1 Corinthians 14
1 You must want to love others more [than you want anything else]. But you should [also] eagerly desire the abilities that [God’s] Spirit [gives to believers]. And you should desire most of all to have the ability to speak messages that come directly from God [MTY].
Ka ịhụnanya bụrụ isi ihe unu na-achọ. Chọsienụ onyinye nke Mmụọ Nsọ ike, nke ka nke onyinye inwe ike ibu amụma.
2 [I say that] because those who speak messages that come directly from God [are speaking in languages that they and the other believers in the congregation know, and so] they are able to strengthen them [spiritually] and to encourage and comfort them. But those who speak in languages [MTY] [that they have not learned] are not speaking to people. Instead, they are [only] speaking to God. No one understands them. By [the power/guidance of God’s] Spirit (OR, From within [their own] spirit) they speak things that others do not know.
Onye ọbụla na-asụ asụsụ ọ na-amụghị amụ, bụ Chineke ka ọ na-agwa okwu, ọ bụghị mmadụ. Nʼezie, ọ dịghị onye na-aghọta ihe ọ na-ekwu; nʼihi na okwu ọ na-ekwu bụ ihe omimi site nʼike Mmụọ Nsọ.
Ma onye ọbụla na-ebu amụma na-ezisa ozi na-enyere ndị mmadụ aka ito eto. Ọ na-agwakwa ha okwu nkasiobi na okwu na-ebuli mmụọ ha elu.
4 Those who speak in languages [that they have not learned] are receiving a blessing for themselves, but those who speak messages that come directly from God are giving a blessing to [all the believers in] the congregation [because they are speaking in a language that the congregation knows].
Ya mere, onye ahụ na-ebu amụma na-enyere chọọchị aka, ma onye ahụ na-asụ asụsụ ọzọ, na-enyere naanị onwe ya aka.
5 I would like you all to have the ability to speak in languages [MTY] [you have not learned]. But I would like even more for you to have the ability to speak messages that come directly from God. People can speak messages in a language that they have not learned, but if there is no one there who can explain the meaning, that situation is not as helpful to the congregation as speaking messages that come directly from God [in the language that the congregation knows].
Ọ gaara atọ m ụtọ ma a sị na unu niile nwere onyinye ịsụ asụsụ dị iche iche; ma ọ ga-atọ m karịa ma ọ bụrụ na unu niile enwee onyinye ibu amụma. Nke a bụ nʼihi na onye ahụ na-ebu amụma bara uru karịa onye na-asụ asụsụ dị iche iche. Ịsụ asụsụ ya ga-aba uru ma ọ bụrụ na ọ dị onye na-aghọta ihe ọ na-asụ, ka e nwee ike wulie chọọchị.
6 My fellow believers, suppose I came and spoke to you in a language that none of you knows [and I did not explain the meaning of what I told you]. Even if I told you something that God had revealed to me, or told you some message that had come directly from him, or taught you something that you needed to know, (that certainly would not help you!/how would that help you?) [RHQ]
Ụmụnna m ọ bụrụ na m bịakwutere unu malite ịsụ asụsụ unu na-adịghị aghọta, ole uru m baara unu, ma ọ bụghị ma m na-ekwu okwu banyere ihe ekpughere gosi m, maọbụ ihe niile m maara, maọbụ ihe gaje ime, maọbụ ihe nkuzi?
7 [It is like] lifeless [musical instruments], like flutes and harps for example. When they are played, if the notes are not played {if [those playing those instruments] do not play the notes} clearly, no one will know what tune is being played {what tune they are playing}. [RHQ]
Ọ bụkwa otu a ka ọ dị nʼetiti ihe niile na-enweghị ndụ, nke na-ada ụda, dịka ọja, maọbụ ụbọ akwara. Ọ bụrụ na ha enyeghị ụda dị iche site na nke ọzọ, olee ụzọ mmadụ ga-eji mara maọbụ ọja ka a na-afụ, maọbụ ụbọ akwara ka a na-akpọ.
8 If someone playing the trumpet [wants to signal that the soldiers should prepare to fight a battle], [the soldiers] certainly will not get ready if [the call to battle] is not played {he does not play [the call to battle]} clearly. [RHQ]
Ọ bụrụkwa na opi ike e ji akpọ ndị agha oku adapụtaghị ụda nke ọma, onye ga-ejikere ije agha?
9 It is the same with you! If you do not speak words that other people can understand, (no one will know what you are saying./how will anyone know what you are saying?) [RHQ] [It will be as though] you are just speaking to the air!
