1 Corinthians 7

1 Now about what you wrote to me: “It's good not to marry.”

Afei, deɛ ɛfa nsɛm a motwerɛ de brɛɛ me no ho nie: Ɛyɛ sɛ ɔbarima nware.

2 However, because of the temptation to sexual immorality, it is better that each man have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.

Nanso, ɛsiane adwamammɔ enti, ɛsɛ sɛ ɔbarima biara nya ɔno ankasa ne yere, na ɔbaa biara nso nya ɔno ankasa ne kunu.

3 The husband should meet his wife's sexual needs, and the wife her husband's.

Ɛsɛ sɛ ɔbarima yɛ nʼasɛdeɛ sɛ okunu na ɔbaa nso yɛ nʼasɛdeɛ sɛ ɔyere na wɔn mu biara boa ne yɔnko.

4 The wife's body doesn't just belong to her, but her husband; and similarly the husband's body doesn't just belong to him but his wife.

Ɔyere onipadua no nyɛ ɔno nko ara dea, na ɛyɛ okunu no nso dea bi. Saa ara nso na okunu no onipadua no nyɛ ɔno nko ara dea, na mmom, ɛyɛ ɔyere no nso dea bi.

5 So don't deprive each other, except by mutual consent for a while— for example because you want to spend time in prayer. Afterwards be together again so that Satan won't tempt you to sin because of your lack of self-control.

Mommfa mo ho nkame mo ho mo ho. Gye sɛ mo nyinaa pene so ɛberɛ tiawa bi a morebɔ mpaeɛ; na sɛ mowie mpaeɛbɔ no a, monhyia mu, na ɔbonsam ansɔ mo anhwɛ, ɛfiri sɛ, montumi nni mo ho so.

6 I'm telling you this not as a command, but as a concession.

Menka saa asɛm yi sɛ ɔhyɛ so, na mmom, mereka no sɛ mama mo ho ɛkwan.

7 However, I wish that everyone was like me, but each person has their own gift from God—one has this gift, one has another.

Ɛkaa me nko a na anka mo nyinaa te sɛ me. Nanso, obiara wɔ adom akyɛdeɛ sononko bi a Onyankopɔn de ama no. Yei wɔ nʼakyɛdeɛ na ɔfoforɔ nso wɔ nʼakyɛdeɛ.

8 To those who are not yet married, or who are widowed, I would say it is better if they remain like me.

Afei, asɛm a mereka akyerɛ asigyafoɔ ne akunafoɔ ne sɛ: Ɛbɛyɛ sɛ mo nko ara mobɛtena ase sɛdeɛ mete hɔ yi.

9 But if they lack self-control, then they should get married—for it is better to marry than burn with desire.

Na sɛ morentumi nhyɛ mo ho so nso a monkɔwareware. Ɛyɛ sɛ mobɛware sene sɛ mobɛhyɛ mo ho ahometeɛ.

10 These are my instructions to those who are married—in fact not from me but the Lord: The wife should not leave her husband

Mo awarefoɔ nso, mewɔ ɔhyɛ nsɛm bi a ɛmfiri me na ɛfiri Awurade nkyɛn sɛ: Ɛnsɛ sɛ ɔbaa gyaa ne kunu.

11 (or if she does, she should not re-marry, or she should return to her husband); and the husband should not leave his wife.

Sɛ ɛba saa a, ɛnsɛ sɛ ɔware bio; anaasɛ nso wɔka ɔne ne kunu bo mu. Saa ara na ɛnsɛ sɛ okunu nso gyaa ne yere.

12 Now, to the rest of you, (and this is me speaking, not the Lord), I would say, “If a Christian man has a non-Christian wife and she is willing to stay with him, he should not leave her.

Mo a moaka no, meka mekyerɛ mo, ɛfiri mankasa, na ɛmfiri Awurade, sɛ Okristoni barima wɔ yere a ɔnyɛ Okristoni na ɔbaa no pene so sɛ ɔne no bɛtena ase a, ɛnsɛ sɛ ɔbarima no gyaa no.

13 And if a Christian woman has a non-Christian husband, and he is willing to stay with her, she should not leave her husband.”

Saa ara nso na sɛ Okristoni baa wɔ okunu a ɔnyɛ Okristoni na ɔbarima no pene so sɛ ɔne no bɛtena a, ɛnsɛ sɛ ɔbaa no gyaa no.

14 For a husband who is not a Christian, the marriage relationship is made holy by the Christian wife, and for a wife who is not a Christian, the marriage relationship is made holy by the Christian husband. Otherwise it would mean your children were impure, but now they are holy.

Esiane bɔ a ɔbarima a ɔnyɛ Okristoni de ne ho abɔ ɔbaa no enti, Onyankopɔn bɛgye no na ɔbaa a ɔnyɛ Okristoni no nso, ɛsiane bɔ a ɔde ne ho abɔ ɔbarima no enti, Onyankopɔn bɛte ne ho. Sɛ anyɛ saa a, wɔn mma bɛyɛ sɛ abosonsomfoɔ mma, nanso sɛdeɛ ɛte yi deɛ, wɔyɛ kronkron.

