won'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. 23 Suppose everyone in your worship service started speaking unknown languages, and some outsiders or some unbelievers come in. Won't they think you are crazy? 24 But suppose all of you are prophesying when those unbelievers and outsiders come in. They will realize that they are sinners, and they will want to change their ways because of what you are saying.

25 They will tell what is hidden in their hearts. Then they will kneel down and say to God, “We are certain that you are with these people.”

Worship Must Be Orderly

28 If no one can explain, you must keep silent in church and speak only to yourself and to God.
29 Two or three persons may prophesy, and everyone else must listen carefully. 30 If someone sitting there receives a message from God, the speaker must stop and let the other person speak. 31 Let only one person speak at a time, then all of you will learn something and be encouraged. 32 A prophet should be willing to stop and let someone else speak.

33 God wants everything to be done peacefully and in order.
When God's people meet in church, 34 the women must not be allowed to speak. They must keep quiet and listen, as the Law of Moses teaches.

35 If there is something they want to know, they can ask their husbands when they get home. It is disgraceful for women to speak in church.

36 God's message did not start with you people, and you are not the only ones it has reached.
37 If you think of yourself as a prophet or a spiritual person, you will know I am writing only what the Lord has commanded. 38 So don't pay attention to anyone who ignores what I am writing. 39 My friends, be eager to prophesy and don't stop anyone from speaking languages that others don't know. 40 But do everything properly and in order.