ⲚⲒⲔⲞⲢⲒⲚⲐⲒⲞⲤ Ⲁ ̅ 14
Seek this love earnestly, and strive for spiritual gifts, above all for the gift of preaching.
2 ⲃ̅ ⲠⲈⲦⲤⲀϪⲒ ϦⲈⲚⲪⲖⲀⲤ ⲈϤⲤⲀϪⲒ ⲚⲈⲘ ⲚⲒⲢⲰⲘⲒ ⲀⲚ ⲀⲖⲖⲀ ⲪⲚⲞⲨϮ ⲘⲘⲞⲚ ϨⲖⲒ ⲄⲀⲢ ⲤⲰⲦⲈⲘ ⲈⲢⲞϤ ϦⲈⲚⲠⲒⲠⲚⲈⲨⲘⲀϪⲈ ϤⲤⲀϪⲒ ⲚϨⲀⲚⲘⲨⲤⲦⲎ ⲢⲒⲞⲚ.
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.
But those who preach are speaking to their fellow men and women words that will build up faith, and give them comfort and encouragement.
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 ⲉ̅ ϮⲞⲨⲈϢ ⲐⲎⲚⲞⲨ ⲆⲈ ⲦⲎⲢⲞⲨ ⲈⲢⲈⲦⲈⲚⲤⲀϪⲒ ϦⲈⲚϨⲀⲚⲖⲀⲤ ⲘⲀⲖⲖⲞⲚ ⲆⲈ ϨⲒⲚⲀ ⲚⲦⲈⲦⲈⲚⲈⲢⲠⲢⲞⲪⲎⲦⲈⲨⲒⲚ ⲚⲀⲀ ⲠⲈⲦⲈⲢⲠⲢⲞⲪⲎⲦⲈⲨⲒⲚ ⲆⲈ ⲈϨⲞⲦⲈ ⲠⲈⲦⲤⲀϪⲒ ϦⲈⲚⲪⲖⲀⲤ ⲤⲀⲂⲞⲖ ⲒⲘⲎⲦⲒ ⲚⲦⲈϤⲈⲢⲘⲈⲚⲈⲨⲒⲚ ϨⲒⲚⲀ ⲚⲦⲈϮⲈⲔⲔⲖⲎⲤⲒⲀ ϬⲒ ⲚⲞⲨⲔⲰⲦ.
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 ⲋ̅ ϮⲚⲞⲨ ⲆⲈ ⲚⲀⲤⲚⲎⲞⲨ ⲈϢⲰⲠ ⲀⲒϢⲀⲚⲒ ϨⲀⲢⲰⲦⲈⲚ ⲈⲒⲤⲀϪⲒ ϦⲈⲚϨⲀⲚⲖⲀⲤ ⲞⲨ ⲚϨⲎⲞⲨ ⲠⲈϮⲚⲀⲦⲎⲒϤ ⲚⲰⲦⲈⲚ ⲀⲒϢⲦⲈⲘⲤⲀϪⲒ ⲚⲈⲘⲰⲦⲈⲚ ϦⲈⲚⲞⲨϬⲰⲢⲠ ⲈⲂⲞⲖ ⲒⲈ ϦⲈⲚⲞⲨⲈⲘⲒ ⲒⲈ ϦⲈⲚⲞⲨⲠⲢⲞⲪⲎⲦⲒⲀ ⲒⲈ ϦⲈⲚⲞⲨⲤⲂⲰ.
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 ⲍ̅ ⲞⲘⲰⲤ ⲚⲒⲀⲦⲮⲨⲬⲎ ⲈⲨϮ ⲚⲦⲞⲨⲤⲘⲎ ⲒⲦⲈ ⲞⲨⲤⲎⲂⲒ ⲚϪⲰ ⲒⲦⲈ ⲞⲨⲔⲨⲐⲀⲢⲀ ⲀⲨϢⲦⲈⲘϢⲒⲂϮ ⲚⲦⲞⲨⲤⲘⲎ ⲠⲰⲤ ⲤⲈⲚⲀⲈⲘⲒ ⲈⲠⲈⲦⲞⲨϪⲰ ⲘⲘⲞϤ ⲒⲈ ⲪⲎ ⲈⲦⲞⲨⲈⲢⲔⲨⲐⲀⲢⲒⲌⲒⲚ ⲘⲘⲞϤ.
