1 KwabaseKhorinte 14

1 Landelani uthando; lifise kakhulu izipho zomoya, kodwa ikakhulu ukuthi liprofethe.

Cultivate love, and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but rather that you may prophesy.

2 Ngoba okhuluma ngendimi kakhulumi ebantwini, kodwa kuNkulunkulu; ngoba kakho ozwayo, kanti ukhuluma izimfihlo ngomoya.

For he that speaks in an unknown tongue, speaks not to men, but to God; for no one understands him: but yet in spirit he speaks mysteries.

3 Kodwa oprofethayo ukhuluma ebantwini ukwakha lenkuthazo lenduduzo.

But he that prophesies speaks to men so as to build them up, to exhort and comfort them.

4 Okhuluma ngendimi uyazakha yena, kodwa oprofethayo wakha ibandla.

He that speaks in an unknown tongue, edifies himself; but he that prophesies, edifies the church.

5 Njalo ngiyathanda ukuthi lonke likhulume ngendimi, kodwa kakhulu ukuthi liprofethe; ngoba oprofethayo mkhulu kulokhuluma ngendimi, ngaphandle kokuthi atolike, ukuze ibandla lemukele ukwakhiwa.

I am willing, indeed, that you should all speak in tongues, but rather that you should prophesy; for greater is he that prophesies than he that speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, in order that the church may receive instruction.

6 Khathesi-ke, bazalwane, uba ngifika kini ngikhuluma ngendimi, ngizalisiza ngani, nxa ngingakhulumi kini kumbe ekwembulelweni, loba ekwazini, loba kusiprofetho, kumbe emfundisweni?

Now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, in what will I profit you, unless I speak to you by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophecy, or by teaching?

7 Ngokunjalo izinto ezingelampilo ezikhalayo, loba umhlanga, loba ichacho, uba zinganiki umehluko ngokukhala, kuzakwaziwa njani okuvuthelwayo ngomhlanga kumbe okutshaywayo ngomqangala?

And even lifeless instruments, which produce sound, whether pipe or harp, unless they give a distinction in the notes, how shall that which is piped or harped be known?

8 Ngoba-ke nxa uphondo lunika ukukhala okungaqondakaliyo, ngubani ozazilungisela impi?

For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for battle?

9 Kunjalo lani, uba linganiki inkulumo ecacileyo ngolimi, kuzakwaziwa njani okukhulunywayo? Ngoba lizakuba likhuluma emoyeni.

So, also, unless you, with the tongue, utter words that are intelligible, how shall that which is spoken be known? for you will speak into the air.

10 Kukhona, nxa kungenzakala, imihlobo eminengi kangaka yemisindo emhlabeni kodwa kawukho ongatsho lutho;

There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without meaning.

11 ngakho uba ngingawazi umqondo welizwi, ngizakuba ngowezizweni kulowo okhulumayo, lalowo okhulumayo uzakuba ngowezizweni kimi.

If, then, I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be to him that speaks a barbarian; and he that speaks will be a barbarian to me.

12 Kunjalo lani, lokhu litshisekela izipho zomoya, dingani ukuthi livame ekwakhiweni kwebandla.

So, also, do you, since you greatly desire spiritual gifts, seek to excel to the building up of the church.

13 Ngakho-ke okhulumayo ngendimi kakhuleke ukuthi atolike.

For which reason, let him that speaks in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.

14 Ngoba uba ngikhuleka ngendimi, umoya wami uyakhuleka, kodwa ingqondo yami kayilasithelo.

For if I pray in an unknown tongue, the spirit which I have prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

15 Ngakho kuyini? Ngizakhuleka ngomoya, njalo ngizakhuleka langengqondo; ngizahlabelela indumiso ngomoya, njalo ngizahlabelela indumiso langengqondo.

What, then, is it? I will pray with the spirit which is given to me, and I will pray with my understanding also. I will sing with the spirit that is given to me, and I will sing with my understanding also.

16 Uba kungenjalo, nxa ubonga ngomoya, lowo ogcwalisa indawo yongafundanga uzamutsho njani uAmeni ekubongeni kwakho, lokhu engakwazi okutshoyo?

Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit that is given to you, how will he that occupies the place of the unlearned man say Amen, when you give thanks, since he understands not what you say?

17 Ngoba isibili wena ubonga kuhle, kodwa omunye kakhiwa.

For you give thanks well, but the other is not edified.

18 Ngiyambonga uNkulunkulu wami ukuthi ngikhuluma ngendimi kakhulu kulani lonke;

I thank God that I speak in tongues more than you all.

19 kodwa ebandleni ngithanda ukukhuluma amazwi amahlanu ngengqondo yami, ukuze ngifundise labanye, kulamazwi ayizinkulungwane ezilitshumi ngendimi.

Yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may instruct others, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

20 Bazalwane, lingabi ngabantwana engqondweni; kodwa ebubini banini zingane, lekunakaneni libe ngabakhulileyo.

Brethren, be not children in understanding: yet, in malice, be childlike; but, in understanding, be full-grown men.

21 Emlayweni kulotshiwe ukuthi: Ngezinye indimi langezinye indebe ngizakhuluma lalesisizwe, langokunjalo labo kabayikungizwa, itsho iNkosi.

In the law it is written: Through men of other tongues and other lips will I speak to this people; and not even thus will they hear me, says the Lord.

22 Ngakho indimi zingezesibonakaliso, kungeyisikho kwabakholwayo, kodwa kwabangakholwayo; kanti isiprofetho, kungayisiso sabangakholwayo, kodwa sabakholwayo.

Therefore, tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to those who believe not: but prophecy is not for those who believe not, but for those who believe.

23 Ngakho uba ibandla lonke libuthene ndawonye, labo bonke bakhulume ngendimi, besekungena abangafundanga loba abangakholwayo, kabazukuthi liyahlanya yini?

If, then, the whole church come together into the same place, and all speak in tongues, and there come in unlearned men, or unbelievers, will they not say that you are mad?

24 Kodwa uba bonke beprofetha, njalo kungene othile ongakholwayo loba ongafundanga, uyakhuzwa yibo bonke, ahlolwe yibo bonke,

But if all prophesy, and there comes in an unbeliever, or an unlearned man, he is convinced by all, he is examined by all,

25 langokunjalo izinto ezifihliweyo zenhliziyo yakhe ziyadalulwa; ngokunjalo uzakuwa ngobuso akhonze uNkulunkulu, ebika ukuthi uNkulunkulu ngoqotho uphakathi kwenu.

and the secrets of his heart are made manifest; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God, and report that God is really among you.

26 Ngakho kuyini, bazalwane? Loba nini libuthana, ngulowo lalowo wenu elesihlabelelo, elemfundiso, elolimi, elesambulelo, elokutolika. Konke kakwenzelwe ekwakheni.

What, then, is it, brethren? When you come together, each one of you has a psalm, has something to teach, has an unknown tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.

27 Uba umuntu ekhuluma ngendimi, kakube ngababili, kumbe bangadluli kwabathathu, njalo badedelane, lomunye katolike;

If any speak in an unknown tongue, let two, or, at most, three, speak at each meeting, and in succession: and let one interpret.

28 kodwa uba kungekho umtoliki, kumele athule ebandleni; akhulume kuye ngokwakhe lakuNkulunkulu.

But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church: but let him speak to himself, and to God.

29 Abaprofethi-ke ababili loba abathathu kabakhulume, labanye kabahlolisise.

Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge:

30 Kodwa uba kusembulwa komunye ohleziyo, kathule owokuqala.

and if any thing be revealed to one who is sitting by, let the first be silent.

31 Ngoba lonke lingaprofetha munye ngamunye, ukuze bonke bafunde, njalo bonke bakhuthazwe;

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

32 lemimoya yabaprofethi iyathotshiselwa abaprofethi.

and the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets;

33 Ngoba uNkulunkulu kayisuye owesiphithiphithi, kodwa ngowokuthula, njengemabandleni wonke abangcwele.

for God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the saints.

34 Abesifazana benu kabathule emabandleni; ngoba kabavunyelwa ukukhuluma, kodwa ukuzithoba, njengoba lawo umlayo usitsho.

Let your women keep silence in the assemblies; for they ire not permitted to speak; but they must be in subjection, as also says the law.

35 Uba-ke bethanda ukufunda ulutho, kababuze kubomkabo ekhaya; ngoba kulihlazo kowesifazana ukukhuluma ebandleni.

But if they wish to learn any thing, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is a shame for women to speak in an assembly.

36 Kumbe ilizwi likaNkulunkulu laphuma kini? Kumbe lafika kini lodwa yini?

Has the word of God come forth from you? or did it come to you only?

37 Uba umuntu ecabanga ukuthi ungumprofethi loba ungowomoya, umele ukwemukela izinto engilibhalela zona, ukuthi ziyimilayo yeNkosi;

If any one has the reputation of being a prophet, or spiritual man, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.

38 uba umuntu engazi, kumele engazi.

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

39 Ngakho, bazalwane, tshisekelani ukuprofetha, njalo lingakuvimbeli ukukhuluma ngendimi;

Wherefore, brethren, earnestly desire to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

40 konke kakwenziwe ngemfanelo langokulandelana.

Let all things be done with propriety, and in good order.