1 Wakorintho 14
1 Fuateni upendo na kutaka sana karama za roho, hasa karama ya unabii.
Seek this Love earnestly, and strive for spiritual gifts, above all for the gift of preaching.
2 Kwa maana mtu yeyote anayesema kwa lugha, hasemi na wanadamu bali anasema na Mungu. Kwa kuwa hakuna mtu yeyote anayemwelewa, kwani anasema mambo ya siri kwa roho.
He who, when speaking, uses the gift of ‘tongues’ is speaking, not to men, but to God, for no one understands him; yet in spirit he is speaking of hidden truths.
3 Lakini anayetoa unabii anasema na watu akiwajenga, kuwatia moyo na kuwafariji.
But he who preaches is speaking to his fellow men words that will build up faith, and give them comfort and encouragement.
4 Anenaye kwa lugha hujijenga mwenyewe, bali atoaye unabii hulijenga kanisa.
He who, when speaking, uses the gift of ‘tongues’ builds up his own faith, while he who preaches builds up the faith of the Church.
5 Ningependa kila mmoja wenu anene kwa lugha lakini ningependa zaidi nyote mtoe unabii. Kwa kuwa yeye atoaye unabii ni mkuu kuliko anenaye kwa lugha, isipokuwa atafsiri, ili kanisa lipate kujengwa.
Now I want you all to speak in ‘tongues,’ but much more I wish that you should preach. A Preacher is of more account than he who speaks in ‘tongues,’ unless he interprets his words, so that the faith of the Church may be built up.
6 Sasa ndugu zangu, kama nikija kwenu nikasema kwa lugha mpya nitawafaidia nini kama sikuwaletea ufunuo au neno la maarifa au unabii au mafundisho?
This being so, Brothers, what good shall 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 Hata vitu visivyo na uhai vitoapo sauti, kama vile filimbi au kinubi, mtu atajuaje ni wimbo gani unaoimbwa kusipokuwa na tofauti ya upigaji?
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 recognised?
8 Tena kama tarumbeta haitoi sauti inayoeleweka, ni nani atakayejiandaa kwa ajili ya vita?
If the bugle sounds a doubtful call, who will prepare for battle?
9 Vivyo hivyo na ninyi, kama mkinena maneno yasiyoeleweka katika akili, mtu atajuaje mnalosema? Kwa maana mtakuwa mnasema hewani tu.
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 Bila shaka ziko sauti nyingi ulimwenguni, wala hakuna isiyo na maana.
There is, for instance, a certain number of different languages in the world, and not one of them fails to convey meaning.
11 Basi kama sielewi maana ya hiyo sauti, nitakuwa mgeni kwa yule msemaji, naye atakuwa mgeni kwangu.
If, however, I do not happen to know the language, I shall be a foreigner to those who speak it, and they will be foreigners to me.
12 Vivyo hivyo na ninyi. Kwa kuwa mnatamani kuwa na karama za rohoni, jitahidini kuzidi sana katika karama kwa ajili ya kulijenga kanisa.
And so with you; since your are striving for spiritual gifts, be eager to excel in such as will build up the faith of the Church.
13 Kwa sababu hii, yeye anenaye kwa lugha na aombe kwamba apate kutafsiri kile anachonena.
Therefore let him who, when speaking, uses the gift of ‘tongues’ pray for ability to interpret them.
14 Kwa maana nikiomba kwa lugha, roho yangu inaomba, lakini akili yangu haina matunda.
If, when praying, I use the gift of ‘tongues,’ my spirit indeed prays, but my mind is a blank.
15 Nifanyeje basi? Nitaomba kwa roho, na pia nitaomba kwa akili yangu. Nitaimba kwa roho na nitaimba kwa akili yangu pia.
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 Ikiwa unabariki kwa roho, mtu mwingine atakayejikuta miongoni mwa hao wasiojua, atawezaje kusema “Amen” katika kushukuru kwako, wakati haelewi unachosema?
If you bless God with your spirit only, how can the man in the congregation who is without your gift say ‘Amen’ to your thanksgiving? He does not know what you are saying!
17 Mnaweza kuwa mnatoa shukrani kweli, sawa, lakini huyo mtu mwingine hajengeki.
Your thanksgiving may be excellent, but the other is not helped by it.
18 Namshukuru Mungu kwamba mimi nanena kwa lugha kuliko ninyi nyote.
Thank God, I use the gift of ‘tongues’ more than any of you.
19 Lakini ndani ya kanisa ni afadhali niseme maneno matano ya kueleweka ili niwafundishe wengine kuliko kusema maneno 10,000 kwa lugha.
