Corinthios I 14

1 Sectamini caritatem, æmulamini spiritualia: magis autem ut prophetetis.

Hotly pursue this love, yet seek earnestly spiritual gifts, and chiefly that you may prophesy.

2 Qui enim loquitur lingua, non hominibus loquitur, sed Deo: nemo enim audit. Spiritu autem loquitur mysteria.

For he who speaks in a "tongue" speaks not to man but to God, for no one understands him, but in the Spirit he utters secret truths.

3 Nam qui prophetat, hominibus loquitur ad ædificationem, et exhortationem, et consolationem.

But he who prophesies addresses words to men that build up, encourage, and console.

4 Qui loquitur lingua, semetipsum ædificat: qui autem prophetat, ecclesiam Dei ædificat.

He who speaks in a tongue upbuilds himself; but he who prophesies upbuilds the church.

5 Volo autem omnes vos loqui linguis: magis autem prophetare. Nam major est qui prophetat, quam qui loquitur linguis; nisi forte interpretetur ut ecclesia ædificationem accipiat.

Now I should like you all to speak with "tongues"; but I should rather that you prophesied, For he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be built up.

6 Nunc autem, fratres, si venero ad vos linguis loquens: quid vobis prodero, nisi vobis loquar aut in revelatione, aut in scientia, aut in prophetia, aut in doctrina?

Now brothers, if I should come to you speaking with tongues, what should I benefit you, unless I speak to you some revelation, or knowledge, or prophecy, or teaching?

7 Tamen quæ sine anima sunt vocem dantia, sive tibia, sive cithara; nisi distinctionem sonituum dederint, quomodo scietur id quod canitur, aut quod citharizatur?

For if lifeless instruments such as the flute or the harp give no distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is fluted or harped?

8 Etenim si incertam vocem det tuba, quis parabit se ad bellum?

Or, for example, if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, what soldier will be prepared for battle?

9 Ita et vos per linguam nisi manifestum sermonem dederitis: quomodo scietur id quod dicitur? eritis enim in aëra loquentes.

In the same way with you, if you utter unintelligible words with your tongue, how can what you say be understood? You will be speaking to the winds!

10 Tam multa, ut puta genera linguarum sunt in hoc mundo: et nihil sine voce est.

There are, let us say, so many languages in the world, and none without its meaning.

11 Si ergo nesciero virtutem vocis, ero ei, cui loquor, barbarus: et qui loquitur, mihi barbarus.

If then I do not know the force of expression, I shall seem a barbarian to the one who uses it, and he will seem a barbarian to me.

12 Sic et vos, quoniam æmulatores estis spirituum, ad ædificationem ecclesiæ quærite ut abundetis.

So also in your case, since you are ambitious for spiritual gifts, seek to excel in them for the upbuilding of the church.

13 Et ideo qui loquitur lingua, oret ut interpretetur.

So let him who speaks with tongues pray that he may interpret.

14 Nam si orem lingua, spiritus meus orat, mens autem mea sine fructu est.

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

15 Quid ergo est? Orabo spiritu, orabo et mente: psallam spiritu, psallam et mente.

What then? I will pray with my spirit, and I will pray also with my mind. I will praise God with my spirit, but I will praise him with my mind, also.

16 Ceterum si benedixeris spiritu, qui supplet locum idiotæ, quomodo dicet: Amen, super tuam benedictionem? quoniam quid dicas, nescit.

For if you in your spirit bless God, how shall he who fills the place of the unlearned say the Amen to your thanksgiving, when he does not know what you are talking about?

17 Nam tu quidem bene gratias agis, sed alter non ædificatur.

You on the one hand offer a good thanksgiving, but the other is not built up.

18 Gratias ago Deo meo, quod omnium vestrum lingua loquor.

Thank God I speak with tongues more than you all,

19 Sed in ecclesia volo quinque verba sensu meo loqui, ut et alios instruam: quam decem millia verborum in lingua.

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

20 Fratres, nolite pueri effici sensibus, sed malitia parvuli estote: sensibus autem perfecti estote.

Brothers, do not become children in understanding; be babes in malice, but in understanding become mature men.