15 However, if the non-Christian spouse leaves, let them leave. In such cases the Christian man or woman is not slavishly bound, for God has called us to live in peace.

Na sɛ nso wɔn mu deɛ ɔnyɛ Okristoni no pɛ sɛ ɔte ne ho firi Okristoni no ho a, momma no ɛkwan. Sɛ ɛba saa a, Okristoni no, sɛ ɛyɛ okunu anaa ɔyere no, de ne ho. Onyankopɔn afrɛ mo sɛ montena ase asomdwoeɛ mu.

16 Wives, who knows? You may save your husband! Husbands, who knows? You may save your wife!

Ɔyere a woyɛ Okristoni, ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na woahunu sɛ worentumi nnye wo kunu nkwa? Na okunu a woyɛ Okristoni nso, ɛbɛyɛ dɛn na woahunu sɛ worentumi nnye wo yere nkwa?

17 Apart from such cases, each of you should remain in the situation that the Lord has placed you, and continue to live the life to which God has called you. That's my instruction to all the churches.

Mo mu biara ntena ase wɔ akyɛdeɛ a Awurade de akyɛ no no so sɛdeɛ na ɔte a Onyankopɔn frɛɛ no no. Yei ne mmara a mekyerɛ wɔ asafo biara mu.

18 Were you circumcised when you were converted? Don't become uncircumcised. Were you uncircumcised when you were converted? Don't become circumcised.

Sɛ twetiatwani bi ate Onyankopɔn frɛ a, ɛnsɛ sɛ ɔpepa twetia no ho nsɛnkyerɛnnedeɛ biara. Sɛ ɔbarima nso a ɔntwaa twetia bi ate Onyankopɔn frɛ a, ɛnsɛ sɛ ɔtwa twetia.

19 Circumcision doesn't mean anything, and uncircumcision doesn't mean anything. Keeping the commandments of God is what really matters.

Ɛfiri sɛ, sɛ obi atwa twetia na ɔfoforɔ nso ntwaa twetia no nka hwee. Deɛ ɛho hia ne sɛ wobɛdi Onyankopɔn mmara so.

20 Everyone should remain in the position they were in when they were called.

Sɛdeɛ obiara te a Onyankopɔn frɛɛ no no, ɔntena no saa ara.

21 If you were a slave when you were called, don't worry—though if you have an opportunity to become free, take it.

Onyankopɔn frɛɛ wo no na woyɛ akoa anaa? Mma ɛno nha wo na sɛ wowɔ ɛkwan bi a wobɛtumi afa so ade wo ho a, fa so.

22 If you were a slave when the Lord called you, you are now free, working for the Lord. In the same way if you were called when you were free, you are now Christ's slave!

Ɛfiri sɛ, akoa a Awurade afrɛ no no yɛ Awurade onipa a ɔde ne ho. Saa ara nso na obi a ɔde ne ho a Kristo afrɛ no no yɛ Kristo akoa.

23 A price has been paid for you, so don't become a slave to anyone.

Onyankopɔn tɔɔ mo aboɔden, ɛno enti, monnyɛ nkoa mma nnipa.

24 Brothers and sisters, remain in the position you were in when you were called, living with God.

Anuanom, ɛsɛ sɛ mo mu biara tena ase wɔ Onyankopɔn mu sɛdeɛ na mote ansa na wɔrefrɛ mo no.

25 Now about “people who are not married,” I don't have a specific instruction from the Lord, so let me give you my opinion as someone who by the Lord's mercy is considered trustworthy.

Deɛ ɛfa asigyafoɔ nso ho no nie: Mennyaa ɔhyɛ nsɛm biara memfirii Awurade nkyɛn, nanso meka mʼadwene te sɛ obi a Onyankopɔn mmɔborɔhunu enti wɔagye me ato mu.

26 Because of the present difficult situation we are in I think it is best to just stay as you are.

Wodwene seesei ɔhaw yi ho a, medwene sɛ, ɛyɛ sɛ onipa tena ase sɛdeɛ ɔte biara.

27 Are you already married? Don't try to get divorced. Are you unmarried? Don't look to get married.

Wowɔ ɔyere? Sɛ wowɔ ɔyere a, nyɛ wʼadwene sɛ woregyaa no. Wonwaree anaa? Sɛ wonwaree a, nhwehwɛ ɔyere.

28 If you do get married, you haven't sinned. If an unmarried woman gets married, she hasn't sinned. But you will have many troubles in this current world and I would want to spare you these.

