1 Corinthians 3

1 My fellow believers, [when I was with you previously], I was not able to teach you as [I would teach people who are controlled by the Holy] Spirit {[whom the Holy] Spirit [controls]}. Instead, [I had to teach you as I would teach] people whom their self-directed nature controls. [I taught very simple concepts to you who had recently believed] in Christ, [as a parent would speak very simple words] to a baby.

Ka suapui te awng, thaa mite tung ka pau bang in note tung ah hong pau thei ngawl ka hi hang, cilesa mite tung ka pau bang ahizong, Christ sung ah nausen te bang in kong pau hi.

2 I did not [teach] you [things that were difficult for you to understand, just like a woman does not] give [her baby] solid food [that the baby cannot chew and digest]. [And just like a woman] ([gives her baby milk/breast-feeds her baby]), [I taught you simple spiritual concepts], because at that time you were not able to understand difficult things. And you are still not able to understand difficult concepts,

An taw hi ngawl in, noai taw kong vak hi, banghangziam cile note in an na ne zo balai uh hi, tu zong in na ne zo balai uh hi.

3 because you are still controlled by your self-directed nature. Some of you are jealous and quarreling. (That shows that your self-directed nature is controlling you!/Does not that prove your self-directed nature is controlling you?) [RHQ] It shows that [you are acting like] unbelievers act.

Banghangziam cile note sia cilesa mi na hi lai uh hi: banghangziam cile note sung ah ki hazatna, ki el na le kikhenna te om hi, note sia cilesa le mihing ngeina taw a nungta te hi ngawl nu ziam?

4 By some of you saying, “I am [loyal to] Paul,” and others saying, “I am [loyal to] Apollos,” (you show that [you are acting like] unbelievers./does not it show that [you are acting like] unbelievers?) [RHQ]

Banghangziam cile khat in, kei sia Paul i pawl ka hihi; a dang khat in, kei sia Apollos i pawl ka hihi, ci uh hi; cilesa mi hi ngawl nu ziam?

5 [So what you really ought to think about] Apollos and me [RHQ] is that we(dl) are merely men who serve God. As a result of our [telling you the message about Christ], you trusted in him. Both of us [(dl)] are merely doing the work that the Lord appointed us to do.

Tabang hile Paul sia akua ziam, taciang Apollos sia akua ziam, ahihang Topa in mihing khatsim a piak bang in note upna sung ah hong then naseam te hi ngawl ziam?

6 I was [the first one who preached God’s message to you. I was like] [MET] someone who plants seeds. [Later], Apollos [taught you more of God’s message. That was like] [MET] someone who waters plants [after they start to grow]. But it is God who [enables people to grow spiritually, just like he is the one who] causes [plants] to grow.

Keima in ka suan a, Apollos in tuibuak hi; ahihang Pathian in khangsak hi.

7 So [the person who first preaches God’s message to people is not important, and the person who later teaches people more of God’s message is not important, just like] [MET] it is not the person who plants [the seeds] or the person who waters [the plants] who is important. Instead, it is God, who causes plants to grow [and who causes people to grow spiritually, who is important].

Tua ahikom a suan te le tuibuak te in khangsak thei ngawl hi; ahihang Pathian in khangsak hi.

8 The person [who first preaches God’s message to people and the one who later teaches them more of God’s message] [MET] both (are [trying to reach the] same [goal]/have the same [purpose]). And [God] will reward each of them according to how they served him.

Tu in a suan te le tuibuak te sia pumkhat a hihi: taciang mi khatsim in ama nasep bang in thaman sang kik tuh hi.

9 Remember that Apollos and I are both working together for God. [You do not belong to us]. Just like a field [belongs to its owner, not to those who work in it], you belong to God, [not to us who work for him]. 1 Corinthians 3:9b-15 Also, a house belongs to its owner. [It does not belong to the man who built it. Similarly, God is the one to whom you belong].

Kote sia Pathian taw naseam khawm te ka hi uh hi: note sia Pathian i lo na hi uh hi, Pathian i inn zong na hi uh hi.

10 [Just like] a skilled person puts a foundation in the ground [before he builds a house], as a result of God kindly helping me [MET], [I was the first one who declared the message about Christ to you. And, just like] others build a house on its foundation, there were [others who later taught you more about Christ]. But [just like each person who builds a house] must be careful about what materials he uses to build it [MET], each person [who teaches God’s truth must be careful about what he teaches].

Keima tung ah hongpiak Pathian hesuakna bang in, mipil innsa pa bang in keima in phungkawng ka ciang hi, taciang a dang khat in tua tung ah sa hi. Ahihang mihing khatsim in tua tung ah bangbang in sa, ci sia kidawm tahen.