Nʼotu aka ahụ kwa, ọ bụrụ na ị na-agwa mmadụ okwu nʼasụsụ ọ na-adịghị anụ, olee otu ọ ga-esi ghọta ihe ị na-ekwu? Nʼoge ahụ, ifufe ka unu na-agwa okwu.
10 There are many different languages in the world, and all of them convey meaning [LIT] [to the people who know those languages].
Asụsụ a na-asụ nʼụwa a dị ukwuu, ma ha niile bara uru nye ndị na-anụ ha.
11 But if we do not understand the language that others are speaking, [it will be as though] they are foreigners to us, and we will be foreigners to them.
Ọ bụrụ na m aghọtaghị ihe onye na-asụ otu nʼime asụsụ ndị a na-ekwu, aga m abụ ọbịa nʼebe onye na-asụ asụsụ ahụ nọ, ya onwe ya ga-abụkwa ọbịa nʼebe m nọ.
12 So [I say this to] you: Because you are eager to have the abilities that God’s Spirit gives, earnestly desire those abilities that will do the most to help [all the believers in] the congregation.
Ebe ọ na-agụ unu agụụ inweta onyinye nke Mmụọ Nsọ, chọọnụ onyinye ndị ahụ ga-enyere unu aka iwuli nzukọ elu.
13 So, those who have the ability to speak in languages [MTY] [that they have not learned] should pray that [God will give them the ability to] explain the meaning of what they say.
Onye ọbụla na-asụ asụsụ nʼolu dị iche iche, ga-ekpe ekpere ka e nye ya onyinye ịkọwa olu dị iche iche.
14 If they pray in a language [MTY] [that they have not learned], their spirits are praying, but they are not using their minds.
Ọ bụrụ na m ji asụsụ dị iche na-ekpe ekpere, mmụọ m ga-eso m na-ekpe ekpere ahụ, ma uche m agaghị aghọta ekpere m na-ekpe.
15 So I will tell you [RHQ] what we should do. [At times] we may pray, [using] only our spirits, [in languages we have not learned. And at other times] we should pray using our minds, [thinking about the words that we are praying. Similarly], at times we may sing using only our spirits, using languages that we have not learned, and at other times we should sing using our minds, [thinking about the words that we are singing].
Ọ bụrụ na ọ dị otu a, olee ihe m ga-eme? Aga m eji mmụọ m kpee ekpere, jirikwa uche kpee ekpere. Aga m ejikwa mmụọ m bụọ abụ, jirikwa uche m bụọ abụ.
16 Suppose that any one of you praises God (OR, thanks God for what he has done), using only your [(sg)] spirit [and not using your mind]. Maybe some people [will be present who] do not know about [the abilities that God’s Spirit gives to believers]. Because they do not know what you are saying, after you thank God, they will not [RHQ] know when to say “Amen!/I agree!”
Ma o bụghị otu a, mgbe i ji asụsụ ọzọ nke a na-amaghị na-eto Chineke nʼime mmụọ, olee otu ndị niile nọ nʼụlọ nzukọ ahụ na-aghọtaghị ihe ị na-ekwu ga-esi zaa Amen?
17 You may be thanking God very well, but you are not helping them.
Ọ bụ ezie na ị na-enye ekele nke ọma, ma ọ naghị ewuli onye ọbụla elu.
18 I thank God that I speak in languages [MTY] [that I have not learned] more than any of you do.
Ana m ekele Chineke nʼihi na ana m asụ asụsụ dị iche iche karịa unu niile.
19 But during a worship service, [in order that others will understand what I am saying], I would prefer to speak five words using my mind, in order that I may teach others, rather than to speak 10,000 words in a language [MTY] [that is not understood by the congregation].
Ma mgbe ọbụla a gbakọrọ na nzukọ ife ofufe, ọ na-akara m mma ikwu naanị mkpụrụ okwu ise nke mmadụ niile ga-aghọta na nke ga-abakwara ha uru, karịa na m kwuru puku mkpụrụ okwu iri nʼasụsụ dị iche iche nke onye ọbụla na-apụghị ịghọta.
20 My fellow believers, stop being like little children in the way that you think [about these abilities that God’s Spirit gives]. Instead, think about them in a mature way. If you really want to be like little children, do as few wicked things as babies do!
