1 Korintofo 14

1 Ɔdɔ na ɛsɛ sɛ mohwehwɛ akyi kwan. Momma mo koma mpere nhwehwɛ Honhom akyɛde no, ne titiriw no nkɔmhyɛ.

Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.

2 Onipa a ɔka kasa foforo no nkasa nkyerɛ nnipa, na mmom ɔkasa kyerɛ Onyankopɔn, efisɛ obiara nte asɛm a ɔka no ase. Ɔnam Honhom no tumi so ka nokware mu ahintasɛm.

For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries in the Spirit.

3 Nanso onipa a ɔhyɛ nkɔm no kasa kyerɛ nnipa, boa wɔn, hyɛ wɔn nkuran, kyekye wɔn werɛ.

But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, encouragement, and comfort.

4 Onipa a ɔka kasa foforo no boa ɔno ankasa ne ho, nanso onipa a ɔhyɛ nkɔm no boa asafo no nyinaa.

The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.

5 Ɛwɔ mu sɛ mepɛ sɛ mo nyinaa ka kasa foforo de, nanso mepɛ sɛ mo nyinaa nya akyɛde a ɛbɛma mo ahyɛ nkɔm. Efisɛ onipa a ɔhyɛ nkɔm no ho hia yiye kyɛn onipa a ɔka kasa foforo no, gye sɛ obi wɔ hɔ a ɔbɛkyerɛ ase, ma aboa asafo no nyinaa.

I wish that all of you could speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be edified.

6 Enti anuanom, sɛ meba mo nkyɛn na meka kasa foforo a, mfaso bɛn na mubenya wɔ me ho? Morennya hwee gye sɛ meda Onyankopɔn ahintasɛm adi anaa meda osuahu bi adi, anaa meka nsɛm ma ɛkanyan mo, anaa mekyerɛkyerɛ mo.

Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?

7 Saa ara nso na nneɛma a nkwa nni mu, te sɛ abɛn anaa sanku a wɔde bɔ nnwom no, sɛ nnwom no bɔ no mu anna hɔ a, obiara rente ne dɛ.

Even in the case of lifeless instruments, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone recognize the tune they are playing unless the notes are distinct?

8 Na sɛ nea ɔhyɛn akobɛn no nso anhyɛn no yiye a, hena na obesiesie ne ho akɔ ɔko?

Again, if the trumpet sounds a muffled call, who will prepare for battle?

9 Saa ara nso na mibisa se, sɛ moka kasa foforo a emu nna hɔ a, ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na obi ate asɛm a moka no ase? Mo nsɛm no bɛyera wɔ mframa mu.

So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.

10 Ɔkasa ahorow bebree na ɛwɔ wiase, nanso emu biara nni hɔ a ntease nni mu.

Assuredly, there are many different languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.

11 Na sɛ mente kasa a obi ka no ase a, nea ɔreka saa kasa no bɛyɛ ɔhɔho ama me, na me a meretie no nso, mayɛ ɔhɔho ama no.

If, then, I do not know the meaning of someone’s language, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me.

12 Esiane sɛ mopere sɛ mubenya Honhom no akyɛde no nti, ɛsɛ sɛ mohwehwɛ nea ɛbɛboa asafo no ama agyina yiye.

It is the same with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, strive to excel in gifts that build up the church.

13 Ɛsɛ sɛ obi a ɔka kasa foforo no bɔ mpae na otumi kyerɛ nsɛm a ɔka no ase.

Therefore, the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.

14 Sɛ meka kasa foforo bɔ mpae a, me honhom bɔ saa mpae no, nanso mʼadwene mmoa.

For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.

15 Dɛn na afei ɛsɛ sɛ meyɛ? Mede me honhom bɛbɔ mpae, na mede me ntease bɛbɔ mpae nso; mede me honhom bɛto dwom, nanso mede me ntease nso bɛto bi.

What then shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.

16 Sɛ wonam honhom nko so da Onyankopɔn ase a, ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na obi a ɔka nhyiamu no ho no betumi agye wʼaseda mpae no so se, “Amen” bi? Ɔkwan biara nni hɔ a ɔbɛfa so ate nea woreka no ase.

Otherwise, if you speak a blessing in spirit, how can someone who is uninstructed say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?

17 Sɛ ɛba saa a, na wʼaseda mpae a worebɔ Onyankopɔn no ye sɛ dɛn ara mpo a, ɛremmoa onipa a ɔka wo ho no wɔ ɔkwan biara so.

You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other one is not edified.

18 Meda Onyankopɔn ase sɛ meka kasa foforo sen mo a mowɔ ha nyinaa.

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

19 Nanso asafo mu som no, mɛpɛ sɛ mɛka kasa mmaako mmaako anum pɛ a mobɛte ase na moagyina so atumi akyerɛ afoforo ade, sen sɛ mɛka nsɛm mpempem wɔ kasa foforo mu.

But in the church, I would rather speak five coherent words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

20 Monnnwene sɛ mmofra, anuanom; nanso sɛ yɛka bɔne ho asɛm de a, monyɛ mo ho sɛ mmofra. Nanso munnwen sɛ mmadwemma.

Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.

21 Kyerɛwsɛm no ka se, “Menam nnipa a wɔka kasa foforo so bɛkasa akyerɛ saa nnipa yi. Menam ahɔho anofafa so bɛkasa, nanso wɔrentie me,” Awurade na ose.

