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2 KORINTIËRS 14

Die gawe om te profeteer

1 Julle moet die liefde nastreef. Lê julle toe op die gawes van die Gees, maar veral daarop om te profeteer. 2 Iemand wat ongewone tale of klanke gebruik, praat nie met mense nie, maar met God. Niemand verstaan hom nie, want deur die Gees sê hy onbegryplike dinge. 3 Iemand wat profeteer, rig hom tot mense en praat woorde wat geestelik opbou en bemoedig en vertroos. 4 Die een wat ongewone tale of klanke gebruik, bou net homself op, maar die een wat profeteer, bou die gemeente op. 5 Ek sou graag wil hê dat julle almal ongewone tale of klanke gebruik, maar nog liewer dat julle profeteer. Die een wat profeteer, is van groter betekenis as die een wat ongewone tale of klanke gebruik, tensy hy dit ook uitlê, sodat die gemeente daardeur opgebou kan word.

6 En nou, broers, as ek na julle toe kom en ongewone tale of klanke gebruik, van watter nut sal ek vir julle wees? Ek sal vir julle net van nut wees as ek 'n openbaring of kennis of profesie of lering aan julle meedeel.

7 Dit is net soos met lewelose instrumente wat 'n klank afgee, soos 'n fluit of 'n siter. As daar nie klankverskille is nie, hoe sal 'n mens weet wat op die fluit of die siter gespeel word?

8 En as die beuel 'n onduidelike sein gee, wie sal vir die geveg gereed maak? 9 So is dit ook met julle. As julle ongewone tale of klanke gebruik en nie 'n verstaanbare woord praat nie, hoe sal 'n mens weet wat daar gesê word? Dan praat julle mos in die wind! 10 Daar is wie weet hoeveel soorte tale in die wêreld, en nie een is sonder betekenis nie. 11 Maar as ek 'n taal nie ken nie, sal die een wat dit praat, vir my onverstaanbaar wees en ek vir hom. 12 Dit is ook op julle van toepassing. As julle julle toelê op die gawes van die Gees, streef dan na dié wat tot opbou van die gemeente dien, sodat julle daarin kan uitmunt.

13 Daarom moet hy wat ongewone tale of klanke gebruik, bid om die gawe om dit te kan uitlê, 14 want as ek ongewone tale of klanke gebruik wanneer ek bid, dan bid my gees, maar my verstand is nie daarby betrokke nie. 15 Hoe moet dit dan wees? Só, dat ek met die gees moet bid, maar ook met die verstand. Ek moet met die gees die lof van die Here sing, maar ook met die verstand. 16 Anders, as jy met die gees 'n dankgebed doen, hoe sal 'n gewone mens wat daar teenwoordig is, op jou dankgebed “Amen” kan sê? Hy verstaan mos nie wat jy sê nie. 17 Jou dankgebed is wel goed, maar ander mense word nie daardeur geestelik opgebou nie.

18 Ek dank God dat ek meer ongewone tale of klanke gebruik as julle almal. 19 Maar in die byeenkoms van die gemeente wil ek liewer vyf woorde met my verstand praat om ook ander te onderrig, as duisend woorde in ongewone tale of klanke.

20 Broers, moenie in julle denke kinders wees nie. Wees onvolwasse in die slegte dinge, maar in julle denke volwasse. 21 In die wet staan daar geskrywe dat die Here sê: “Deur andertaliges en deur die mond van vreemde mense sal Ek met hierdie volk praat, en selfs dan sal hulle na My nie luister nie.”t

22 So is die gebruik van ongewone tale of klanke dan 'n teken vir ongelowiges en nie vir gelowiges nie. Daarteenoor is die profesie vir gelowiges en nie vir ongelowiges nie.

23 As die hele gemeente dan bymekaar is en almal gebruik ongewone tale of klanke en daar kom buitestaanders of ongelowiges binne, sal hulle nie sê julle is van julle verstand af nie? 24 Daarteenoor, as almal profeteer, en daar kom 'n ongelowige of 'n buitestaander binne, dan word hy deur almal in sy gewete aangespreek en kom hy tot selfondersoek. 25 Die verborge dinge van sy hart kom aan die lig. En so kom hy daartoe om op sy knieë te val, God te aanbid en openlik te getuig: “Waarlik, God is hier by julle!”