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 recognised?
If the bugle sounds a doubtful call, who will prepare for battle?
9 ⲑ̅ ⲠⲀⲒⲢⲎϮ ϨⲰⲦⲈⲚ ⲈⲂⲞⲖ ϨⲒⲦⲈⲚ ⲪⲖⲀⲤ ⲈϢⲰⲠ ⲀⲢⲈϢⲦⲈⲘϪⲈ ⲞⲨⲤⲀϪⲒ ⲈϤⲞⲨⲞⲚϨ ⲈⲂⲞⲖ ⲠⲰⲤ ⲤⲈⲚⲀⲈⲘⲒ ⲈⲠⲈⲦⲈⲚϪⲰ ⲘⲘⲞϤ ⲦⲈⲦⲈⲚⲚⲀϢⲰⲠⲒ ⲄⲀⲢ ⲈⲢⲈⲦⲈⲚⲤⲀϪⲒ ⲈⲠⲀⲎⲢ.
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!
There are, for instance, a certain number of different languages in the world, and not one of them fails to convey meaning.
11 ⲓ̅ⲁ̅ ⲈϢⲰⲠ ⲀⲒϢⲦⲈⲘⲈⲘⲒ ⲈⲦϪⲞⲘ ⲚⲦⲈϮⲤⲘⲎ ϮⲚⲀϢⲰⲠⲒ ⲈⲒⲞⲒ ⲘⲂⲀⲢⲂⲀⲢⲞⲤ ⲚⲦⲞⲦϤ ⲘⲠⲈⲦⲤⲀϪⲒ ⲞⲨⲞϨ ⲠⲈⲦⲤⲀϪⲒ ⲚⲈⲘⲎⲒ ϤⲚⲀϢⲰⲠⲒ ⲈϤⲞⲒ ⲘⲂⲀⲢⲂⲀⲢⲞⲤ ⲚⲦⲞⲦ.
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 ⲓ̅ⲃ̅ ⲠⲀⲒⲢⲎϮ ⲚⲐⲰⲦⲈⲚ ϨⲰⲦⲈⲚ ⲈⲠⲒⲆⲎ ⲦⲈⲦⲈⲚⲞⲒ ⲚⲢⲈϤⲬⲞϨ ⲚⲚⲒⲠⲚⲀⲦⲒⲔⲞⲚ ⲈⲠⲔⲰⲦ ⲚⲦⲈϮⲈⲔⲔⲖⲎⲤⲒⲀ ⲔⲰϮ ϨⲒⲚⲀ ⲚⲦⲈⲦⲈⲚⲈⲢϨⲞⲨⲞ.
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.
Therefore anyone who, when speaking, uses the gift of “tongues” should pray for ability to interpret them.
If, when praying, I use the gift of “tongues,” my spirit indeed prays, but my mind is a blank.
15 ⲓ̅ⲉ̅ ⲞⲨ ϪⲈ ⲠⲈϮⲚⲀⲀⲒϤ ϮⲚⲀⲦⲰⲂϨ ϦⲈⲚⲠⲒⲠⲚⲈⲨⲘⲀϮⲚⲀⲦⲰⲂϨ ⲆⲈ ⲞⲚ ϦⲈⲚⲠⲒⲔⲈϨⲎⲦ ϮⲚⲀⲈⲢⲮⲀⲖⲒⲚ ϦⲈⲚⲠⲒⲠⲚⲈⲨⲘⲀϮⲚⲀⲈⲢⲮⲀⲖⲒⲚ ⲆⲈ ⲞⲚ ϦⲈⲚⲠⲒⲔⲈϨⲎⲦ.
