1 Dzenieties pēc mīlestības, bet rūpējieties arī par garīgām dāvanām, sevišķi lai jums būtu praviešu dāvana.
2 Jo, kas runā mēlēs, tas nerunā cilvēkiem, bet Dievam; jo neviens to nesaprot, viņš garā runā noslēpumus.
3 Bet kas sludina pravieša spēkā, tas runā cilvēkiem, stiprinādams ticībā, mudinādams un iepriecinādams.
4 Kas runā mēlēs, tas stiprina ticībā pats sevi; bet, kas sludina pravieša spēkā, tas ceļ draudzi.
5 Es gribētu, ka jūs visi varētu runāt mēlēs, bet vēl vairāk, ka jūs sludinātu praviešu spēkā. Jo sludinātājs ir lielāks nekā mēlēs runātājs, ja pēdējais nesmedz paskaidrojumu, lai draudze iegūtu stiprināšanu.
6 Ja es, brāļi, nāktu pie jums, mēlēs runādams, ko tas jums palīdzētu, ja es nesludinātu jums, nesdams vai atklāsmi, vai atziņu, vai praviešu spēku, vai mācību?
7 Tas tāpat kā ar nedzīviem instrūmentiem, vai tā būtu stabule, vai kokle, kas izdod skaņas; ja to skaņas nevarētu izšķirt, kā lai saprastu stabules vai kokles spēli?
8 Un, ja taure izdod neskaidru skaņu, kas tad gatavosies karam?
9 Tāpat ari, ja jūs ar savu mēli neteiksit skaidrus vārdus, kā lai saprot runāto? Jūs būsit vējā runājuši.
10 Pasaulē, kā zināms, ir daudz dažādu valodu, un nav nekā bez valodas.
11 Un ja es kādu valodu nesaprotu, tad es būšu runātājam svešinieks, un runātājs būs man svešinieks.
12 Tā kā jums ir tieksmes pēc garīgām dāvanām, tad rūpējieties, ka esat bagāti ar dāvanām, ar kurām varat celt draudzi.
13 Tādēļ, kas mēlēs runā, lai lūdz Dievu, ka viņš to arī var izskaidrot.
14 Jo, kad es, mēlēs runādams, lūdzu Dievu, tad mans gars gan lūdz, bet mans prāts paliek neauglīgs.
15 Kā tad tas patiesībā ir? Es taču gribu Dievu lūgt garā, bet gribu lūgt arī ar prātu; es gribu dziedāt garā, bet gribu dziedāt arī ar prātu.
16 Ja tu garā slavē Dievu, kā gan vienkāršais draudzes loceklis pēc tavas pateicības varēs sacīt savu Amen? Jo viņš nesaprot, ko tu runā.
17 Varbūt tava pateicība ir laba, bet tā citiem neceļ ticību.
18 Es pateicos savam Dievam, es vairāk nekā jūs visi runāju mēlēs.
19 Bet draudzē es gribu labāk piecus sapratīgus vārdus runāt, lai citus pa mācītu, nekā desmit tūkstošu vārdu mēlēs.
20 Brāļi, netopiet bērni saprašanā, bet esiet mazi bērni ļaunumā, bet saprašanā topiet pieauguši.
21 Bauslibā rakstits: „Svešās mēlēs un ar svešu cilvēku lūpām es runāšu uz šo tautu, un tomēr tā man neklausīs,“ saka tas Kungs.
22 Tā mēles nav par zīmi ticīgajiem, bet neticīgajiem, bet praviešu sludināšana nav neticīgajiem bet ticīgajiem.
23 Ja visa draudze sanāktu kopā, un visi runātu mēlēs, un ienāktu svešinieki vai neticīgi, vai tie neteiks, ka esat prātu zaudējuši?
24 Bet ja visi runā praviešu spēkā un ienāk iekšā neticīgs vai svešinieks, visi viņu ved pie atzīšanas, visi spriež pār viņu.
25 Un viņa apslēptās sirds domas nāk zināmas, un tā viņš kritīs uz savu vaigu un apliecinās, ka tiešām Dievs ir jūsu vidū.
26 Kā tad nu būs, brāļi? Kad jūs sanākat kopā, katram ir kaut kas, vai psalms, vai mācība, vai atklāsme, vai mēles vai mēļu izskaidrošana, viss lai notiek ticības stiprināšanai.
27 Un ja mēlēs runā, tad lai uzstājas divi, ja daudz, trīs, un cits pēc cita, un viens lai izskaidro.
28 Un ja nav izskaidrotāja, tad lai tie cieš klusu draudzē un lai runā tik sev un Dievam.
29 Bet pravieši lai runā divi vai trīs, un citi lai apspriež.
30 Bet ja kādam citam, kas tur sēd, nāk atklāsme, tad pirmais lai cieš klusu.
31 Jo jūs pēc kārtas varat visi sludināt, lai visiem būtu pamācība un pamudinājums.
32 Praviešu gari praviešiem klausa.
33 Jo Dievs nav nekārtības, bet miera Dievs.
34 Sievas lai draudzes sapulcēs cieš klusu, kā tas parasts visās ticīgo draudzēs; jo tām nav atļauts runāt, bet jābūt paklausīgām, kā arī bauslība nosaka.
35 Bet, ja tās grib ko zināt, lai prasa mājās saviem vīriem; jo sievai ir par kaunu runāt draudzes sapuicē.
36 Vai tad Dieva vārds ir no jums izgājis? Jeb vai tas pie jums vien ir nācis?
37 Kas sevi tur par pravieti vai gara cilvēku, tam jāatzīst, ka tas, ko es jums rakstu, ir tā Kunga pavēle.
38 Bet ja kāds to neatzīst, tas paliek neatzīts.
39 Tā tad, brāļi, dzenieties pēc praviešu dāvanām, neliedziet arī runāšanu mēlēs.
40 Bet viss lai notiek pieklājīgi un kārtīgi.
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.