Die goeie orde in die gemeente

26 Hoe moet dit dan wees, broers? Elke keer as julle bymekaarkom, het elkeen gewoonlik 'n bydrae om te lewer: 'n psalm, 'n onderwysing, 'n openbaring, 'n ongewone taal of klank, 'n uitleg daarvan. Sorg dan dat alles tot opbou van die gemeente verloop.

27 Wat die ongewone tale of klanke betref, net twee of hoogstens drie moet dit praat, elkeen op sy beurt, en daar moet een wees wat dit uitlê. 28 As daar nie iemand is wat dit kan uitlê nie, moet dié een wat ongewone tale of klanke gebruik, stilbly in die byeenkoms van die gemeente en net tuis met homself en met God praat.

29 Wat die profete betref, twee of drie kan aan die woord kom, en die ander moet beoordeel wat hulle sê. 30 Maar as 'n ander een wat daar sit, 'n openbaring ontvang, moet die spreker stilbly. 31 Julle kan almal profeteer, maar een vir een, sodat almal daaruit kan leer en almal bemoedig kan word. 32 'n Profeet het immers beheer oor sy gees. 33 God is tog nie 'n God van wanorde nie, maar van orde en vrede. Soos in al die Christelike gemeentes

34 moet die vrouens ook in julle byeenkomste stilbly, want hulle word nie toegelaat om te praat nie. Hulle moet onderdanig wees, soos die wet ook sê. 35 As hulle iets te wete wil kom, moet hulle tuis hulle eie mans vra, want dit is lelik vir 'n vrou om in die erediens te praat.

36 Het die woord van God miskien van julle af uitgegaan? Of het dit julle alleen bereik?

37 Iemand wat dink dat hy 'n profeet is of 'n ander gawe van die Gees besit, moet erken dat wat ek aan julle skrywe, 'n bevel van die Here is. 38 Maar as iemand dit nie erken nie, sal God hom ook nie erken nie.

39 Daarom, my broers, beywer julle om te profeteer en moenie die gebruik van ongewone tale of klanke verhinder nie. 40 Alles moet egter gepas en ordelik geskied.