11 Just like people can put in [only] one foundation [for a house] [MET], [there is only one message that we can give to people. That message is about] Jesus Christ.

Banghangziam cile a kiciangsa phungkawng ahi Jesus Christ simngawl, kuama in a dang ciang thei ngawl hi.

12 Furthermore, people can build a house on its foundation [with materials that are valuable and do not burn easily, such as] gold, silver, and expensive jewels. Or they could build a house with [materials that are not valuable and that burn easily, such as] wood, hay, and straw.

Tu in mi khatpo in hi phungkawng tung ah kham, ngun, suang manpha te, thing, lopa, tangphaw taw a sa uh le;

13 Later it will become clear/evident what kind of material they used to build the house. [Similarly, when people teach others God’s truth], it will later become clear [what kind of things they taught]. [God] will make that clear/evident at the time [when he judges us] [MTY].

Mihing khatsim i nasepna sia hong kilang tu hi: banghangziam cile tua ni ciang in ki pualak tu hi, tasia sia mei taw kilangsak tu hi; taciang mi khatsim i nasepna sia bangbang ziam, ci sia mei taw ki sittel tu hi.

14 When a fire [starts burning a house], it becomes clear whether the builders used [materials in their] work [that will burn, or materials that will not burn]. Similarly [MET], when God judges us, it will be clear whether we taught others things that were long-lasting and valuable or not. If [the materials that are used to] build a house [are materials that] do not burn, the builder will receive a reward [MET]. [Similarly, if we have taught others things that are valuable and long-lasting, God will give us a reward].

Tua phungkawng tung ah a kisa, mi khatpo i nasep na a kangtum bale, thaman nga tu hi.

15 If [the things that we have taught] are not valuable and long-lasting [MET], [we will not get a reward]. We will be saved {[God] will save us} [from hell], but [that is all that we will get. We will be like a man who] escapes from a fire [without saving any of his possessions]. (questioned)

Mi khatpo i nasep nate a kangtum le, ama sia sum tu hi: ahihang amasia mei sung pan a suatak bang in, ngupna nga tu hi.

16 You need to remember that God [is present among] you [(pl) as he was present in the] Temple [in Jerusalem]. [RHQ] God’s Spirit lives within you.

Note sia Pathian biakinn na hi uh a, na sung uh ah Pathian Thaa om hi, ci he ngawl nu ziam?

17 So, [just like] God will destroy anyone who tries to destroy his Temple, [he will destroy anyone who destroys the unity of a congregation. He will do that] because [he has set] you, [his people, apart for himself, just like he set] his Temple [apart for himself].

Mihing khatpo in Pathian biakinn a ninsak le, Pathian in ama siatsua tu hi; banghangziam cile Pathian biakinn sia thiangtho a, note sia tua biakinn na hi uh hi.

18 Some among you think that you are wise because unbelievers thought you were wise previously. Stop deceiving yourselves. [If you really want to be wise, by accepting what God considers to be wise] you should [be willing to let unbelievers consider that you are] foolish [IRO]. (aiōn g165)

Kuama peuma ama le ama kitheam heak hen. Note sung ah khatpo in ama le ama mipil bang in a ki ngaisun tha le, mipil a sua thei natu in mi mawmaw suak masa tahen. (aiōn g165)

19 You should do that because things that unbelievers [consider to be] [IRO] wise, God considers to be foolish. [We can learn from] the Scriptures [what God says about] that: Those who think that they are [IRO] wise, he messes up their plans by the mistakes they make!

Banghangziam cile hi leitung pilna sia Pathian mai ah mawmawtna hi. Banghangziam cile, Pathian in mipil te sia amate tatsiatna in man hi, ci in ki at hi.

20 And [we can learn from] these words of Scripture, The Lord considers as useless the thoughts of [humans who think that they are] [IRO] wise.

Taciang mipil te ngaisutna te mannung ngawl hi, ci sia Topa in he hi, ci thua hi.

21 So, stop boasting about [how good one Christian leader is or how good another Christian leader is]. All [of us(exc) exist as leaders only to help] you!

Tua ahikom kuama in mihing hi na ah ki suangtak heak hen. Banghangziam cile na theampo sia noma neisa a hihi;

22 Specifically, do not boast about me, or about Apollos, or about Peter! Everything in the world exists to [benefit] you [believers]. Whether you live or whether you die, the things that are happening now or the things that will happen in the future, they are all to benefit you.

Paul ahizong, Apollos ahizong, Peter ahizong, leitung ahizong, nuntakna le thina ahizong, tu hun nate le mailam thu te ahizong; a vekpi in noma neisa a hihi;

23 [You should boast about] Christ, [not about your leaders, because] you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.

Taciang note sia Christ i neisa na hi uh hi; taciang Christ sia Pathian i neisa a hihi.