1 Akorinitho 14
1 Rũmagĩrĩrai mĩthiĩre ya wendani, na mwĩrirĩrie mũno iheo cia kĩĩroho, na makĩria mwĩriragĩrie kĩheo kĩa ũheani ũhoro wa Ngai.
Seek this love earnestly, and strive for spiritual gifts, above all for the gift of preaching.
2 Nĩgũkorwo mũndũ ũrĩa wothe waragia na rũthiomi-rĩ, ti andũ aaragĩria no nĩ Ngai aaragĩria. Ti-itherũ, gũtirĩ mũndũ ũtaũkagĩrwo nĩ ũrĩa aroiga; no nĩ maũndũ ma hitho aaragia na roho wake.
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 No mũndũ ũrĩa ũheanaga ũhoro wa Ngai aaragĩria andũ akamekĩra hinya, na akamomĩrĩria, na akamahooreria.
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 Mũndũ ũrĩa waragia na rũthiomi nĩ we mwene wĩongagĩrĩra hinya, no ũrĩa ũheanaga ũhoro wa Ngai nĩ kanitha ongagĩrĩra hinya.
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 No nyende inyuothe mwaragie na thiomi, no makĩria ingĩenda inyuothe mũrathage mohoro. Mũndũ ũrĩa ũrathaga ũhoro nĩakĩrĩte ũrĩa waragia na thiomi, tiga no akorirwo nĩegũtaũra thiomi icio, nĩguo kanitha wongererwo hinya.
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 No rĩu, ariũ na aarĩ a Ithe witũ, ingĩũka kũrĩ inyuĩ na njarie na thiomi-rĩ, ingĩmũguna nakĩ, tiga no ndĩmũreheire ũguũrio, kana ũmenyo, kana ũrathi, o na kana kiugo kĩa ũrutani?
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 O na ha ũhoro ũkoniĩ indo iria itarĩ muoyo iria igambaga, indo ta mũtũrirũ kana kĩnanda kĩa mũgeeto-rĩ, mũndũ angĩgĩkũũrana atĩa rwĩmbo rũrĩa rũrenda kũinwo, tiga hakorirwo na ngũũrani njega ya mĩgambo?
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 Ningĩ-rĩ, angĩkorwo karumbeta gatikũruta mũgambo ũgũkũũrĩkana ũrĩa ũkuuga-rĩ, nũũ ũngĩkĩhaarĩria gũthiĩ mbaara-inĩ?
If the bugle sounds a doubtful call, who will prepare for battle?
9 Ũguo noguo ũhoro wanyu ũtariĩ. Tiga mwaririe na ciugo ikũmenyeka na rũthiomi rwanyu-rĩ, nĩ mũndũ ũrĩkũ ũngĩmenya ũrĩa mũroiga? Mũngĩkorwo o mũkĩarĩria rĩera.
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 Ti-itherũ nĩ kũrĩ mĩthemba mĩingĩ ya thiomi gũkũ thĩ, no gũtirĩ rũthiomi o na rũmwe rũtarĩ ũrĩa ruugaga.
There are, for instance, a certain number of different languages in the world, and not one of them fails to convey meaning.
11 No angĩkorwo ndingĩmenya ũrĩa mũndũ aroiga-rĩ, niĩ ngĩrĩ mũrũrĩrĩ harĩ mũndũ ũcio ũraaria, nake nĩ mũrũrĩrĩ harĩ niĩ.
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 Ũguo noguo o na inyuĩ mũtariĩ. Kuona atĩ nĩmwĩrirĩirie mũno iheo cia kĩĩroho-rĩ, kĩgeragiei kuongerera iheo iria ciakaga kanitha ũkagĩa na hinya.
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 Na tondũ ũcio-rĩ, mũndũ ũrĩa waragia na rũthiomi rũgeni nĩahooyage nĩguo ahote gũtaũra ũrĩa aroiga.
Therefore anyone who, when speaking, uses the gift of ‘tongues’ should pray for ability to interpret them.
