1 Corinthians 7

1 Now [I will reply to] the things that you wrote to me about. It is good for people not to get married.

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

2 But because many people are committing sexual immorality, [which God detests], every man should have his own wife [with whom he can have sexual relations], and every woman should have her own husband [with whom she can have sexual relations].

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

3 Every man must continue having sexual relations [EUP] with his wife, and every woman must continue having sexual relations with her husband.

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

4 A man’s wife does not have the right over her own body [to be the only one to decide about having sexual relations with her husband]. Instead, her husband also has a right [to decide about that]. Similarly, a woman’s husband does not have the right over his own body [to be the only one to decide about having sexual relations with his wife]. Instead, his wife also has a right [to decide about that].

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 You may refuse [to have sexual relations with] each other [EUP] only if you both first agree to do that for a short time, in order that you may both have more time to pray. Then after that, begin having sexual relations again [EUP] in order that Satan will not be able to persuade you [to have sex with someone else] because you are unable to control your sexual desires.

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 am telling you these things to say that [God] allows [you to get married, but he] does not say that you must [get married].

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

7 I myself wish that all people would stay [unmarried/single], as I am. But God has enabled each person to live in ways that seem right for them. He has enabled some people to [live without getting married], and he has enabled other people to [get married].

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 Now I want to say this to you unmarried people and to you whose spouses have died: It would be good for you to remain [unmarried] as I am.

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

9 But if you cannot control your [sexual desires] [EUP], you should get married. It is better to be married [so that you can satisfy your sexual desires with your spouse] than to constantly have a strong desire [EUP] [for sexual relations].

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

10 And now I will give a command for [believers who are] married. This is not a command from me alone; it also comes from the Lord Jesus. You married women must not (separate from/divorce) your husbands!

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

11 But if any of you do that, you must remain unmarried, or else you should be reconciled with your husband [and live with him again]. Similarly, men must not (separate from/divorce) their wives.

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 I say this to the rest of you, [to those who became believers after they were married. This is what] I [am saying], not what the Lord [has commanded]. If someone has a wife who is not a believer, if she is willing to keep living with him, he must not divorce 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 Similarly, if a woman has a husband who is not a believer, if he is willing to keep living with her, she must not divorce him.

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 [I say that] because God has set apart every woman’s unbelieving husband [for himself] because of his wife [being a believer], and God has set apart every man’s unbelieving wife [for himself] because of her husband [being a believer]. If that were not true, [God would consider] their children unacceptable. But, the fact is that [God does consider] them acceptable to him.

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 a woman’s husband who is not a believer or a man’s wife who is not a believer wants to leave, let [him or her] do so. The husband or wife who is a believer should not force the other one to stay. God has chosen us in order that we may live peacefully.

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 [You women believers should allow your unbelieving spouses to leave you if they want to], because there is no way that you can be sure that God will save your husband if you stay together [RHQ] (OR, perhaps God will save your husband if you stay together.) Similarly, you men [who are believers], there is no way that you can be sure that God will save your wives if you stay together [RHQ] (OR, perhaps God will save your wives if you stay together.)

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 However, each person should continue in the status that the Lord gave him, the status that he had when the Lord called him [to belong to him]. That is the rule that I tell people in all the congregations [where I speak].

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 If a man had already been circumcised [RHQ] when he became a Christian, he should not [try to pretend that he is not] circumcised. If a man had not been circumcised [RHQ] before he became a Christian, he should not 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 [You should not try to change your status that way], because it means nothing [to God] whether someone is circumcised or not. What is important is that we obey what God has commanded.

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

20 [Generally], each person should remain in the status that he had when he became a Christian.

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

21 If one of you was a slave when you [(sg)] became a Christian [RHQ], do not be concerned about it. However, if you get an opportunity to be free, do [what you need to do to become free].

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 [Do not worry about your previously being a slave], because those who were slaves before they became Christians, the Lord has freed them [from Satan’s control]. Similarly, those who were not slaves before they became Christians, [it is as though] [MET] they are Christ’s slaves [because they must do what he tells them to do] [MET].