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 ⲓ̅ⲋ̅ ⲒⲈ ⲘⲘⲞⲚ ⲀⲔϢⲀⲚⲤⲘⲞⲨ ϦⲈⲚⲠⲒⲠⲚⲈⲨⲘⲀⲠⲈⲦϪⲰⲔ ⲘⲪⲘⲀ ⲘⲠⲒⲒⲆⲒⲰⲦⲎⲤ ⲈⲂⲞⲖ ⲠⲰⲤ ϤⲚⲀϪⲈ ⲠⲒⲀⲘⲎⲚ ⲈϨⲢⲎⲒ ⲈϪⲈⲚ ⲠⲈⲔϢⲈⲠϨⲘⲞⲦ ⲈⲠⲒⲆⲎ ⲠⲈⲦⲈⲔϪⲰ ⲘⲘⲞϤ ϤⲈⲘⲒ ⲈⲢⲞϤ ⲀⲚ.
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!
Your thanksgiving may be excellent, but the other is not helped by it.
Thank God, I use the gift of “tongues” more than any of you.
19 ⲓ̅ⲑ̅ ⲀⲖⲖⲀ ϮⲞⲨⲰϢ ⲈϪⲈ ⲈⲚⲤⲀϪⲒ ϦⲈⲚⲠⲀⲔⲀϮ ϦⲈⲚϮⲈⲔⲔⲖⲎⲤⲒⲀ ϨⲒⲚⲀ ⲚⲦⲀⲈⲢⲔⲀⲦⲎⲬⲒⲚ ⲚϨⲀⲚⲔⲈⲬⲰⲞⲨⲚⲒ ⲈϨⲞⲦⲈ ⲞⲨⲐⲂⲀ ⲚⲤⲀϪⲒ ϦⲈⲚⲪⲖⲀⲤ.
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 ⲕ̅ ⲚⲀⲤⲚⲎⲞⲨ ⲘⲠⲈⲢⲈⲢⲀⲖⲞⲨ ϦⲈⲚⲚⲈⲦⲈⲚⲔⲀϮ ⲀⲖⲖⲀ ⲀⲢⲒⲀⲖⲞⲨ ϦⲈⲚϮⲔⲀⲔⲒⲀ ⲚϨⲢⲎⲒ ⲆⲈ ϦⲈⲚⲚⲈⲦⲈⲚⲔⲀϮ ϢⲰⲠⲒ ⲈⲢⲈⲦⲈⲚϪⲎ ϪⲈⲂⲞⲖ.
My friends, do not show yourselves children in understanding. In wickedness be infants, but in understanding show yourselves adults.
21 ⲕ̅ⲁ̅ ⲤⲤϦⲎⲞⲨⲦ ⲄⲀⲢ ϨⲒ ⲪⲚⲞⲘⲞⲤ ϪⲈ ϦⲈⲚϨⲀⲚⲔⲈⲖⲀⲤ ⲚⲈⲘ ϨⲀⲚⲔⲈⲤⲪⲞⲦⲞⲨ ϮⲚⲀⲤⲀϪⲒ ⲚⲈⲘ ⲠⲀⲒⲖⲀⲞⲤ ⲞⲨⲞϨ ⲠⲀⲒⲢⲎϮ ⲞⲚ ⲚⲚⲞⲨⲤⲰⲦⲈⲘ ⲚⲤⲰⲒ ⲠⲈϪⲈ ⲠϬⲞⲒⲤ.
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 ⲕ̅ⲃ̅ ϨⲰⲤⲦⲈ ⲚⲒⲖⲀⲤ ⲚⲀⲨⲬⲎ ⲈⲨⲘⲎⲒⲚⲒ ⲚⲚⲎ ⲈⲐⲚⲀϨϮ ⲀⲚ ⲀⲖⲖⲀ ⲚⲒⲀⲐⲚⲀϨϮ ϮⲠⲢⲞⲪⲎⲦⲒⲀ ⲆⲈ ⲚⲀⲤⲬⲎ ⲚⲚⲒⲀⲐⲚⲀϨϮ ⲀⲚ ⲀⲖⲖⲀ ⲚⲎ ⲈⲐⲚⲀϨϮ.