Nanso, sɛ woware a, wonyɛɛ bɔne. Sɛ ɔbaabunu ware a, ɔnyɛɛ bɔne. Nanso, ɔhaw a saa awadeɛ no de ba no, sɛ ɛkaa me nko a, anka mempɛ sɛ saa ɔhaw no bɛba mo so.

29 I'm telling you, brothers and sisters, that time is short, and from now on for those who are married it may seem as if they are not married,

Deɛ mekyerɛ ne sɛ, anuanom, ɛberɛ a aka sua. Ɛfiri saa ɛberɛ yi, ɛsɛ sɛ mmarima a wɔawareware tena ase sɛdeɛ wɔnwaree da;

30 and those who weep as if they did not weep, and those that celebrated as if they had not celebrated, and those that bought as if they did not own,

wɔn a wɔsu yɛ sɛdeɛ wɔn werɛ nhoeɛ; wɔn a wɔsere yɛ sɛdeɛ wɔnni anigyeɛ; wɔn a wɔtɔ yɛ sɛdeɛ deɛ wɔtɔeɛ no nyɛ wɔn deɛ;

31 and those who are engaged with the world as if it is not fulfilling—for the present world order is passing away.

wɔn a wɔde ewiase abɔ wɔn bo yɛ sɛdeɛ wɔnhunuu bi da. Na sɛdeɛ ewiase yi te seesei yi rentena saa nkyɛ.

32 I would prefer you to be free from such worries. A man who is not married pays attention to what is important to the Lord, and how he can please the Lord.

Mempɛ sɛ biribiara ha mo. Ɔbarima a ɔnwareeɛ no, ɛsɛ sɛ ɔde ne ho ma Awurade adwumayɛ; ɛfiri sɛ, ɔbɔ mmɔden sɛ Awurade ani bɛsɔ no;

33 But a man who is married pays attention to what is important in this world, and how he can please his wife.

nanso ɔbarima warefoɔ de ne ho to ewiase nneɛma so, ɛfiri sɛ, ɔpɛ sɛ ɔsɔ ne yere ani,

34 As a result his loyalties are divided. Similarly an unmarried woman or girl pays attention to what is important to the Lord, so she may live a life dedicated both in body and spirit. But a married woman pays attention to what is important in this world, and how she can please her husband.

enti wɔtwe no afanu no nyinaa. Ɔbaa a ɔnwareeɛ anaa ɔbaabunu de ne ho ma Awurade adwuma wɔ honam ne honhom fam; nanso ɔbaa a wawareɛ no de ne ho to ewiase nneɛma so, ɛfiri sɛ, ɔpɛ sɛ ɔsɔ ne kunu ani.

35 I'm telling you this for your benefit. I'm not trying to put a noose around your neck, but to show you the right thing to do so you can serve the Lord without being distracted.

Mereka saa asɛm yi, ɛfiri sɛ, mepɛ sɛ meboa mo. Merenhyehyɛ mmara bi mma mo. Na mmom, mepɛ sɛ moyɛ deɛ ɛyɛ na ɛtene na mode mo ho nyinaa ma Awurade adwuma.

36 But if a man thinks he's behaving improperly with the woman he's engaged to, and if he thinks he will give in to his strong sexual desire, and if he thinks he ought to get married, he is not sinning by getting married.

Ɔbarima ne ɔbaa a wɔahyehyɛ awadeɛ na afei wɔayɛ wɔn adwene sɛ wɔrenware bio no, sɛ ɔbarima no hunu sɛ ɔnyɛ nʼasɛdeɛ mma ɔbaa no nanso sɛ ɔntumi nhyɛ nʼakɔnnɔ so enti no ɔpɛ sɛ ɔware a, ɛsɛ sɛ ɔware sɛdeɛ ɔhwehwɛ no. Bɔne biara nni yei ho.

37 But if a man stays true to his principles, and there is no obligation to marry, and has the power to keep his feelings under control and stay engaged to her, he does well not to marry.

Nanso, ɛyɛ mmom sɛ ɔbɛhyɛ ne ho so na wasi nʼadwene pi sɛ ɔrenware.

38 So the man who marries the woman he's engaged to does well, while the one who does not get married does better.

Ɛyɛ sɛ ɔbarima ware deɛ, nanso sɛ anka wanware koraa a na ɛyɛ.

39 A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry whoever she wants in the Lord.

Sɛ ɔbaa ɔwarefoɔ kunu te ase a, ɔnne ne ho; na sɛ ne kunu no wu deɛ a, ɔwɔ ho ɛkwan sɛ ɔware ɔfoforɔ a ɔpɛ; nanso ɛsɛ sɛ ɛyɛ Kristo awadeɛ.

40 But in my opinion she would be happier if she didn't re-marry—and I think I too have the Spirit of God when I say this.

Na sɛ ɔtumi tena ase sɛdeɛ ɔte no nso a, ne ho bɛtɔ no yie. Mʼadwene ni, na megye di sɛ me nso me wɔ Onyame Honhom.