1 Korintofoɔ 14

1 Ɔdɔ na ɛsɛ sɛ mohwehwɛ akyire kwan. Momma mo akoma nni Honhom no akyɛdeɛ akyi, ne titire no, nkɔmhyɛ.

Seek this Love earnestly, and strive for spiritual gifts, above all for the gift of preaching.

2 Onipa a ɔka kasa foforɔ no nkasa nkyerɛ nnipa, na mmom ɔkasa kyerɛ Onyankopɔn, ɛfiri sɛ, obiara nte asɛm a ɔka no ase. Ɔnam Honhom no tumi so ka nokorɛ mu ahintasɛm.

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

But he who preaches is speaking to his fellow men words that will build up faith, and give them comfort and encouragement.

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

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 Ɛwom sɛ mepɛ sɛ mo nyinaa ka kasa foforɔ deɛ, nanso mepɛ sɛ mo nyinaa nya akyɛdeɛ a ɛbɛma mo ahyɛ nkɔm. Ɛfiri sɛ, onipa a ɔhyɛ nkɔm no ho hia yie kyɛn onipa a ɔka kasa foforɔ no, gye sɛ, obi wɔ hɔ a ɔbɛkyerɛ aseɛ, ma aboa asafo no nyinaa.

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 Enti anuanom, sɛ meba mo nkyɛn na meka kasa foforɔ a, mfasoɔ bɛn na mobɛnya wɔ me ho? Morennya hwee gye sɛ meda Onyankopɔn ahintasɛm adi anaa meda osuahunu bi adi, anaa meka nsɛm ma ɛkanyane mo, anaa mekyerɛkyerɛ mo.

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

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 Na sɛ deɛ ɔbɔ totorobɛnto no nso ammɔ no yie a, hwan na ɔbɛsiesie ne ho akɔ ɔko?

If the bugle sounds a doubtful call, who will prepare for battle?

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

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 Kasa ahodoɔ bebree na ɛwɔ ewiase, nanso emu biara nni hɔ a nteaseɛ nni mu.

There is, for instance, a certain number of different languages in the world, and not one of them fails to convey meaning.

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

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 Esiane sɛ mopere sɛ mobɛnya Honhom no akyɛdeɛ no enti, ɛsɛ sɛ mohwehwɛ deɛ ɛbɛboa asafo no ama atim yie.

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 Ɛsɛ sɛ obi a ɔka kasa foforɔ no bɔ mpaeɛ na ɔtumi kyerɛ nsɛm a ɔka no ase.

Therefore let him who, when speaking, uses the gift of ‘tongues’ pray for ability to interpret them.

14 Sɛ meka kasa foforɔ bɔ mpaeɛ a, me honhom bɔ saa mpaeɛ no, nanso mʼadwene mmoa.

If, when praying, I use the gift of ‘tongues,’ my spirit indeed prays, but my mind is a blank.

15 Ɛdeɛn na afei ɛsɛ sɛ meyɛ? Mede me honhom bɛbɔ mpaeɛ, na ɛtɔ da bi nso a mede mʼadwene bɛbɔ mpaeɛ; mede me honhom bɛto dwom, nanso mede mʼadwene nso bɛto bi.

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 Sɛ wonam honhom nko so da Onyankopɔn ase a, ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na obi a ɔka nhyiamu no ho no bɛtumi agye wʼaseda mpaeɛ no so sɛ “Amen” bi? Ɛkwan biara nni hɔ a ɔbɛfa so ate deɛ woreka no ase.

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 Sɛ ɛba saa a, na wʼaseda mpaeɛ a worebɔ Onyankopɔn no yɛ sɛ ɛdeɛn ara mpo a, ɛremmoa onipa a ɔka wo ho no ɛkwan biara so.

Your thanksgiving may be excellent, but the other is not helped by it.

18 Meda Onyankopɔn ase sɛ meka kasa foforɔ sene mo a mowɔ ha nyinaa.

Thank God, I use the gift of ‘tongues’ more than any of you.

19 Nanso, asafo mu som no, mɛpɛ sɛ mɛka kasa mmaako mmaako enum pɛ a mobɛte aseɛ na moagyina so atumi akyerɛ afoforɔ adeɛ sene sɛ mɛka nsɛm mpempem wɔ kasa foforɔ mu.

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 Monnnwene sɛ, mmɔfra, anuanom; nanso sɛ yɛka bɔne ho asɛm deɛ a, monyɛ mo ho sɛ mmɔfra. Nanso, monnwene sɛ mmadwemma.