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 [Christ] paid a price to buy you [when he died for you]. So do not [act as if you are evil people’s] slaves [by doing the evil things that they tell you to do].

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

24 My fellow believers, [I repeat that in general] each believer, being in fellowship with God, should continue in the status that he had before he became a Christian.

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

25 Now [I will answer your question] about women who have never married. There is nothing that the Lord has commanded me [to write about them], but I am writing this to tell you what I think [is best], because the Lord [Jesus] has mercifully enabled me to [say] what is reliable.

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 There are a lot of distressing events [happening] now (OR, that will soon happen), so I think that it is better for people to remain in the marital status that they now have.

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

27 If any of you [men] are married [RHQ], do not try to divorce your wife. If any of you are unmarried [RHQ], do not seek a wife.

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

28 But if [any of] you [men] get married, you have not committed a sin [by doing that]. Likewise, if an unmarried woman gets married, she has not committed a sin [by doing that]. However, those who get married will have many troubles, [so I am urging you to remain unmarried in order that] you may not experience [such troubles].

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 My fellow believers, this is what I mean: There is not much time left [before Christ returns]. So, from now on those men who are married should [devote themselves to serving the Lord as much] as they would if they were 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 Those who are sad should [devote themselves to serving the Lord as much] as they would if they were not sad. Those who are rejoicing [should devote themselves to serving the Lord as much] as they would if they were not joyful.

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 Those who are buying things should [devote themselves to serving the Lord as much] as they would if they did not possess those things. Because this world as it exists now will soon be gone, those who are actively involved in the affairs of this life [should not devote all their time] to be involved in those things.

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

32 [Another reason why] I [encourage you to remain unmarried is that] I desire that none of you be anxious [about the everyday affairs of this life]. Unmarried men are [able to be primarily] concerned about serving the Lord Jesus and trying to please him.

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 married men are [often] greatly concerned about the affairs of this life. Specifically, they are concerned about pleasing their wives.

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

34 So their thinking is divided. Unmarried women are [able to be] concerned about serving the Lord. They want to set apart their minds and their bodies for serving the Lord. But married women are [often] concerned about the affairs of this life. Specifically, they are concerned about how to please their husbands.

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 am telling you this for your own good. I am not saying it in order to restrict you. Instead, I am saying it in order that you may do what is proper and be able to serve the Lord without being distracted {things distracting you}.

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 [Some of you men have asked about your unmarried daughters]. [I suggest that] if any man thinks that he may be treating his daughter unfairly [by keeping her from marrying], and if it is already past [the right] time for her to get married, and if he thinks that she ought to be married, he should do what he wants to do. He should let her get married. He will not be sinning [by doing that].

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 feels absolutely sure [that it is better that his daughter not get married], and if nothing is forcing [her to get married], and if he is free to do what he decides to do on the matter, if he decides that his daughter should not get married, he is doing what is right in [keeping her from marrying].

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

38 So any man who decides that his daughter should get married is doing what is good, but if he decides that she should not get married, he is doing something even better. (OR, [Some of you men have asked about the women to whom you are engaged to marry]. If any man thinks that he may be treating that woman unfairly [by not marrying her], and if it is already past [the right] time for her to get married, and if he wants to marry her very much, he should do what he wants to do. He should marry her. He will not be sinning [by doing that]. But if a man feels absolutely sure [that it is better] for him not to get married, and if nothing is forcing [them to get married], if he is free to make his own decision on the matter, if he decides not to get married, he is doing what is right. So any man who decides that he should get married to the woman he is engaged to is doing what is good, but if he decides that he should not get married, he is doing something even better.)

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

39 Women must remain married to their husbands while their husbands are still alive. But if a woman’s husband dies, she is free to marry any [unmarried] man whom she wants to marry, but he must belong to 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 However, I think that she will be happier if she does not marry again. And I believe that the Spirit of God is [directing] me [as I say that].

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.