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 ⲕ̅ⲅ̅ ⲈϢⲰⲠ ⲞⲨⲚ ⲀⲤϢⲀⲚⲒ ⲈⲨⲘⲀ ⲚϪⲈϮⲈⲔⲔⲖⲎⲤⲒⲀ ⲦⲎⲢⲤ ⲞⲨⲞϨ ⲚⲤⲈⲤⲀϪⲒ ⲦⲎⲢⲞⲨ ϦⲈⲚϨⲀⲚⲖⲀⲤ ⲚⲤⲈⲒ ⲆⲈ ⲈϦⲞⲨⲚ ⲚϪⲈϨⲀⲚⲒⲆⲒⲰⲦⲎⲤ ⲒⲈ ϨⲀⲚⲀⲐⲚⲀϨϮ ⲘⲎ ⲤⲈⲚⲀϪⲞⲤ ⲀⲚ ϪⲈ ⲀⲢⲈ ⲚⲀⲒ ⲖⲞⲂⲒ.
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 ⲕ̅ⲇ̅ ⲈϢⲰⲠ ⲆⲈ ⲈⲨⲈⲢⲠⲢⲞⲪⲎⲦⲈⲨⲒⲚ ⲦⲎⲢⲞⲨ ⲚⲦⲈϤⲒ ⲆⲈ ⲈϦⲞⲨⲚ ⲚϪⲈⲞⲨⲀⲐⲚⲀϨϮ ⲒⲈ ⲞⲨⲒⲆⲒⲰⲦⲎⲤ ⲤⲈⲚⲀⲤⲀϨⲰϤ ⲚϪⲈⲞⲨⲞⲚ ⲚⲒⲂⲈⲚ ⲤⲈⲚⲀϦⲈⲦϦⲰⲦϤ ⲚϪⲈⲞⲨⲞⲚ ⲚⲒⲂⲈⲚ.
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 ⲕ̅ⲉ̅ ⲚⲎ ⲈⲦϨⲎⲠ ⲚⲦⲈⲠⲈϤϨⲎⲦ ⲤⲈⲚⲀⲞⲨⲞⲚϨ ⲈⲂⲞⲖ ⲞⲨⲞϨ ⲠⲀⲒⲢⲎϮ ϤⲚⲀϨⲒⲦϤ ⲈϪⲈⲚ ⲠⲈϤϨⲞ ⲚⲦⲈϤⲞⲨⲰϢⲦ ⲘⲪⲚⲞⲨϮ ⲈϤⲞⲨⲰⲚϨ ⲈⲂⲞⲖ ϪⲈ ⲞⲚⲦⲰⲤ ⲪⲚⲞⲨϮ ϢⲞⲠ ϦⲈⲚⲐⲎⲚⲞⲨ.
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 ⲕ̅ⲋ̅ ⲞⲨ ϪⲈ ⲠⲈ ⲚⲀⲤⲚⲎⲞⲨ ⲈϢⲰⲠ ⲀⲢⲈⲦⲈⲚϢⲀⲚⲐⲰⲞⲨϮ ⲠⲒⲞⲨⲀⲒ ⲠⲒⲞⲨⲀⲒ ⲞⲨⲞⲚⲦⲀϤ ⲚⲞⲨⲮⲀⲖⲘⲞⲤ ⲘⲘⲀⲨ ⲞⲨⲞⲚⲦⲀϤ ⲚⲞⲨⲤⲂⲰ ⲞⲨⲞⲚⲦⲀϤ ⲚⲞⲨϬⲰⲢⲠ ⲈⲂⲞⲖ ⲞⲨⲞⲚⲦⲀϤ ⲚⲞⲨⲀⲤⲠⲒ ⲚⲖⲀⲤ ⲞⲨⲞⲚⲦⲀϤ ⲚⲞⲨⲈⲢⲘⲎⲚⲒⲀ ϨⲰⲂ ⲚⲒⲂⲈⲚ ⲘⲀⲢⲞⲨϢⲰⲠⲒ ϦⲈⲚⲞⲨⲔⲰⲦ.
