Speaking Unknown Languages and Prophesying
1 Love should be your guide. Be eager to have the gifts that come from the Holy Spirit, especially the gift of prophecy. 2 If you speak languages that others don't know, God will understand what you are saying, though no one else will know what you mean. You will be talking about mysteries that only the Spirit understands. 3 But when you prophesy, you will be understood, and others will be helped. They will be encouraged and made to feel better.
4 By speaking languages that others don't know, you help only yourself. But by prophesying you help everyone in the church. 5 I am glad for you to speak unknown languages, although I prefer that you would prophesy. In fact, prophesying does much more good than speaking unknown languages, unless someone can help the church by explaining what you mean.
6 My friends, what good would it do, if I came and spoke unknown languages to you and didn't explain what I meant? How would I help you, unless I told you what God had shown me or gave you some knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7 If all musical instruments sounded alike, how would you know the difference between a flute and a harp? 8 If a bugle call isn't clear, how would you know to get ready for battle?
9 This is how it is when you speak unknown languages. If no one can understand what you are talking about, you will only be talking to the wind. 10 There are many different languages in this world, and all of them make sense. 11 But if I don't understand the language that someone is using, we will be like foreigners to each other. 12 If you really want spiritual gifts, choose the ones that will be most helpful to the church.
13 When we speak languages that others don't know, we should pray for the power to explain what we mean. 14 For example, if I use an unknown language in my prayers, my spirit prays but my mind is useless. 15 Then what should I do? There are times when I should pray with my spirit, and times when I should pray with my mind. Sometimes I should sing with my spirit, and at other times I should sing with my mind.
16 Suppose some strangers are in your worship service, when you are praising God with your spirit. If they don't understand you, how will they know to say, “Amen”? 17 You may be worshiping God in a wonderful way, but no one else will be helped. 18 I thank God that I speak unknown languages more than any of you. 19 But words that make sense can help the church. This is why in church I would rather speak five words that make sense than to speak 10,000 words in a language that others don't know.
20 My friends, stop thinking like children. Think like mature people and be as innocent as tiny babies. 21 In the Scriptures the Lord says,
“I will use strangers
who speak unknown languages
to talk to my people.
They will speak to them
in foreign languages,
but still my people
won't listen to me.”
22 Languages others don't know may mean something to unbelievers, but not to the Lord's followers. Prophecy, on the other hand, is for followers, not for unbelievers. 23 Suppose everyone in your worship service started speaking unknown languages, and some outsiders or some unbelievers come in. Won't they think you are crazy? 24 But suppose all of you are prophesying when those unbelievers and outsiders come in. They will realize that they are sinners, and they will want to change their ways because of what you are saying. 25 They will tell what is hidden in their hearts. Then they will kneel down and say to God, “We are certain that you are with these people.”
Worship Must Be Orderly
26 My friends, when you meet to worship, you must do everything for the good of everyone there. That's how it should be when someone sings or teaches or tells what God has said or speaks an unknown language or explains what the language means. 27 No more than two or three of you should speak unknown languages during the meeting. You must take turns, and someone should always be there to explain what you mean. 28 If no one can explain, you must keep silent in church and speak only to yourself and to God.
29 Two or three persons may prophesy, and everyone else must listen carefully. 30 If someone sitting there receives a message from God, the speaker must stop and let the other person speak. 31 Let only one person speak at a time, then all of you will learn something and be encouraged. 32 A prophet should be willing to stop and let someone else speak. 33 God wants everything to be done peacefully and in order.
When God's people meet in church, 34 the women must not be allowed to speak. They must keep quiet and listen, as the Law of Moses teaches. 35 If there is something they want to know, they can ask their husbands when they get home. It is disgraceful for women to speak in church.
36 God's message did not start with you people, and you are not the only ones it has reached.
37 If you think of yourself as a prophet or a spiritual person, you will know I am writing only what the Lord has commanded. 38 So don't pay attention to anyone who ignores what I am writing. 39 My friends, be eager to prophesy and don't stop anyone from speaking languages that others don't know. 40 But do everything properly and in order.
