1 Akorinto 14
1 Funafunani chikondi, ndikufunitsitsa mphatso zauzimu, makamaka mphatso ya uneneri.
Seek this love earnestly, and strive for spiritual gifts, above all for the gift of preaching.
2 Pakuti aliyense amene amayankhula malilime sayankhula kwa anthu, koma kwa Mulungu. Zoonadi, palibe amene amamva zimene akunena chifukwa Mzimu ndiye amamuyankhulitsa zachinsinsi.
The person who, when speaking, uses the gift of ‘tongues’ is speaking, not to people, but to God, for no one understands them; yet in spirit they are speaking of hidden truths.
3 Koma amene amanenera amayankhula kwa anthu kuti awapatse mphamvu, awalimbikitse ndi kuwakhazikitsa mtima pansi.
But those who preach are speaking to their fellow men and women words that will build up faith, and give them comfort and encouragement.
4 Iye amene amayankhula malilime amadzilimbikitsa yekha, koma amene amanenera amalimbikitsa mpingo.
Those who, when speaking, use the gift of ‘tongues’ builds up their own faith, while those who preach build up the faith of the church.
5 Nʼkanakonda kuti aliyense mwa inu atamayankhula malilime, koma ndi bwino kuti muzinenera. Amene amanenera amaposa amene amayankhula malilime, pokhapokha atatanthauzira kuti mpingo upindule.
Now I want you all to speak in ‘tongues,’ but much more I wish that you should preach. A preacher is worth more than one who speaks in ‘tongues,’ unless they interprets their words, so that the faith of the church may be built up.
6 Tsono, abale, mudzapindula chiyani nditabwera kwa inu ndi kukuyankhulani mʼmalilime? Koma mudzapindula ngati nditakubweretserani vumbulutso lina lake, kapena chidziwitso, kapena chiphunzitso.
This being so, friends, what good will I do you, if I come to you and speak in ‘tongues,’ unless my words convey some revelation, or knowledge, or take the form of preaching or teaching?
7 Ngakhale mu zinthu zopanda moyo monga chitoliro kapena gitala, zimene zimatulutsa liwu; kodi munthu akhoza kudziwa bwanji nyimbo imene ikuyimbidwa ngati mawu sakumveka mogwirizana bwino?
Even with inanimate things, such as a flute or a harp, though they produce sounds, yet unless the notes are quite distinct, how can the tune played on the flute or the harp be recognized?
8 Komanso ngati lipenga silimveka bwino, ndani angakonzekere nkhondo?
If the bugle sounds a doubtful call, who will prepare for battle?
9 Chimodzimodzinso inu. Ngati simungayankhule mawu omveka bwino mʼchiyankhulo chanu, wina angadziwe bwanji chimene mukunena? Muzingodziyankhulira nokha.
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!
10 Mosakayika, pali ziyankhulo zosiyanasiyana pa dziko lapansi, koma palibe nʼchimodzi chomwe chimene chilibe tanthauzo.
There are, for instance, a certain number of different languages in the world, and not one of them fails to convey meaning.
11 Tsono ngati sindingatolepo tanthauzo la zimene wina akuyankhula, ndiye kuti ndine mlendo kwa oyankhulayo ndipo iyeyo ndi mlendo kwa ine.
If, however, I do not happen to know the language, I will be a foreigner to those who speak it, and they will be foreigners to me.
12 Chimodzimodzinso inu. Popeza mumafunitsitsa mphatso za Mzimu, yesetseni kuchita bwino pa mphatso zimene zimamanga mpingo.
And so with you; since you are striving for spiritual gifts, be eager to excel in such as will build up the faith of the church.
13 Pa chifukwa ichi munthu amene amayankhula malilime apemphere kuti azitha kutanthauzira zimene akunena.
Therefore anyone who, when speaking, uses the gift of ‘tongues’ should pray for ability to interpret them.
14 Popeza ngati ndipemphera mʼmalilime, ndi mzimu wanga umene ukupemphera, koma nzeru zanga sizikupindula kanthu.
If, when praying, I use the gift of ‘tongues,’ my spirit indeed prays, but my mind is a blank.
15 Tsono pamenepa nʼkutani? Ndidzapemphera ndi mzimu wanga, komanso ndidzapemphera ndi nzeru zanga. Ndidzayimba ndi mzimu wanga, komanso ndidzayimba ndi nzeru zanga.
What, then, is my conclusion? Simply this – I will pray with my spirit, but with my mind as well; I will sing with my spirit, but with my mind as well.
16 Ngati mutamanda Mulungu mu mzimu, kodi munthu amene wapezeka pakati pa amene akuyankhula zomwe sakumva, adzavomereza bwanji kuti “Ameni” pa pemphero lanu loyamikalo popeza sakumva chimene mukunena?
If you bless God with your spirit only, how can people in the congregation who are without your gift say ‘Amen’ to your thanksgiving? They do not know what you are saying!
17 Mukhoza kumathokoza mokwanira, koma munthu winayo sanathandizikepo.
Your thanksgiving may be excellent, but the other is not helped by it.
18 Ndikuyamika Mulungu chifukwa ndimayankhula malilime kuposa nonsenu.
Thank God, I use the gift of ‘tongues’ more than any of you.
19 Koma mu mpingo ndi kwabwino kuti ndiyankhule mawu asanu okha omveka bwino kuti ndilangize bwino ena kusiyana ndikuyankhula mawu ambirimbiri mʼmalilime.
But at a meeting of the church I would rather speak five words with my mind, and so teach others, than ten thousand words when using the gift of ‘tongues.’
20 Abale, lekani kuganiza ngati ana. Mukhale ana pa nkhani ya zoyipa koma mʼmaganizo anu mukhale okhwima.
My friends, do not show yourselves children in understanding. In wickedness be infants, but in understanding show yourselves adults.