Ụmụnna m, unu abụla ụmụntakịrị nʼechiche unu. Bụrụnụ ụmụntakịrị nʼihe gbasara ime ihe ọjọọ, ma bụrụnụ ndị nwere uche nʼihe gbasara ụdị okwu a.
21 [When the Jews long ago refused to obey God, he warned them about what would happen when he allowed their enemies to punish them]. In the Scriptures it is written {[the prophet Isaiah] wrote} what the Lord [God] said [about that], [They didn’t listen to prophets speaking their own language, so I will send] people from foreign [lands to attack] my people. Those foreigners will speak languages that my people do not know [DOU]. [In that way], I will warn my people, but they will still not pay attention to what I say.
E dere ya nʼakwụkwọ iwu, “Site na egbugbere ọnụ ndị mba ọzọ sitekwa nʼire ndị na-asụ iche iche ka m ga-agwa ndị a okwu, ma ọbụladị otu a, ha agaghị ege m ntị, ka Onyenwe anyị kwuru.”
22 If we speak in languages [MTY] [that we have not learned], unbelievers [who are there will realize that the Spirit of God is truly among us]. That will warn them [that they need to fear God]. But believers do not [need such a warning].
Ịsụ asụsụ dị iche iche abụghị ihe nlere anya nye ndị kwere ekwe, kama ọ bụ ihe ama nye ndị na-ekweghị ekwe. Ma ibu amụma bụ maka ndị kwere ekwe, ọ bụghị maka ndị na-ekweghị ekwe.
23 Suppose during the worship service everyone started to speak in languages [MTY] [that they have not learned]. If unbelievers or people who do not know [about the abilities that God’s Spirit gives to believers] come in [and hear that], they will surely think that you are crazy. [RHQ]
Ọ bụrụ na nzukọ niile ezukọọ nʼọgbakọ ekpere, mmadụ niile a na-asụ nʼolu dị iche iche nʼotu mgbe, ọ bụrụkwa na ndị na-aghọtaghị, maọbụ ndị na-ekweghị ekwe abata nʼebe ahụ, gịnị ka ha ga-ekwu? Ha ọ gaghị asị na isi emebiela ndị a?
24 But if an unbeliever or someone who does not know [about those abilities] comes in while all of you believers are [one by one] speaking messages that come directly from God, everything that you [say] will show that person that he is a sinner and that [God] will punish him [if he does not turn from his sinful behavior].
Ma ọ bụrụ na onye na-ekweghị ekwe maọbụ onye ọhụrụ abata mgbe onye ọbụla na-ebu amụma, ha ga-abụ ndị mmadụ niile ga-atụ mmehie ha nʼanya maakwa ha ikpe mmehie.
25 He will realize that [God knows the evil things that he has done that], things that other people do not know. Then he will kneel down and worship God and say, “God is truly among you!”
Mgbe a na-eme ka ihe nzuzo nke obi ha niile pụta ìhè, onye dị otu a ga-egbu ikpere nʼala kpọọ isiala nye Chineke sị, “Nʼezie, Chineke nọ nʼetiti unu.”
26 So, my fellow believers, I will tell you [RHQ] what I think that you should be doing. When you come together [to worship God], some of you may have a hymn to sing. Others may have something to teach [the congregation]. Others may have [something to say that God has] revealed to them. Others may give messages in languages [that they have not learned]. Others will explain the meaning of those messages. Make sure that all of these things that you do will make the congregation become more mature spiritually.
Ugbu a, ụmụnna m, kedụ otu o kwesiri ịdị? Mgbe ọbụla unu zukọrọ, ụfọdụ kwesiri ịbụ abụ, onye ọzọ ga-ezi unu ihe; maọbụ gwa unu ozi dị mkpa e gosiri ya, maọbụ jiri asụsụ nke ọ na-amụghị gwa unu okwu, ka onye ọzọ kọwaa ihe onye ji asụsụ a dị iche kwuo okwu kwuru. Ma ka ihe ọbụla e mere nʼime ụlọ chọọchị bụrụ ihe ga-ewuli onye ọbụla elu.
27 [It is all right] if two people, or at the most three people, speak in languages [MTY] [that they have not learned]. But they must speak one at a time, and someone must explain the meaning of what the others have said.
A sịkwa na ọ dị ndị chọrọ iji asụsụ dị iche kwuo okwu, ka mmadụ abụọ maọbụ atọ kwuo. Kama ka ha kwuo nʼotu nʼotu nʼusoro. Ka onye ga-akọwa ihe ha kwuru nọrọkwa nʼebe ahụ.