Oviyandjewa vyOmbepo
1 Ramangeye orusuvero. Nu zereye oviyandjewa vyOmbepo, nu tjinene ingwi okuzuvarisa ombuze ya Ndjambi. 2 Ingwi ngu hungira omaraka pekepeke eye ka hungirire ovandu, nungwari u hungirira Ndjambi, tjinga ape hi na ngu me mu zuu nawa. Eye u hungira omaundikiro nomasa wOmbepo. 3 Nungwari ingwi ngu zuvarisa ombuze ya Ndjambi u hungirira ovandu, nu u ve tunga nomayanḓiparisiro nomahuhumiṋino. 4 Ingwi ngu hungira omaraka pekepeke eye u ritunga omuini, nungwari ingwi ngu zuvarisa ombuze ya Ndjambi eye u tunga ombongo aihe.
5 Ami etje vanga kutja eṋe amuhe mu hungire omaraka pekepeke, nungwari tjinene etje vanga kutja mu zuvarise ombuze ya Ndjambi. Orondu ingwi ngu zuvarisa ombuze ya Ndjambi eye omunanḓengu tjinene komeho okukapita ingwi ngu hungira omaraka pekepeke, pendje na indu tji pe nomundu ngu ma sora okutoroka omambo we, kokutja momuhingo mbwi ombongo aihe i sore okutungwa. 6 Nu, vakwetu, ami tjinangara meya ku eṋe, me mu vatere na tjike tji me hungire omaraka pekepeke. Tji me mu vatere, karondu porwe tji me mu vandururire omauatjiri wa Ndjambi poo tji me mu etere ondjiviro poo ombuze ya Ndjambi poo omahongero?
7 Ripureye novihumba tjimuna ohiva notjiharpe. Tji vi hi nokueta ozombosiro pekepeke, mape tjiukwa vi kutja ombosiro ndji mai pose oyohiva poo oyotjiharpe? 8 Ohiva tji i hi nokueta ombosiro ongahuke, ndji tjiukwa, owaṋi ngu me rirongerere ovita? 9 Nu momuhingo tjingewo eṋe tji mamu hungire omambo momaraka nge hi nokuzuvaka nawa, owaṋi ngu ma zuu kutja mamu tja tjike? Okutja mamu hungire omambo womungandjo ngu maye twarewa i ombepo! 10 Mouye mu nomaraka omengi pekepeke, nu kape na nangarire rimwe ndi hi na tji mari hee. 11 Nungwari ami tji mbi hi nokutjiwa eraka ndi mari hungirwa, ingwi ngu ma hungire ro ku ami eye omundu wozonganda, nami wina ku ye owami owozonganda. 12 Nu wina ku eṋe otjinga ape ri nao. Tji mamu ramangere okupewa oviyandjewa vyOmbepo, kondjereye okumuna kombanda yaavihe imbi mbi vatera okutunga ombongo.
13 Ingwi ngu ma hungire omaraka pekepeke, u sokukumbira otjiyandjewa tjokutoroka omaraka nga. 14 Orondu tji me kumbu momaraka nga, ombepo yandje ondji mai kumbu, nungwari ozondunge zandje kaze norupa mongumbiro ndji. 15 Nu tjiperi nao, ami me tjiti vi? Ami me kumbu nombepo yandje, nu wina me kumbu nozondunge zandje; me imbura nombepo yandje, nu wina me imbura nozondunge zandje. 16 Tji mo kumbu ongumbiro yokutja okuhepa ku Ndjambi mombepo uriri, ingwi ngu ri puna ove mbo ma sora vi okutja “Amen” kongumbiro yoye yondangero? Omambo nga ove ngu wa hungire eye ke ye zuvire nu! 17 Ii, ongumbiro yoye yondangero ku Ndjambi oyo ombwa, nungwari ingwi omukweṋu kai nakuvatera.
18 Ami me tja okuhepa ku Ndjambi kutja mbi hungira omaraka pekepeke okukapita eṋe amuhe. 19 Nungwari momerikotameneno wombongo ami me ṱokuhungira omambo yetano ngu maye zuvaka kutja mbi honge ovakwetu, komeho yokuhungira omambo omayovi omurongo momaraka pekepeke.
20 Vakwetu, momeripura weṋu amu kara ko otja ovanatje! Nu mozondjito zeṋu kareye otja ovanatje ovehinandjo, nungwari mouripura weṋu mu ngare mwe kura. 21 Momatjangwa mwa tjangwa nai:
“Ami me hungire notjiwaṋa tjandje momaraka warwe
notjinyo tjovandu wozonganda,
nungwari nandarire nao otjo katji nakundjizuva,
Muhona ma tja nao.”
