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.
Pravietošana un mēlēs runāšana
1 Dzenieties pēc mīlestības! Dedzīgi tiecieties pēc Gara dāvanām! Jo sevišķi – lai jūs spētu pravietot. 2 Kas runā mēlēs, runā nevis cilvēkiem, bet Dievam, jo neviens taču nesaprot, – viņš garā runā noslēpumus. 3 Bet, kas pravieto, tas runā cilvēkiem, lai viņus celtu, mudinātu un mierinātu. 4 Kas runā mēlēs, tas ceļ pats sevi, bet, kas pravieto, tas ceļ draudzi. 5 Es vēlētos, ka jūs runātu mēlēs, bet vēl vairāk, ka jūs pravietotu, jo, kas pravieto, ir lielāks nekā tas, kas runā mēlēs, ja nu vienīgi viņš arī tulko, tā ka draudze tiktu celta. 6 Ja es, brāļi, nāktu pie jums, mēlēs runādams, kādu gan labumu es jums dotu, ja nerunātu ar jums, nesdams vai nu atklāsmi, vai atziņu, vai pravietojumu, vai mācību. 7 Tāpat ir ar nedzīviem instrumentiem, kas izdod skaņas, vai tā būtu flauta vai cītara; ja to skaņas nebūtu izšķiramas, kā tad būtu saprotama flautas vai cītaras spēle? 8 Ja no taures nāks neskaidra skaņa, kas tad celsies uz karu? 9 Tāpat arī jūs, ja ar mēli izteiksiet neskaidru vārdu, – kā tad lai saprot sacīto? Tad jau jūs runāsiet tukšam gaisam. 10 Pasaulē ir tik neaptverami daudz valodu, un neviena nav bez nozīmes. 11 Un, ja es nesaprotu valodas jēgu, es būšu kā svešzemnieks tam, kas ar mani sarunājas, un viņš būs man kā svešzemnieks. 12 Tāpat arī jūs. Tā kā jūs dzenaties pēc Gara dāvanām, tad tiecieties pēc pārpilnības tajās, kas ceļ draudzi. 13 Tādēļ, kas mēlēs runā, lai lūdz Dievu, ka viņš spētu arī tulkot, 14 jo, kad es, mēlēs runādams, lūdzu, mans gars lūdz, bet mans prāts ir neauglīgs. 15 Ko tad darīt? Es lūgšu garā, taču lūgšu arī ar prātu; es dziedāšu garā, taču dziedāšu arī ar prātu. 16 Tad, kad tu slavēsi garā, kā gan tas vienkāršais klausītājs pēc tavas pateicības zinās teikt: āmen! – jo viņš nesapratīs, ko tu saki. 17 Tava pateicība gan ir skaista, bet cits no tā netiek celts. 18 Es pateicos Dievam, ka es vairāk par jums visiem runāju mēlēs, 19 bet draudzē es labāk gribu teikt piecus saprotamus vārdus, lai arī citus pamācītu, nekā tūkstošiem mēlēs. 20 Brāļi, nekļūstiet kā bērni savā saprašanā: pret ļaunumu esiet kā mazi bērni, bet saprašanā topiet pilnīgi. 21 Bauslībā taču ir rakstīts:
ar citu mēlēm
un citu lūpām
es runāšu ar šo tautu,
bet arī tad tie mani neuzklausīs,
saka tas Kungs. 22 Tā mēles ir par zīmi neticīgajiem, nevis tiem, kas tic, turpretī pravietošana ir tiem, kas tic, nevis neticīgajiem. 23 Ja nu visa draudze sanāks kopā un visi runās mēlēs un ienāks kādi nezinātāji vai neticīgie, vai viņi nesacīs, ka esat traki? 24 Bet, ja visi pravietos un ienāks kāds neticīgais vai nezinātājs, viņa grēks viņam tiks parādīts, visi spriedīs par viņu un 25 viņa apslēptās sirds lietas tiks atklātas; un tādējādi viņš kritīs uz sava vaiga, pielūgs Dievu un atzīs, ka Dievs patiesi ir jūsu vidū.
Dievkalpošanā lai ir kārtība
26 Ko tad darīt, brāļi? Ikreiz, kad jūs sanākat un katram ir vai nu kāda dziesma, vai mācība, vai atklāsme, vai runāšana mēlēs, vai tulkojums, viss lai notiek draudzes celšanai. 27 Ja arī kādi grib runāt mēlēs, lai runā divi vai, lielākais, trīs un pēc kārtas un viens lai tulko. 28 Bet, ja draudzē nav tulka, lai tie klusē – lai runā sev un Dievam. 29 Bet tie, kas pravieto, lai runā divi vai trīs, un citi lai apspriež. 30 Bet, ja kādam, kas tur sēd, nāktu atklāsme, tad iepriekšējais lai apklust. 31 Jo jūs taču spējat pravietot viens aiz otra, lai visi varētu mācīties un saņemt uzmundrinājumu. 32 Praviešu gari praviešus klausa. 33 Jo Dievs nav nekārtības, bet miera Dievs. Kā tas parasts visās svēto draudzēs, 34 sievas lai draudzē klusē, jo viņām nav ļauts runāt, bet lai viņas paliek bauslības noteiktajā paklausībā. 35 Bet, ja viņas grib ko mācīties, lai izjautā mājās savus vīrus, jo sievai ir apkaunojoši runāt draudzē. 36 Vai tad Dieva vārds no jums būtu nācis? Vai arī pie jums vien tas būtu nokļuvis? 37 Ja kāds domā, ka viņš ir pravietis vai apveltīts ar Gara dāvanām, lai atzīst to, ko es jums rakstu, jo tā ir Kunga pavēle. 38 Bet, ja kāds to neatzīst, viņš pats paliek neatzīts. 39 Tad nu, brāļi, tiecieties pravietot un neliedziet runāt mēlēs! 40 Tomēr viss lai notiek piedienīgi un kārtīgi.
