Προς Κορινθιους Α΄ 14

1 διωκετε την αγαπην ζηλουτε δε τα πνευματικα μαλλον δε ινα προφητευητε

Be eager in your pursuit of this Love, and be earnestly ambitious for spiritual gifts, but let it be chiefly so in order that you may prophesy.

2 ο γαρ λαλων γλωσση ουκ ανθρωποις λαλει αλλα τω θεω ουδεις γαρ ακουει πνευματι δε λαλει μυστηρια

For he who speaks in an unknown tongue is not speaking to men, but to God; for no one understands him. Yet in the Spirit he is speaking secret truths.

3 ο δε προφητευων ανθρωποις λαλει οικοδομην και παρακλησιν και παραμυθιαν

But he who prophesies speaks to men words of edification, encouragement and comfort.

4 ο λαλων γλωσση εαυτον οικοδομει ο δε προφητευων εκκλησιαν οικοδομει

He who speaks in an unknown tongue does good to himself, but he who prophesies does good to the Church.

5 θελω δε παντας υμας λαλειν γλωσσαις μαλλον δε ινα προφητευητε μειζων γαρ ο προφητευων η ο λαλων γλωσσαις εκτος ει μη διερμηνευη ινα η εκκλησια οικοδομην λαβη

I should be right glad were you all to speak in 'tongues,' but yet more glad were you all to prophesy. And, in fact, the man who prophesies is superior to him who speaks in 'tongues,' except when the latter can interpret in order that the Church may get a blessing.

6 νυνι δε αδελφοι εαν ελθω προς υμας γλωσσαις λαλων τι υμας ωφελησω εαν μη υμιν λαλησω η εν αποκαλυψει η εν γνωσει η εν προφητεια η εν διδαχη

But, brethren, as things are, if I come to you speaking in 'tongues,' what benefit shall I confer on you, if the utterance is neither in the form of a revelation nor of additional knowledge nor of prophecy nor of teaching?

7 ομως τα αψυχα φωνην διδοντα ειτε αυλος ειτε κιθαρα εαν διαστολην τοις φθογγοις μη δω πως γνωσθησεται το αυλουμενον η το κιθαριζομενον

Even inanimate things--flutes or harps, for instance--when yielding a sound, if they make no distinction in the notes, how shall the tune which is played on the flute or the harp be known?

8 και γαρ εαν αδηλον φωνην σαλπιγξ δω τις παρασκευασεται εις πολεμον

If the bugle--to take another example--gives an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle?

9 ουτως και υμεις δια της γλωσσης εαν μη ευσημον λογον δωτε πως γνωσθησεται το λαλουμενον εσεσθε γαρ εις αερα λαλουντες

And so with you; if with the living voice you fail to utter intelligible words, how will people know what you are saying? You will be talking to the winds.

10 τοσαυτα ει τυχοι γενη φωνων εστιν εν κοσμω και ουδεν αυτων αφωνον

There are, we will suppose, a great number of languages in the world, and no creature is without a language.

11 εαν ουν μη ειδω την δυναμιν της φωνης εσομαι τω λαλουντι βαρβαρος και ο λαλων εν εμοι βαρβαρος

If, however, I do not know the meaning of the particular language, I shall seem to the speaker of it, and he to me, to be merely talking some foreign tongue.

12 ουτως και υμεις επει ζηλωται εστε πνευματων προς την οικοδομην της εκκλησιας ζητειτε ινα περισσευητε

Therefore, seeing that you are ambitious for spiritual gifts, seek to excel in them so as to benefit the Church.

13 διοπερ ο λαλων γλωσση προσευχεσθω ινα διερμηνευη

Therefore let a man who has the gift of tongues pray for the power of interpreting them.

14 εαν γαρ προσευχωμαι γλωσση το πνευμα μου προσευχεται ο δε νους μου ακαρπος εστιν

For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is barren.

15 τι ουν εστιν προσευξομαι τω πνευματι προσευξομαι δε και τω νοι ψαλω τω πνευματι ψαλω δε και νοι

How then does the matter stand? I will pray in spirit, and I will pray with my understanding also. I will praise God in spirit, and I will praise Him with my understanding also.

16 επει εαν ευλογησης τω πνευματι ο αναπληρων τον τοπον του ιδιωτου πως ερει το αμην επι τη ση ευχαριστια επειδη τι λεγεις ουκ οιδεν

Otherwise, if you bless God in spirit only, how shall he who is in the position of an ungifted man say the 'Amen' to your giving of thanks, when he does not know what your words mean?

17 συ μεν γαρ καλως ευχαριστεις αλλ ο ετερος ουκ οικοδομειται

Rightly enough you are giving thanks, and yet your neighbor is not benefited.

18 ευχαριστω τω θεω μου παντων υμων μαλλον γλωσσαις λαλων

I speak in a tongue, thank God, more than all of you;

19 αλλ εν εκκλησια θελω πεντε λογους δια του νοος μου λαλησαι ινα και αλλους κατηχησω η μυριους λογους εν γλωσση

but in the Church I would rather speak five words with my understanding--so as to instruct others also--than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

20 αδελφοι μη παιδια γινεσθε ταις φρεσιν αλλα τη κακια νηπιαζετε ταις δε φρεσιν τελειοι γινεσθε

Brethren, do not prove yourselves to be children in your minds. As regards evil, indeed, be utter babes, but as regards your minds prove yourselves to be men of ripe years.