21 Zinalembedwa mʼMalamulo kuti, “Ndidzayankhula kwa anthu awa, kudzera mwa anthu aziyankhulo zachilendo ndiponso ndi milomo yachilendo. Koma ngakhale nthawi imeneyo sadzandimvera Ine, akutero Ambuye.”
It is said in the Law – ‘In strange tongues and by the lips of strangers will I speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.’
22 Kotero, malilime ndi chizindikiro, osati cha kwa okhulupirira koma kwa osakhulupirira. Koma kunenera ndi chizindikiro kwa okhulupirira osati kwa osakhulupirira.
Therefore the gift of the ‘tongues’ is intended as a sign, not for those who believe in Christ, but for those who do not, while the gift of preaching is intended as a sign, not for those who do not believe in Christ, but for those who do.
23 Kotero kuti ngati mpingo wonse utasonkhana pamodzi ndipo aliyense namayankhula malilime, ndipo wina amene sangazindikire kapena ena osakhulupirira nabwerapo, kodi sadzanena kuti mwachita misala?
So, when the whole church meets, if all present use the gift of ‘tongues,’ and some people who are without the gift, or who are unbelievers, come in, will not they say that you are mad?
24 Koma ngati wosakhulupirira kapena wina amene sakuzindikira abwera pamene aliyense akunenera, adzatsutsika mu mtima ndi zonse zimene akumva ndipo adzaweruzidwa ndi onse
While, if all those present use the gift of preaching, and an unbeliever, or someone without the gift, comes in, they are convinced of their sinfulness by them all, they are called to account by them all;
25 ndipo zinsinsi za mu mtima mwake zidzawululika. Kotero kuti adzadzigwetsa pansi ndi kupembedza Mulungu akufuwula kuti, “Mulungu ali pakati panudi!”
the secrets of their heart are revealed, and then, throwing themselves on their face, they will worship God, and declare ‘God is indeed among you!’
26 Kodi tsono abale, tinene chiyani? Pamene musonkhana pamodzi, aliyense amakhala ali ndi nyimbo yoti ayimbe, kapena mawu oti alangize, vumbulutso, malilime, kapena kumasulira kwake. Zonsezi cholinga chake chikhale kulimbikitsa mpingo.
What do I suggest, then, friends? Whenever you meet for worship, each of you comes, either with a hymn, or a lesson, or a revelation, or the gift of ‘tongues,’ or the interpretation of them; let everything be directed to the building up of faith.
27 Ngati wina ayankhula malilime, awiri kapena akachulukapo atatu ndiye ayankhule mmodzimmodzi, ndipo wina ayenera kutanthauzira zimene ayankhulazo.
If any of you use the gift of ‘tongues,’ not more than two, or at the most three, should do so – each speaking in his turn – and someone should interpret them.
28 Ngati palibe wotanthauzira, woyankhulayo akhale chete mu mpingo ndipo adziyankhulire iye mwini ndi Mulungu.
If there is no one able to interpret what is said, they should remain silent at the meeting of the church, and speak to themselves and to God.
29 Aneneri awiri kapena atatu anenere, ndipo enawo asanthule mosamalitsa zimene anenerazo.
Of preachers two or three should speak, and the rest should weigh well what is said.
30 Ndipo ngati vumbulutso labwera kwa munthu amene wakhala pansi, amene akuyankhulayo akhale chete.
But, if some revelation is made to another person as he sits there, the first speaker should stop.
31 Pakuti nonse mukhoza kunenera mmodzimmodzi motsatana kuti aliyense alangizidwe ndi kulimbikitsidwa.
For you can all preach in turn, so that all may learn some lesson and all receive encouragement.
32 Mizimu ya aneneri imamvera ulamuliro wa aneneri.
(The spirit that moves the preachers is within the preachers’ control;
33 Pakuti Mulungu si Mulungu wachisokonezo koma wamtendere. Monga mwa mipingo yonse ya oyera mtima.
for God is not a God of disorder, but of peace.) This custom prevails in all the churches of Christ’s people.
34 Amayi akhale chete mʼmisonkhano ya mpingo. Iwo asaloledwe kuyankhula, koma azikhala omvera monga mmene lamulo linenera.
At the meetings of the church married women should remain silent, for they are not allowed to speak in public; they should take a subordinate place, as the Law itself directs.
35 Ngati ali ndi mafunso, akafunse amuna awo ku nyumba. Nʼchochititsa manyazi kuti mkazi ayankhule mu msonkhano wa mpingo.
If they want information on any point, they should ask their husbands about it at home; for it is unbecoming for a married woman to speak at a meeting of the church.
36 Kodi kapena mawu a Mulungu anachokera kwa inu? Kapena anafika kwa inu nokha?
What! Did God’s message to the world originate with you? Or did it find its way to none but you?
37 Ngati wina aliyense akuganiza kuti ndi mneneri kapena kuti ali ndi mphatso za Mzimu, ayenera kudziwa kuti zimene ndikukulemberanizi ndi lamulo la Ambuye.
If anyone thinks that he has the gift of preaching or any other spiritual gift, he should recognize that what I am now saying to you is a command from the Lord.
38 Ngati munthu savomereza zimenezi, iyeyonso sadzavomerezedwa.
Anyone who ignores it may be ignored.
39 Nʼchifukwa chake, abale anga, funitsitsani kunenera, ndipo musaletse anthu kuyankhula malilime.
Therefore, my friends, strive for the gift of preaching, and yet do not forbid speaking in ‘tongues.’
40 Koma chilichonse chichitike moyenera ndi mwadongosolo.
Let everything be done in a proper and orderly manner.