22 Punao, otjiyandjewa tjokuhungira momaraka pekepeke otjiraisiro ku imba mbe ha kambura, nu ka ku imba mbe kambura, nu wina otjiyandjewa tjokuzuvarisa ombuze ya Ndjambi otjiraisiro ku imba mbe kambura, nungwari ka ku imba mbe ha kambura.
23 Nombongo aihe tji ya worongana, nu auhe a utu okuhungira momaraka pekepeke, nu tji pa hiti ovayenda mongamburiro poo ovahakambura, owo kamaave tja eṋe mwa vera oviyoze are? 24 Nungwari avehe tji mave zuvarisa ombuze ya Ndjambi, nu tji pa hiti omuhakambura poo omuyenda mongamburiro, u sokurimuna kutja eye, tjiri, omunandjo, tji ma puratene komazuvasirio nga; neye ma pangurwa i imbi mbi ma zuu. 25 Ouripura we ouhorekwa womomutima otji mau horoka, neye otji ma u kozongoro ne rikotamene ku Ndjambi ama hongonona nai: “Tjiri, Ndjambi u ri mba mokati keṋu!”
Ouhirona mombongo
26 Nambano pe sokukara vi, vakwetu? Eṋe aruhe tji mamu worongana, auhe weṋu u kara notjiṋa okutjita: Okuimbura eimburiro, okuhonga, okuvandurura omauatjiri wa Ndjambi, okuhungira omaraka pekepeke nokutoroka imbi mbya hungirwa. Avihe mbi ngavi tjitirwe okutunga ombongo. 27 Nu tji pena ngu ma hungire omaraka, tjinene nga rire ovandu vevari poo vetatu, nu ve pasane otuveze; nu ngape kare warwe ngu ma toroka imbi mbya hungirwa. 28 Nu tji pe hi nomutoroke, ingwi ngu hungira omaraka pekepeke nga mwine mombongo, nu koye a rire ke kerihungirira omuini ku Ndjambi. 29 Nu imba mba pewa ombuze i Ndjambi, vevari poo vetatu ngave hungire, nu imba ovakwao ve sosonone omambo wawo. 30 Nu ngahino umwe ngwa haama mombongo ma pewa ombuze ya Ndjambi; ingwi ngwa vazewa ama hungire, nga mwine. 31 Eṋe amuhe mamu sora okuzuvarisa ombuze ya Ndjambi, nungwari nga rire koumweumwe, kokutja avehe mba wongara mbo ve rihonge nu ve panḓiparisiwe. 32 Ingwi ngwa pewa okuzuvarisa ombuze ya Ndjambi, nge ritjaere omuini momambo we. 33 Orondu Ndjambi tje he ri Ndjambi wouhazendu, nungwari eye tje ri Ndjambi wouhirona nowohange.
Notja tjinga ape ri mozombongo azehe zovakambure, 34 ovakazendu ve sokumwina mozombongarero zeṋu. Owo kave yandjererwe okuhungira, nungwari ngave riwise kehi otja Omatwako punga amaye hee. 35 Nowo tji mave vanga okutjiwa nawa otjiṋa ongahukiro, ngave kapure kovarumendu vawo kozoyawo; orondu ondjambu ovakazendu okuhungira mombongo.
36 Indu embo ra Ndjambi ra zire mu eṋe are? Poo oro re ya ku eṋe porweṋu? 37 Nu tji pe nomundu ngu me ritjangovasi eye omuhindwa wa Ndjambi poo eye u nOmbepo ya Ndjambi, nga tjiwe nawa kutja imbi mbi me tjanga ku eṋe ovyo omarakiza wa Muhona. 38 Neye tje hi na ko na tja nomarakiza wa Muhona nga, Ndjambi wina ke nokukara ko na tja na ye.
39 Nu, vakwetu, kareye nonḓero yokuzuvarisa ombuze ya Ndjambi, nungwari ingwi okuhungira omaraka pekepeke amu ku tjaere ko. 40 Avihe ngavi tjitwe momuhingo omuwa na mouhirona.