1 Corinthians 14

1  EAGERLY PURSUE and seek to acquire [this] love [make it your aim, your great quest]; and earnestly desire and cultivate the spiritual endowments (gifts), especially that you may prophesy (interpret the divine will and purpose in inspired preaching and teaching).2  For one who speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the [Holy] Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things [not obvious to the understanding].3  But [on the other hand], the one who prophesies [who interprets the divine will and purpose in inspired preaching and teaching] speaks to men for their upbuilding and constructive spiritual progress and encouragement and consolation.4  He who speaks in a [strange] tongue edifies and improves himself, but he who prophesies [interpreting the divine will and purpose and teaching with inspiration] edifies and improves the church and promotes growth [in Christian wisdom, piety, holiness, and happiness].5  Now I wish that you might all speak in [unknown] tongues, but more especially [I want you] to prophesy (to be inspired to preach and interpret the divine will and purpose). He who prophesies [who is inspired to preach and teach] is greater (more useful and more important) than he who speaks in [unknown] tongues, unless he should interpret [what he says], so that the church may be edified and receive good [from it].6  Now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in [unknown] tongues, how shall I make it to your advantage unless I speak to you either in revelation (disclosure of God’s will to man) in knowledge or in prophecy or in instruction?7  If even inanimate musical instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone [listening] know or understand what is played?8  And if the war bugle gives an uncertain (indistinct) call, who will prepare for battle?9  Just so it is with you; if you in the [unknown] tongue speak words that are not intelligible, how will anyone understand what you are saying? For you will be talking into empty space!10  There are, I suppose, all these many [to us unknown] tongues in the world [somewhere], and none is destitute of [its own power of] expression and meaning.11  But if I do not know the force and significance of the speech (language), I shall seem to be a foreigner to the one who speaks [to me], and the speaker who addresses [me] will seem a foreigner to me.12  So it is with yourselves; since you are so eager and ambitious to possess spiritual endowments and manifestations of the [Holy] Spirit, [concentrate on] striving to excel and to abound [in them] in ways that will build up the church.13  Therefore, the person who speaks in an [unknown] tongue should pray [for the power] to interpret and explain what he says.14  For if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit [by the Holy Spirit within me] prays, but my mind is unproductive [it bears no fruit and helps nobody].15  Then what am I to do? I will pray with my spirit [by the Holy Spirit that is within me], but I will also pray [intelligently] with my mind and understanding; I will sing with my spirit [by the Holy Spirit that is within me], but I will sing [intelligently] with my mind and understanding also.16  Otherwise, if you bless and render thanks with [your] spirit [thoroughly aroused by the Holy Spirit], how can anyone in the position of an outsider or he who is not gifted with [interpreting of unknown] tongues, say the Amen to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? [I Chron. 16:36; Ps. 106:48.]17  To be sure, you may give thanks well (nobly), but the bystander is not edified [it does him no good].18  I thank God that I speak in [strange] tongues (languages) more than any of you or all of you put together;19  Nevertheless, in public worship, I would rather say five words with my understanding and intelligently in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a [strange] tongue (language).20  Brethren, do not be children [immature] in your thinking; continue to be babes in [matters of] evil, but in your minds be mature [men].21  It is written in the Law, By men of strange languages and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and not even then will they listen to Me, says the Lord. 22  Thus [unknown] tongues are meant for a [supernatural] sign, not for believers but for unbelievers [on the point of believing], while prophecy (inspired preaching and teaching, interpreting the divine will and purpose) is not for unbelievers [on the point of believing] but for believers.23  Therefore, if the whole church assembles and all of you speak in [unknown] tongues, and the ungifted and uninitiated or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are demented?24  But if all prophesy [giving inspired testimony and interpreting the divine will and purpose] and an unbeliever or untaught outsider comes in, he is told of his sin and reproved and convicted and convinced by all, and his defects and needs are examined (estimated, determined) and he is called to account by all,25  The secrets of his heart are laid bare; and so, falling on [his] face, he will worship God, declaring that God is among you in very truth.26  What then, brethren, is [the right course]? When you meet together, each one has a hymn, a teaching, a disclosure of special knowledge or information, an utterance in a [strange] tongue, or an interpretation of it. [But] let everything be constructive and edifying and for the good of all.27  If some speak in a [strange] tongue, let the number be limited to two or at the most three, and each one [taking his] turn, and let one interpret and explain [what is said].28  But if there is no one to do the interpreting, let each of them keep still in church and talk to himself and to God.29  So let two or three prophets speak [those inspired to preach or teach], while the rest pay attention and weigh and discern what is said.30  But if an inspired revelation comes to another who is sitting by, then let the first one be silent.31  For in this way you can give testimony [prophesying and thus interpreting the divine will and purpose] one by one, so that all may be instructed and all may be stimulated and encouraged;32  For the spirits of the prophets (the speakers in tongues) are under the speaker’s control [and subject to being silenced as may be necessary],33  For He [Who is the source of their prophesying] is not a God of confusion and disorder but of peace and order. As [is the practice] in all the churches of the saints (God’s people),34  The women should keep quiet in the churches, for they are not authorized to speak, but should take a secondary and subordinate place, just as the Law also says. 35  But if there is anything they want to learn, they should ask their own husbands at home, for it is disgraceful for a woman to talk in church [for her to usurp and exercise authority over men in the church].36  What! Did the word of the Lord originate with you [Corinthians], or has it reached only you?37  If anyone thinks and claims that he is a prophet [filled with and governed by the Holy Spirit of God and inspired to interpret the divine will and purpose in preaching or teaching] or has any other spiritual endowment, let him understand (recognize and acknowledge) that what I am writing to you is a command of the Lord.38  But if anyone disregards or does not recognize [that it is a command of the Lord], he is disregarded and not recognized [he is one whom God knows not].39  So [to conclude], my brethren, earnestly desire and set your hearts on prophesying (on being inspired to preach and teach and to interpret God’s will and purpose), and do not forbid or hinder speaking in [unknown] tongues.40  But all things should be done with regard to decency and propriety and in an orderly fashion.