21 In lege scriptum est: Quoniam in aliis linguis et labiis aliis loquar populo huic: et nec sic exaudient me, dicit Dominus.

In the Law it is written. With men of other tongues, and by the lips of strangers, will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.

22 Itaque linguæ in signum sunt non fidelibus, sed infidelibus: prophetiæ autem non infidelibus, sed fidelibus.

So then the gift of tongues is for a sign, not to believers, but to unbelievers; but prophecy is not for unbelievers, but for those who believe.

23 Si ergo conveniat universa ecclesia in unum, et omnes linguis loquantur, intrent autem idiotæ, aut infideles: nonne dicent quod insanitis?

Accordingly, when the whole church assemblies, and everybody is speaking "with tongues," if there enter men unlearned or unbelieving, will they not say that you are mad?

24 Si autem omnes prophetent, intret autem quis infidelis, vel idiota, convincitur ab omnibus, dijudicatur ab omnibus:

But if all are prophesying when an unlearned or unbelieving man enters, he is convicted in conscience by your speaker, he feels himself judged by all,

25 occulta cordis ejus manifesta fiunt: et ita cadens in faciem adorabit Deum, pronuntians quod vere Deus in vobis sit.

and the secret depths of his heart are laid open. So he will fall upon his face and worship God, saying, "Of a truth, God is with you."

26 Quid ergo est, fratres? Cum convenitis, unusquisque vestrum psalmum habet, doctrinam habet, apocalypsim habet, linguam habet, interpretationem habet: omnia ad ædificationem fiant.

What follows, then, brothers? Whenever you meet together, each contributes something; a psalm, a sermon, a revelation, a tongue, an interpretation. Let all be done for edification.

27 Sive lingua quis loquitur, secundum duos, aut ut multum tres, et per partes, et unus interpretatur.

If any one speaks in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that in turn, and let some one interpret.

28 Si autem non fuerit interpres, taceat in ecclesia: sibi autem loquatur, et Deo.

But if there is no one to interpret, let them keep silence in the church, and speak to themselves and to God.

29 Prophetæ autem duo, aut tres dicant, et ceteri dijudicent.

Let the prophets speak by two or three, and let the others exercise their judgment.

30 Quod si alii revelatum fuerit sedenti, prior taceat.

But if to one as he sits there some revelation is made, let the first be silent.

31 Potestis enim omnes per singulos prophetare: ut omnes discant, et omnes exhortentur:

For you can all prophesy one by one; so that all may be learning, and all may be encouraged.

32 et spiritus prophetarum prophetis subjecti sunt.

The spirits of prophets are subject to prophets,

33 Non enim est dissensionis Deus, sed pacis: sicut et in omnibus ecclesiis sanctorum doceo.

for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. This custom prevails in all the churches of the saints.

34 Mulieres in ecclesiis taceant, non enim permittitur eis loqui, sed subditas esse, sicut et lex dicit.

"In your congregation" you write, "as in all the churches of the saints, let the women keep silence in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak. On the contrary let them be subordinate, as also says the law.

35 Si quid autem volunt discere, domi viros suos interrogent. Turpe est enim mulieri loqui in ecclesia.

And if they want to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for a women to speak in church."

36 An a vobis verbum Dei processit? aut in vos solos pervenit?

What, was it from you that the word of God went forth, or to you only did it come?

37 Si quis videtur propheta esse, aut spiritualis, cognoscat quæ scribo vobis, quia Domini sunt mandata.

If any one thinks himself a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that what I am now writing you is a command of the Lord.

38 Si quis autem ignorat, ignorabitur.

But if any one disregard it he will be disregarded.

39 Itaque fratres æmulamini prophetare: et loqui linguis nolite prohibere.

So, my brothers, be ambitious for the gift of prophecy, and speak not against the gifts of tongues.

40 Omnia autem honeste, et secundum ordinem fiant.

Let everything be done decently and in order.