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 Ndugu zangu, msiwe kama watoto katika kufikiri kwenu, afadhali kuhusu uovu mwe kama watoto wachanga, lakini katika kufikiri kwenu, mwe watu wazima.
Brothers, do not show yourselves children in understanding. In wickedness be infants, but in understanding show yourselves men.
21 Katika Sheria imeandikwa kwamba: “Kupitia kwa watu wenye lugha ngʼeni na kupitia midomo ya wageni, nitasema na watu hawa, lakini hata hivyo hawatanisikiliza,” asema Bwana.
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 Basi kunena kwa lugha ni ishara, si kwa watu waaminio, bali kwa wasioamini, wakati unabii si kwa ajili ya wasioamini, bali kwa ajili ya waaminio.
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 Kwa hiyo kama kanisa lote likikutana na kila mmoja akanena kwa lugha, kisha wakaingia wageni wasioelewa wasioamini, je, hawatasema kwamba wote mna wazimu?
So, when the whole Church meets, if all present use the gift of ‘tongues,’ and some men who are without the gift, or who are unbelievers, come in, will not they say that you are mad?
24 Lakini kama mtu asiyeamini au asiyeelewa akiingia wakati kila mtu anatoa unabii, ataaminishwa na watu wote kuwa yeye ni mwenye dhambi na kuhukumiwa na wote,
While, if all those present use the gift of preaching, and an unbeliever, or a man without the gift, comes in, he is convinced of his sinfulness by them all, he is called to account by them all;
25 nazo siri za moyo wake zitawekwa wazi. Kwa hiyo ataanguka chini na kumwabudu Mungu akikiri, “Kweli Mungu yuko katikati yenu!”
the secrets of his heart are revealed, and then, throwing himself on his face, he will worship God, and declare ‘God is indeed among you!’
26 Basi tuseme nini ndugu zangu? Mnapokutana pamoja, kila mmoja ana wimbo, au neno la mafundisho, au ufunuo, lugha mpya au atatafsiri. Mambo yote yatendeke kwa ajili ya kulijenga kanisa.
What do I suggest, then, Brothers? 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 Kama mtu yeyote akinena kwa lugha, basi waseme watu wawili au watatu si zaidi, mmoja baada ya mwingine na lazima awepo mtu wa kutafsiri.
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 some one should interpret them.
28 Lakini kama hakuna mtu wa kutafsiri, hao watu na wanyamaze kimya kanisani na wanene na nafsi zao wenyewe na Mungu.
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 Manabii wawili au watatu wanene na wengine wapime yale yasemwayo.
Of preachers two or three should speak, and the rest should weigh well what is said.
30 Kama mtu yeyote aliyeketi karibu, akipata ufunuo, basi yule wa kwanza na anyamaze.
But, if some revelation is made to another person as he sits there, the first speaker should stop.
31 Kwa maana wote mnaweza kutoa unabii, mmoja baada ya mwingine, ili kila mtu apate kufundishwa na kutiwa moyo.
For you can all preach in turn, so that all may learn some lesson and all receive encouragement.
32 Roho za manabii huwatii manabii.
(The spirit that moves the preachers is within the preachers’ control;
33 Kwa maana Mungu si Mungu wa machafuko bali ni Mungu wa amani. Kama ilivyo katika makusanyiko yote ya watakatifu,
for God is not a God of disorder, but of peace.) This custom prevails in all the Churches of Christ’s People.
34 wanawake wanapaswa kuwa kimya kanisani. Hawaruhusiwi kusema, bali wanyenyekee kama sheria isemavyo.
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 Kama wakitaka kuuliza kuhusu jambo lolote, wawaulize waume zao nyumbani. Kwa maana ni aibu kwa mwanamke kuzungumza kanisani.
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 Je, neno la Mungu lilianzia kwenu? Au ni ninyi tu ambao neno la Mungu limewafikia?
What! did God’s Message to the world originate with you? or did it find its way to none but you?
37 Kama mtu yeyote akidhani kwamba yeye ni nabii, au ana karama za rohoni, basi na akubali kwamba haya ninayoandika ni maagizo kutoka kwa Bwana.
If any one thinks that he has the gift of preaching or any other spiritual gift, let him recognise that what I am now saying to you is a command from the Lord.
38 Kama mtu akipuuza jambo hili yeye mwenyewe atapuuzwa.
Any one who ignores it may be ignored.
39 Kwa hiyo ndugu zangu, takeni sana kutoa unabii na msikataze watu kusema kwa lugha.
Therefore, my Brothers, strive for the gift of preaching, and yet do not forbid speaking in ‘tongues.’
40 Lakini kila kitu kitendeke kwa heshima na kwa utaratibu.
Let everything be done in a proper and orderly manner.