21 εν τω νομω γεγραπται οτι εν ετερογλωσσοις και εν χειλεσιν ετεροις λαλησω τω λαω τουτω και ουδ ουτως εισακουσονται μου λεγει κυριος

In the Law it stands written, "'By men of unknown tongues and by the lips of an unknown nation will I speak to this People, but even then they will not listen to Me', says the Lord."

22 ωστε αι γλωσσαι εις σημειον εισιν ου τοις πιστευουσιν αλλα τοις απιστοις η δε προφητεια ου τοις απιστοις αλλα τοις πιστευουσιν

This shows that the gift of tongues is intended as a sign not to those who believe but to unbelievers, but prophecy is intended not for unbelievers but for those who believe.

23 εαν ουν συνελθη η εκκλησια ολη επι το αυτο και παντες γλωσσαις λαλωσιν εισελθωσιν δε ιδιωται η απιστοι ουκ ερουσιν οτι μαινεσθε

Accordingly if the whole Church has assembled and all are speaking in 'tongues,' and there come in ungifted men, or unbelievers, will they not say that you are all mad?

24 εαν δε παντες προφητευωσιν εισελθη δε τις απιστος η ιδιωτης ελεγχεται υπο παντων ανακρινεται υπο παντων

If, on the other hand, every one is prophesying and an unbeliever or an ungifted man comes in, he is convicted by all and closely examined by all,

25 και ουτως τα κρυπτα της καρδιας αυτου φανερα γινεται και ουτως πεσων επι προσωπον προσκυνησει τω θεω απαγγελλων οτι ο θεος οντως εν υμιν εστιν

and the hidden evils of his heart are brought to light. And, as the result, he will fall on his face and worship God, and will report to others that of a truth God is among you.

26 τι ουν εστιν αδελφοι οταν συνερχησθε εκαστος υμων ψαλμον εχει διδαχην εχει γλωσσαν εχει αποκαλυψιν εχει ερμηνειαν εχει παντα προς οικοδομην γενεσθω

What then, brethren? Whenever you assemble, there is not one of you who is not ready either with a song of praise, a sermon, a revelation, a 'tongue,' or an interpretation. Let everything be done with a view to the building up of faith and character.

27 ειτε γλωσση τις λαλει κατα δυο η το πλειστον τρεις και ανα μερος και εις διερμηνευετω

If there is speaking in an unknown tongue, only two or at the most three should speak, and they should do so one at a time, and one should interpret;

28 εαν δε μη η διερμηνευτης σιγατω εν εκκλησια εαυτω δε λαλειτω και τω θεω

or if there is no interpreter, let the man with the gift be silent in the Church, speaking to himself and to God.

29 προφηται δε δυο η τρεις λαλειτωσαν και οι αλλοι διακρινετωσαν

But if there are Prophets, let two or three speak and let the rest judge.

30 εαν δε αλλω αποκαλυφθη καθημενω ο πρωτος σιγατω

And if anything is revealed to some one else who is seated there, let the first be silent.

31 δυνασθε γαρ καθ ενα παντες προφητευειν ινα παντες μανθανωσιν και παντες παρακαλωνται

For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged:

32 και πνευματα προφητων προφηταις υποτασσεται

and the spirits of Prophets yield submission to Prophets.

33 ου γαρ εστιν ακαταστασιας ο θεος αλλ ειρηνης ως εν πασαις ταις εκκλησιαις των αγιων

For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace, as He is in all the Churches of His people.

34 αι γυναικες υμων εν ταις εκκλησιαις σιγατωσαν ου γαρ επιτετραπται αυταις λαλειν αλλ υποτασσεσθαι καθως και ο νομος λεγει

Let married women be silent in the Churches, for they are not permitted to speak. They must be content with a subordinate place, as the Law also says;

35 ει δε τι μαθειν θελουσιν εν οικω τους ιδιους ανδρας επερωτατωσαν αισχρον γαρ εστιν γυναιξιν εν εκκλησια λαλειν

and if they wish to ask questions, they should ask their own husbands at home. For it is disgraceful for a married woman to speak at a Church assembly.

36 η αφ υμων ο λογος του θεου εξηλθεν η εις υμας μονους κατηντησεν

Was it from you that God's Message first went forth, or is it to you only that it has come?

37 ει τις δοκει προφητης ειναι η πνευματικος επιγινωσκετω α γραφω υμιν οτι του κυριου εισιν εντολαι

If any one deems himself to be a Prophet or a man with spiritual gifts, let him recognize as the Lord's command all that I am now writing to you.

38 ει δε τις αγνοει αγνοειτω

But if any one is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

39 ωστε αδελφοι ζηλουτε το προφητευειν και το λαλειν γλωσσαις μη κωλυετε

The conclusion, my brethren, is this. Be earnestly ambitious to prophesy, and do not check speaking with tongues;

40 παντα ευσχημονως και κατα ταξιν γινεσθω

only let everything be done in a becoming and orderly manner.