14 Nĩ ũndũ-rĩ, ingĩkorwo ndĩrahooya ngĩthiomaga-rĩ, roho wakwa nĩguo ũrahooya, no meciiria makwa matirĩ na maciaro.
If, when praying, I use the gift of ‘tongues,’ my spirit indeed prays, but my mind is a blank.
15 Nĩ ũndũ ũcio-rĩ, ngũgĩĩka atĩa? Niĩ ndĩrĩhooyaga Ngai na roho wakwa, na ningĩ hooyage na meciiria makwa; o na kũina ndĩrĩinaga na roho wakwa, na ningĩ nyinage na meciiria makwa o namo.
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 Ningĩ-rĩ, ũngĩkorwo ũkĩgooca Ngai na roho waku tu-rĩ, mũndũ wa arĩa marĩ gatagatĩ kanyu ũtarataũkĩrwo, angĩkiuga “Ameni” atĩa mahooya-inĩ maku ma gũcookia ngaatho, kuona atĩ ndaramenya ũrĩa ũroiga?
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 No ũkorwo ũgĩcookia ngaatho wega mũno, no mũndũ ũcio ũngĩ ndanongererwo hinya nĩ ũhoro ũcio.
Your thanksgiving may be excellent, but the other is not helped by it.
18 Nĩngũcookeria Ngai ngaatho nĩgũkorwo niĩ nĩnjaragia na thiomi makĩria manyu inyuothe.
Thank God, I use the gift of ‘tongues’ more than any of you.
19 No kanitha-inĩ-rĩ, nĩ kaba njarie ciugo ithano ndĩramenya wega nĩguo ngĩrute andũ arĩa angĩ ũhoro nacio, gũkĩra njarie ciugo ngiri ikũmi cia gũthioma.
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 Ariũ na aarĩ a Ithe witũ, tigagai gwĩciiragia ta ciana. Harĩ ũhoro wa maũndũ marĩa mooru-rĩ, tuĩkai tũkenge, no mwĩciirĩrie-inĩ wanyu mũtuĩke andũ agima.
My friends, do not show yourselves children in understanding. In wickedness be infants, but in understanding show yourselves adults.
21 Thĩinĩ wa Watho nĩ kwandĩkĩtwo atĩrĩ: “Nĩngaarĩria andũ aya na tũnua twa andũ maaragia na thiomi ngʼeni, ndĩmaarĩrie na tũnua twa andũ maaragia na mwarĩrie wa kũngĩ, no o na ndeeka ũguo matikanjigua,”
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 Nĩ ũndũ ũcio, kwaria na thiomi nĩ kĩmenyithia kũrĩ andũ arĩa matetĩkĩtie no ti kĩmenyithia kũrĩ arĩa metĩkĩtie; no kũratha ũhoro nĩ kwa arĩa metĩkĩtie, ti kwa arĩa matetĩkĩtie.
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 Tondũ ũcio kanitha wothe ũngĩũngana na andũ othe maarie na thiomi-rĩ, na hacooke hatoonye andũ matooĩ ũhoro wa thiomi, kana andũ matetĩkĩtie-rĩ, githĩ matingiuga atĩ mũrĩ agũrũki?
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 No mũndũ ũtarĩ mwĩtĩkia kana mũndũ ũtarĩ mũtaũkĩre nĩ ũhoro ũcio angĩtoonya rĩrĩa andũ othe mararatha mohoro-rĩ, mũndũ ũcio nĩekũiguithio nĩ andũ othe atĩ nĩ mwĩhia na aciirithio nĩo othe,
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 na maũndũ marĩa atũire ahithĩte ngoro-inĩ nĩmakoimbũka. Nĩ ũndũ ũcio egũithie thĩ ahooe Ngai, akiugaga atĩrĩ, “Ti-itherũ Ngai arĩ gatagatĩ-inĩ kanyu!”