Brothers, do not show yourselves children in understanding. In wickedness be infants, but in understanding show yourselves men.

21 Atwerɛsɛm no ka sɛ, “Menam nnipa a wɔka kasa foforɔ so bɛkasa makyerɛ saa nnipa yi. Menam ahɔhoɔ anofafa so bɛkasa nanso, wɔrentie me,” Awurade na ɔseɛ.

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 Kasa foforɔ no yɛ wɔn a wɔnni gyidie no nsɛnkyerɛnneɛ ɛnna Onyame asɛnka no nso yɛ agyidifoɔ nsɛnkyerɛnneɛ.

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 Sɛ asafo no nyinaa hyia na obiara fiti aseɛ ka kasa foforɔ na sɛ ahɔhoɔ anaa wɔn a wɔnni gyidie fra mo mu a, monnye nni sɛ wɔbɛka sɛ moabobɔ adam?

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 Nanso, sɛ mo nyinaa na moka Onyankopɔn asɛm na sɛ obi a ɔnni gyidie anaa onipa foforɔ bi bɛfra mo mu a, nsɛm a ɔbɛte no bɛma wanu ne ho wɔ ne bɔne ho. Nsɛm a ɔte no bɛbu no atɛn

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 na ne kɔkoamsɛm bɛda adi, na ɔbɛbu nkotodwe asom Onyankopɔn na waka ne bɔne sɛ, “Nokorɛ ni, Onyankopɔn ka yɛn ho wɔ ha!”

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 Anuanom, nsɛm a meka yi kyerɛ sɛn? Sɛ mohyia sɛ moresom a, obi to dwom; obi kyerɛkyerɛ; obi da Onyankopɔn ahintasɛm adi; obi ka kasa foforɔ ɛnna ɔfoforɔ nso akyerɛkyerɛ aseɛ. Ɛsɛ sɛ biribiara boa asafo no nkɔsoɔ.

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

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 Na sɛ obi nni hɔ a ɔbɛkyerɛ kasa foforɔ 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.

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 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.

Of preachers two or three should speak, and the rest should weigh well what is said.

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

But, if some revelation is made to another person as he sits there, the first speaker should stop.

31 Ɛsɛ sɛ mo nyinaa ka Onyankopɔn asɛm no mmaako mmaako sɛdeɛ mo nyinaa bɛnya osuahunu bi ne nkuranhyɛ.

For you can all preach in turn, so that all may learn some lesson and all receive encouragement.

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

(The spirit that moves the preachers is within the preachers’ control;

33 Ɛfiri sɛ, Onyankopɔn mfrɛɛ yɛn sɛ yɛmmɛyɛ basabasa, na mmom asomdwoeɛpɛfoɔ. Sɛdeɛ ɛte wɔ Onyankopɔn asafo mu no.

for God is not a God of disorder, but of peace.) This custom prevails in all the Churches of Christ’s People.

34 Ɛsɛ sɛ mmaa a wɔwɔ asafo mu no yɛ komm wɔ asafo no nhyiamu ase. Wɔnni ho ɛkwan sɛ wɔkasa, sɛdeɛ Mose Mmara no kyerɛ no.

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 Sɛ wɔrepɛ biribi mu ahunu a, wɔmmisa wɔn kununom wɔ fie. Ɔbaa kasa wɔ asafo nhyiamu ase a, ɛyɛ animguaseɛ.

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 Anaa mofa no sɛ Onyankopɔn asɛm no firi mo nkyɛn? Anaa mo nko ara mo nkyɛn na ɛfiri?

What! did God’s Message to the world originate with you? or did it find its way to none but you?

37 Sɛ obi susu sɛ ɔyɛ odiyifoɔ anaa ɔwɔ honhom akyɛdeɛ a, ɛsɛ sɛ ɔte ne ho ase sɛ nsɛm a meretwerɛ yi, Awurade na ɔhyɛɛ me sɛ mentwerɛ.

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 Enti, sɛ ɔntie yei a, ɛnneɛ, monntie ɔno nso.

Any one who ignores it may be ignored.

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

Therefore, my Brothers, strive for the gift of preaching, and yet do not forbid speaking in ‘tongues.’

40 Ɛsɛ sɛ moyɛ biribiara wɔ ne kwan so.

Let everything be done in a proper and orderly manner.