1
Ufuateni upendo, na kutaka sana karama za rohoni, lakini zaidi kwamba mpate kuhutubu.
Earnestly pursue love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
2
Maana yeye anenaye kwa lugha, hasemi na watu, bali husema na Mungu; maana hakuna asikiaye; lakini anena mambo ya siri katika roho yake.
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
Bali yeye ahutubuye, asema na watu maneno ya kuwajenga, na kuwafariji, na kuwatia moyo.
But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, encouragement, and comfort.
4
Yeye anenaye kwa lugha hujijenga nafsi yake; bali ahutubuye hulijenga kanisa.
The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.
5
Nami nataka ninyi nyote mnene kwa lugha, lakini zaidi sana mpate kuhutubu, maana yeye ahutubuye ni mkuu kuliko yeye anenaye kwa lugha, isipokuwa afasiri, ili kusudi kanisa lipate kujengwa.
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
Ila sasa, ndugu, nikija kwenu na kunena kwa lugha, nitawafaidia nini, isipokuwa nasema nanyi kwa njia ya ufunuo, au kwa njia ya elimu, au kwa njia ya hotuba, au kwa njia ya fundisho?
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
Hata vitu visivyo na uhai vitoapo sauti, ikiwa ni filimbi, ikiwa ni kinubi, visipotoa sauti zilizo na tofauti, itatambulikanaje ni wimbo gani unaopigwa kwa filimbi au kwa kinubi?
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
Kwa maana baragumu ikitoa sauti isiyojulikana, ni nani atakayejifanya tayari kwa vita?
Again, if the trumpet sounds a muffled call, who will prepare for battle?
9
Vivyo hivyo na ninyi, msipotoa kwa ulimi neno lililo dhahiri, neno lile linenwalo litajulikanaje? Maana mtakuwa mkinena hewani tu.
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
Yamkini ziko sauti za namna nyingi duniani, wala hakuna moja isiyo na maana.
Assuredly, there are many different languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.
11
Basi nisipoijua maana ya ile sauti nitakuwa kama mjinga kwake yeye anenaye; naye anenaye atakuwa mjinga kwangu.
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
Vivyo hivyo na ninyi, kwa kuwa mnatamani sana kuwa watu wenye karama za roho, takeni kwamba mzidi sana kuwa nazo ili kulijenga kanisa.
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
Kwa sababu hiyo yeye anenaye kwa lugha na aombe apewe kufasiri.
Therefore, the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.
14
Maana nikiomba kwa lugha, roho yangu huomba, lakini akili zangu hazina matunda.
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
15
Imekuwaje, basi? Nitaomba kwa roho, tena nitaomba kwa akili pia; mtaimba kwa roho, tena nitaimba kwa akili pia.
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
Kwa maana wewe ukibariki kwa roho, yeye aketiye katika mahali pa mjinga ataitikaje, Amina, baada ya kushukuru kwako, akiwa hayajui usemayo?
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
Maana ni kweli, wewe washukuru vema, bali yule mwingine hajengwi.
You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other one is not edified.
18
Namshukuru Mungu ya kuwa nanena kwa lugha zaidi ya ninyi nyote;
I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
19
lakini katika kanisa napenda kunena maneno matano kwa akili zangu, nipate kuwafundisha wengine, zaidi ya kunena maneno kumi elfu kwa lugha.
But in the church, I would rather speak five coherent words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20
Ndugu zangu, msiwe watoto katika akili zenu; lakini katika uovu mgeuzwe watoto wachanga, bali katika akili zenu mkawe watu wazima.
Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.
21
Imeandikwa katika torati, Nitasema na watu hawa kwa watu wa lugha nyingine, na kwa midomo ya wageni, wala hata hivyo hawatanisikia, asema Bwana.
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
Basi, hizi lugha ni ishara, si kwao waaminio, bali kwao wasioamini lakini kuhutubu si kwa ajili yao wasioamini, bali kwa ajili yao waaminio.
Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.
23
Haya! Ikiwa kanisa lote limekusanyika pamoja, na wote wanene kwa lugha, kisha ikawa wameingia watu wajinga au wasioamini, je! Hawatasema ya kwamba mna wazimu?
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
Lakini wote wakihutubu, kisha akaingia mtu asiyeamini, au mjinga, abainishwa na wote, ahukumiwa na wote;
But if an unbeliever or uninstructed person comes in while everyone is prophesying, he will be convicted and called to account by all,
25
siri za moyo wake huwa wazi; na hivyo atamwabudu Mungu, akianguka kifudifudi, na kukiri ya kuwa Mungu yu kati yenu bila shaka.
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
Basi, ndugu, imekuwaje? Mkutanapo pamoja, kila mmoja ana zaburi, ana fundisho, ana ufunuo, ana lugha, ana tafsiri. Mambo yote na yatendeke kwa kusudi la kujenga.
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
Kama mtu akinena kwa lugha, wanene wawili au watatu, si zaidi, tena zamu kwa zamu, na mmoja na afasiri.
If anyone speaks in a tongue, two, or at most three, should speak in turn, and someone must interpret.
28
Lakini asipokuwapo mwenye kufasiri na anyamaze katika kanisa; aseme na nafsi yake tena na Mungu.
But if there is no interpreter, he should remain silent in the church and speak only to himself and God.
29
Na manabii wanene wawili, au watatu, na wengine wapambanue.
Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.
30
Lakini mwingine aliyeketi akifunuliwa neno, yule wa kwanza na anyamaze.
And if a revelation comes to someone who is seated, the first speaker should stop.
31
Kwa maana ninyi nyote mwaweza kuhutubu mmoja mmoja, ili wote wapate kujifunza, na wote wafarijiwe.
For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.
32
Na roho za manabii huwatii manabii.
The spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.
33
Kwa maana Mungu si Mungu wa machafuko, bali wa amani; vile vile kama ilivyo katika makanisa yote ya watakatifu.
For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace—as in all the churches of the saints.
34
Wanawake na wanyamaze katika kanisa, maana hawana ruhusa kunena bali watii, kama vile inenavyo torati nayo.
Women are to be silent in the churches. They are not permitted to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says.
35
Nao wakitaka kujifunza neno lo lote, na wawaulize waume zao wenyewe nyumbani mwao; maana ni aibu wanawake kunena katika kanisa.
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
Au je! Neno la Mungu lilitoka kwenu? Au kuwafikia ninyi peke yenu?
Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only ones it has reached?
37
Mtu akijiona kuwa ni nabii au mtu wa rohoni, na ayatambue hayo ninayowaandikia, ya kwamba ni maagizo ya Bwana.
If anyone considers himself a prophet or spiritual person, let him acknowledge that what I am writing you is the Lord’s command.
38
Lakini mtu akiwa mjinga, na awe mjinga.
But if anyone ignores this, he himself will be ignored.
39
Kwa ajili ya hayo, ndugu, takeni sana kuhutubu, wala msizuie kunena kwa lugha.
So, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
40
Lakini mambo yote na yatendeke kwa uzuri na kwa utaratibu.
But everything must be done in a proper and orderly manner.