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.
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.
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.
Of preachers two or three should speak, and the rest should weigh well what is said.
But, if some revelation is made to another person as he sits there, the first speaker should stop.
31 ⲗ̅ⲁ̅ ⲞⲨⲞⲚ ϢϪⲞⲘ ⲄⲀⲢ ⲘⲘⲰⲦⲈⲚ ⲔⲀⲦⲀ ⲞⲨⲀⲒ ⲞⲨⲀⲒ ⲈⲈⲢⲠⲢⲞⲪⲎⲦⲈⲨⲒⲚ ⲦⲎⲢⲞⲨ ϨⲒⲚⲀ ⲚⲤⲈϬⲒⲤⲂⲰ ⲦⲎⲢⲞⲨ ⲞⲨⲞϨ ⲚⲤⲈϪⲈⲘⲚⲞⲘϮ ⲦⲎⲢⲞⲨ.
For you can all preach in turn, so that all may learn some lesson and all receive encouragement.
(The spirit that moves the preachers is within the preachers’ control;
for God is not a God of disorder, but of peace.) This custom prevails in all the churches of Christ’s people.
34 ⲗ̅ⲇ̅ ⲚⲒϨⲒⲞⲘⲒ ⲘⲀⲢⲞⲨⲬⲀⲢⲰⲞⲨ ϦⲈⲚϮⲈⲔⲔⲖⲎ ⲤⲒⲀ ⲚⲤⲈⲞⲨⲀϨⲤⲀϨⲚⲒ ⲚⲰⲞⲨ ⲀⲚ ⲈⲤⲀϪⲒ ⲀⲖⲖⲀ ⲘⲀⲢⲞⲨϬⲚⲈϪⲰⲞⲨ ⲔⲀⲦⲀ ⲪⲢⲎϮ ⲈⲦⲈ ⲠⲒⲔⲈⲚⲞⲘⲞⲤ ϪⲰ ⲘⲘⲞⲤ.
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 ⲗ̅ⲉ̅ ⲒⲤϪⲈ ⲆⲈ ⲤⲈⲞⲨⲰϢ ⲈⲈⲘⲒ ⲈⲞⲨϨⲰⲂ ⲘⲀⲢⲞⲨϢⲈⲚ ⲚⲞⲨⲢⲰⲘⲒ ϦⲈⲚⲚⲞⲨⲎⲒ ⲞⲨϢⲰϢ ⲄⲀⲢ ⲠⲈ ⲚⲞⲨⲤϨⲒⲘⲒ ⲈⲤⲀϪⲒ ϦⲈⲚϮⲈⲔⲔⲖⲎⲤⲒⲀ.
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.
What! Did God’s message to the world originate with you? Or did it find its way to none but you?
37 ⲗ̅ⲍ̅ ⲒⲤϪⲈ ⲞⲨⲞⲚ ⲞⲨⲀⲒ ⲈϤⲘⲈⲨⲒ ⲈⲢⲞϤ ϪⲈ ⲞⲨⲠⲢⲞⲪⲎⲦⲎⲤ ⲠⲈ ⲒⲈ ⲞⲨⲠⲚⲀⲦⲒⲔⲞⲤ ⲠⲈ ⲘⲀⲢⲈϤⲈⲘⲒ ⲈⲚⲎ ⲈϮⲤϦⲀⲒ ⲘⲘⲰⲞⲨ ⲚⲰⲦⲈⲚ ϪⲈ ⲞⲨⲈⲚⲦⲞⲖⲎ ⲚⲦⲈⲠϬⲞⲒⲤ ⲦⲈ.
If anyone thinks that he has the gift of preaching or any other spiritual gift, he should recognise that what I am now saying to you is a command from the Lord.
Anyone who ignores it may be ignored.
Therefore, my friends, strive for the gift of preaching, and yet do not forbid speaking in “tongues.”
Let everything be done in a proper and orderly manner.