It is written in the Law: “By strange tongues and foreign lips I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to Me, says the Lord.”

22 Kasa foforo no yɛ wɔn a wonni gyidi no nsɛnkyerɛnne na Onyame asɛnka no nso yɛ gyidifo nsɛnkyerɛnne.

Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.

23 Sɛ asafo no nyinaa hyia na obiara fi ase ka kasa foforo na sɛ ahɔho anaa wɔn a wonni gyidi fra mo mu a, munnye nni sɛ wɔbɛka sɛ moabobɔ adam?

So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who are uninstructed or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds?

24 Nanso sɛ mo nyinaa na moka Onyankopɔn asɛm na sɛ obi a onni gyidi anaa onipa foforo bi bɛfra mo mu a, nsɛm a ɔbɛte no bɛma wanu ne ho wɔ ne bɔne ho. Nsɛm a ɔte no bebu no atɛn

But if an unbeliever or uninstructed person comes in while everyone is prophesying, he will be convicted and called to account by all,

25 na ne kokoamsɛm bɛda adi, na obebu nkotodwe asom Onyankopɔn na waka ne bɔne se, “Nokware ni, Onyankopɔn ka yɛn ho wɔ ha!”

and the secrets of his heart will be made known. So he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is truly among you!”

26 Anuanom, nsɛm a meka yi kyerɛ dɛn? Sɛ muhyia sɛ moresom a, obi to dwom; obi kyerɛkyerɛ; obi da Onyankopɔn ahintasɛm adi; obi ka kasa foforo na ɔfoforo nso akyerɛkyerɛ ase. Ɛsɛ sɛ biribiara boa asafo no nkɔso.

What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a psalm or a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. All of these must be done to build up the church.

27 Sɛ obi pɛ sɛ ɔka kasa foforo a, aboro so koraa no, ɛsɛ sɛ ɛyɛ nnipa bɛyɛ baanu anaa baasa. Ɔbaako kasa wie a, na ɔfoforo nso akasa, na obi nso akyerɛkyerɛ nsɛm a waka no ase.

If anyone speaks in a tongue, two, or at most three, should speak in turn, and someone must interpret.

28 Na sɛ obi nni hɔ a ɔbɛkyerɛ kasa foforo yi ase de a, ɛsɛ sɛ onipa a ɔka saa kasa no yɛ komm wɔ nhyiamu no ase na ɔkasa kyerɛ ne ho ne Onyankopɔn.

But if there is no interpreter, he should remain silent in the church and speak only to himself and God.

29 Nnipa baanu anaa baasa a Onyankopɔn asɛm no wɔ wɔn nkyɛn no na ɛsɛ sɛ wɔkasa na wɔn a aka no nso atie adwene ho.

Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.

30 Na sɛ obi a ɔte hɔ no nso nya asɛm fi Onyankopɔn nkyɛn a, ɛsɛ sɛ onipa a ɔrekasa no gyae kasa.

And if a revelation comes to someone who is seated, the first speaker should stop.

31 Ɛsɛ sɛ mo nyinaa ka Onyankopɔn asɛm no mmaako mmaako sɛnea mo nyinaa benya osuahu bi ne nkuranhyɛ.

For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.

32 Ɛsɛ sɛ nkɔmhyɛni no pene so gyae ma ɔfoforo nso kasa.

The spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.

33 Efisɛ Onyankopɔn mfrɛɛ yɛn sɛ yɛmmɛyɛ basabasa, na mmom asomdwoepɛfo. Sɛnea ɛte wɔ Onyankopɔn asafo mu no.

For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace—as in all the churches of the saints.

34 Ɛsɛ sɛ mmea a wɔwɔ asafo mu no yɛ komm wɔ asafo no nhyiamu ase. Wonni ho kwan sɛ wɔkasa, sɛnea Mose mmara no kyerɛ no.

Women are to be silent in the churches. They are not permitted to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says.

35 Sɛ wɔrehwehwɛ biribi mu ahu a, wommisa wɔn kununom wɔ fie. Ɔbea kasa wɔ asafo nhyiamu ase a, ɛyɛ animguase.

If they wish to inquire about something, they are to ask their own husbands at home; for it is dishonorable for a woman to speak in the church.

36 Anaa mofa no sɛ Onyankopɔn asɛm no fi mo nkyɛn? Anaa mo nko ara mo nkyɛn na efi?

Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only ones it has reached?

37 Sɛ obi susuw sɛ ɔyɛ odiyifo anaa ɔwɔ honhom akyɛde a, ɛsɛ sɛ ɔte ne ho ase sɛ, “Nsɛm a merekyerɛw yi, Awurade na ɔhyɛɛ me sɛ menkyerɛw.”

If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, let him acknowledge that what I am writing you is the Lord’s command.

38 Enti sɛ ontie eyi a, ɛno de munntie ɔno nso.

But if anyone ignores this, he himself will be ignored.

39 Enti anuanom, mompere sɛ mobɛhyɛ nkɔm, nanso monnnyae sɛ mobɛka kasa foforo.

So, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

40 Ɛsɛ sɛ moyɛ biribiara wɔ ne kwan so.

But everything must be done in a proper and orderly manner.