28 If [those who want to speak in a language that they have not learned realize that] there is no one [there] who will be able to explain the meaning [of what they will say], they should not speak in that language during the meeting. Instead, they should speak to God by themselves, [somewhere else].
Ọ bụrụ na ọ dịghị onye ga-akọwa ihe ha na-asụ, ka onye ahụ na-asụ asụsụ dị iche na chọọchị mechie ọnụ ya. Ya na Chineke sụrịta ya.
29 [During a meeting], two or three people should speak messages that come directly from God, and others who are there should think carefully about what those people have said.
Ka mmadụ abụọ maọbụ atọ nwere onyinye ibu amụma kwuo okwu nʼotu nʼotu, ka ndị ọzọ tulee ihe ha kwuru.
30 If someone receives a new message directly from God while someone else is speaking, the one who is speaking should stop speaking [and let the other person tell what God has revealed to him].
Ọ bụrụ na-ekpughere onye ọzọ nọdụ nʼakụkụ ya ihe, ka onye mbụ mechie ọnụ ya.
31 You can all, one by one, speak messages that have come directly from God, in order that you can teach others and all be encouraged {encourage everyone}.
Nʼihi na unu nwere ike ibu amụma nʼotu nʼotu, ka mmadụ niile nwee ike ịmụta ihe ma bụrụkwa ndị a gbara ume.
32 Those who speak messages that come directly from God are in control of their own spirits, [so they can wait for their turn to speak].
Mmụọ niile nke ndị amụma ka a na-edokwa nʼokpuru ndị amụma.
33 Remember that God does not desire that things be done in a disorderly way [during your worship services]. Instead, he desires that everything be done in an orderly way. Just like it happens in all the other congregations of believers,
Nʼihi na Chineke abụghị Chineke nke aghara, kama ọ bụ nke udo. Otu a ka ọ dị nʼime ọgbakọ niile nke ndị nsọ.
34 the women should not be permitted {do not permit the women} [to interrupt the meeting by] asking [questions]. They must keep quiet. They must be subject [to their husbands]. What Moses wrote [PRS] [about how God created the first two people] suggests [that the women should do that].
Ụmụ nwanyị ekwesighị ikwu okwu nʼime chọọchị. Ha ekwesighị itinye ọnụ na ntụgha ụka ọbụla, nʼihi na iwu kwuru ka ha debe onwe ha nʼokpuru ndị ọchịchị.
35 If they want to know [more] about something [that a speaker said], they should ask their husbands when they get home, for it is disgraceful for women to [interrupt a service by] asking [such questions].
Ọ bụrụ na ọ dị ihe ha chọrọ ịmata, ha jụọ di ha mgbe ha lara nʼụlọ. Nʼihi na ọ bụ ihe ihere na nwanyị ga-ekwu okwu nʼime ọgbakọ chọọchị.
36 [If you do not agree with these things that I have been telling you], remember that [RHQ] the message from God did not first come from you [people in Corinth]. Also, you are not [RHQ] the only ones who have heard it! [Many others have heard it and accepted it, so you should not act as though you are the only believers who have heard the message from God].
Unu chere na okwu Chineke malitere nʼaka unu? Unu chekwara na ọ ga-akwụsị nʼaka unu? Ụgha!
37 Those of you who think that you have the ability to speak messages that come directly from God, or think that you have some other ability [that God’s] Spirit gives, should realize that the things that I have written about in this letter are things that the Lord has commanded.
Ọ bụrụ na ọ dị onye na-eche na ya bụ onye amụma, maọbụ na ya nwere onyinye nke Mmụọ Nsọ, naanị ihe m na-achọ ka ọ ghọta bụ na ihe m na-edere unu bụ iwu Onyenwe anyị nʼonwe ya nyere m.
38 But if they are not willing to accept [my authority], [God] will not accept them (OR, they will not be accepted [by the congregation]).
Ọ bụrụ na ọ dị onye nọgidere jụ ịnabata ihe ndị a, unu aṅala ya ntị.
39 So, my fellow believers, be eager to speak messages that come directly from God, and do not prevent anyone from speaking in a language [that he has not learned].
Ya mere, ụmụnna m, ka ibu amụma bụrụ ihe na-agụ unu agụụ, unu egbochikwala onyinye nke ịsụ nʼire dị iche iche.
40 But make sure [that] everything that you do [during the worship services] is done in a proper and orderly way.
Ma meenụ ihe niile nʼụzọ dị mma, ka ha dịkwa nʼusoro.