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 Tũgũkiuga atĩa, ariũ na aarĩ a Ithe witũ? Rĩrĩa muongana hamwe-rĩ, o mũndũ ahota gũkorwo arĩ na rwĩmbo, kana arĩ na ũndũ arenda kũrutana, kana arĩ na ũndũ aguũrĩirio, kana arĩ na thiomi, kana arĩ na ũtaũri wa thiomi. Maũndũ macio mothe no nginya mekagwo nĩ ũndũ wa gwĩkĩra kanitha hinya.
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 Angĩkorwo nĩ gũkwario na rũthiomi-rĩ, nĩ kwario nĩ andũ eerĩ, na makĩingĩha atatũ, na o mũndũ aarie riita rĩake, na no nginya hagĩe na mũndũ ũngĩ wa gũtaũra.
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 Angĩkorwo gũtirĩ mũtaũri-rĩ, mwaria ũcio nĩagĩkire arĩ kũu kanitha-inĩ, na akĩĩarĩrie we mwene, na aarĩrie Ngai.
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 Aheani ũhoro eerĩ kana atatũ magĩrĩirwo maarie, nao andũ arĩa angĩ makũũrane wega ũrĩa kũreerwo.
Of preachers two or three should speak, and the rest should weigh well what is said.
30 Na mũndũ ũikarĩte thĩ ho angĩgĩa na ũguũrio-rĩ, mwaria ũcio wa mbere nĩakire.
But, if some revelation is made to another person as he sits there, the first speaker should stop.
31 Nĩgũkorwo inyuothe no mũrathe ũhoro o mũndũ riita rĩake nĩguo andũ othe marutwo maũndũ na momĩrĩrio.
For you can all preach in turn, so that all may learn some lesson and all receive encouragement.
32 Namo maroho ma anabii nĩmathĩkagĩra anabii o ene.
(The spirit that moves the preachers is within the preachers’ control;
33 Nĩgũkorwo Ngai ti Ngai wa kĩrigiicano no nĩ wa thayũ. Ta ũrĩa kũrĩ thĩinĩ wa ciũngano ciothe cia andũ arĩa aamũre,
for God is not a God of disorder, but of peace.) This custom prevails in all the churches of Christ’s people.
34 atumia magĩrĩirwo nĩgũikaraga makirĩte ki marĩ thĩinĩ wa kanitha. Matiĩtĩkĩrĩtio kwaria, no nĩmaikarage menyiihĩtie, o ta ũrĩa Watho uugĩte.
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 Angĩkorwo marĩ na ũndũ mangĩenda kũmenya-rĩ, nĩmoragie athuuri ao ene kwao mũciĩ; nĩgũkorwo nĩ ũndũ ũrĩ thoni atumia kwaragia thĩinĩ wa kanitha.
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 Hĩ! Anga kiugo kĩa Ngai kĩambĩrĩirie na inyuĩ? Kana hihi no inyuĩ inyuiki gĩakinyĩire?
What! Did God’s message to the world originate with you? Or did it find its way to none but you?
37 Mũndũ o na ũ angĩĩciiria atĩ nĩ mũnabii, kana arĩ na iheo cia kĩĩroho-rĩ, nĩagĩtĩkĩre atĩ maũndũ maya ndĩramwandĩkĩra nĩ maũndũ marĩa maathanĩtwo nĩ Mwathani.
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 No angĩagĩra ũndũ ũcio kĩene-rĩ, o nake we mwene nĩakagĩrwo kĩene.
Anyone who ignores it may be ignored.
39 Nĩ ũndũ ũcio, ariũ na aarĩ a Ithe witũ, mwĩrirĩriei kũrathaga mohoro, na mũtikagiragie ũhoro wa kwaria na thiomi.
Therefore, my friends, strive for the gift of preaching, and yet do not forbid speaking in ‘tongues.’
40 No maũndũ mothe nĩmekagwo na mũtaratara ũrĩa wagĩrĩire, na mekagwo na kĩhaarĩro.
Let everything be done in a proper and orderly manner.
