Korintotɔwo 1 7

1 Nya siwo miebiam le agbalẽ si mieŋlɔ ɖo ɖem me la ƒe ŋuɖoɖoe nye be ne ŋutsu aɖe meɖe srɔ̃ o la, megblẽ naneke o,

Now concerning the things about which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

2 gake le ahasiwɔwɔ ta la, enyo be ame naɖe srɔ̃, ŋutsu ɖe sia ɖe kple etɔ; nenema kee nye nyɔnu ɖe sia ɖe hã, ale be ame aɖeke nagawɔ nu vɔ̃ o.

But, because of fornication, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.

3 Ele na srɔ̃ŋutsu be wòakpɔ egbɔ be yemegblẽ ye srɔ̃ ɖi le go aɖeke me o, eye srɔ̃nyɔnu hã nawɔ nenema pɛpɛpɛ.

A husband should fulfill his obligation to his wife, and a wife should also act similarly toward her husband.

4 Ne nyɔnu ɖe srɔ̃ ko la, ekema megakpɔ ŋusẽ ɖe eƒe ŋutilã dzi o, ke boŋ srɔ̃a kpɔ ŋusẽ ɖe edzi, eye nenema ke srɔ̃nyɔnu hã kpɔ ŋusẽ ɖe srɔ̃ŋutsua ƒe ŋutilã dzi, ale ŋutsua mate ŋu awɔ nu si dze eya ŋutɔ ɖeɖe ko ŋu o.

It is not the wife, but the husband, who has power over her body. But, similarly also, it is not the husband, but the wife, who has power over his body.

5 Eya ta srɔ̃tɔwo nakpɔ egbɔ be yewomegblẽ yewo nɔewo ɖi o, negbe wo ame eve la wowɔ ɖoɖo tɔxɛ be yewoakpɔ ɣeyiɣi ado gbe ɖa. Emegbe la, mite kpe be Satana nagate mi akpɔ le ɖokuidzimaɖumaɖu ta o.

So, do not fail in your obligations to one another, except perhaps by consent, for a limited time, so that you may empty yourselves for prayer. And then, return together again, lest Satan tempt you by means of your abstinence.

6 Mele esia gblɔm abe mɔnana ene, ke menye abe sedede ene o.

But I am saying this, neither as an indulgence, nor as a commandment.

7 Anye nye didi be ŋutsuwo katã nanɔ abe nye ene, gake ŋutsu ɖe sia ɖe kple nunana si wòxɔ tso Mawu gbɔ; ame ɖeka xɔ nunana sia eye ame bubu xɔ nunana kemɛ.

For I would prefer it if you were all like myself. But each person has his proper gift from God: one in this way, yet another in that way.

8 Eya ta magblɔ na trewo kple ahosiwo be woanɔ anyi srɔ̃maɖemaɖee abe nye ŋutɔ ene.

But I say to the unmarried and to widows: It is good for them, if they would remain as they are, just as I also am.

9 Gake ne ame aɖe mate ŋu aɖu eɖokui dzi o la, ekema neɖe srɔ̃ elabena enyo be wòaɖe srɔ̃ wu be wòayɔ fũu kple fieŋufieŋu.

But if they cannot restrain themselves, they should marry. For it is better to marry, than to be burned.

10 Ke mele se sia dem na srɔ̃tɔwo (menye nyee le sea dem o, ke boŋ Aƒetɔ lae) be srɔ̃nyɔnu mekpɔ mɔ agbe srɔ̃ŋutsua o.

But to those who have been joined in matrimony, it is not I who commands you, but the Lord: a wife is not to separate from her husband.

11 Ke ne egbee la, ele nɛ be wòanɔ tre alo wòatrɔ ayi aɖawɔ ɖeka kple srɔ̃ŋutsua. Nenema ke srɔ̃ŋutsu hã mekpɔ mɔ agbe srɔ̃nyɔnu la o.

But if she has separated from him, she must remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband should not divorce his wife.

12 Azɔ nye ŋutɔ medi be maɖo aɖaŋu aɖe na ame mamlɛawo. (Nyee le egblɔm, menye Aƒetɔ la ƒe sedede o). Eyae nye be ne kristotɔ aɖe nyɔnu si menye kristotɔ o, gake nyɔnu la lɔ̃ be yeanɔ egbɔ la, ŋutsua megaɖe asi le eŋu o.

Concerning the rest, I am speaking, not the Lord. If any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her.

13 Nenema ke ne nyɔnu kristotɔ aɖe srɔ̃ si menye kristotɔ o, gake srɔ̃ŋutsu la lɔ̃ be nyɔnu la nanɔ ye gbɔ la, nyɔnu la hã megagbee o.

And if any woman has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce her husband.

14 Elabena srɔ̃ŋutsu si mexɔ se o la ŋuti kɔ le srɔ̃nyɔnu la ta eye nenema ke srɔ̃nyɔnu si mexɔ se o la hã ŋuti kɔ le srɔ̃ŋutsua si xɔ se ta. Ne menye nenema o la, mia viwo anye nu makɔmakɔwo, gake esi wòle alea ta la, wo ŋuti kɔ.

For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through the believing wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through the believing husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean, whereas instead they are holy.

15 Ke ne srɔ̃tɔ si mexɔ se o la dzo la, neyi faa elabena se aɖeke mebla srɔ̃ŋutsu alo srɔ̃nyɔnu si xɔ se la le nya sia me o. Mawu yɔ mí be míanɔ anyi le ŋutifafa me.

But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart. For a brother or sister cannot be made subject to servitude in this way. For God has called us to peace.

16 Nyɔnu, aleke nèwɔ nya be yeate ŋu aɖe srɔ̃? Alo wò ŋutsu, aleke nèwɔ nya be yeate ŋu aɖe srɔ̃?

And how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

17 Le esiawo katã wɔwɔ me la, ame sia ame nakpɔ egbɔ be yewɔ ɖe Mawu ƒe ɖoɖo dzi le srɔ̃ɖeɖe me loo alo le trenɔnɔ me, eye nu sia nu si Mawu na ame aɖe la, wòaxɔe kple dzi faa. Hamewo katã nawɔ ɖe sedede vevi siawo dzi.

However, let each one walk just as the Lord has distributed to him, each one just as God has called him. And thus do I teach in all the churches.

18 Le kpɔɖeŋu me, ne wotso aʋa na ŋutsu aɖe le Yudatɔwo ƒe kɔnu nu hafi wòtrɔ zu kristotɔ la, amea megatsi dzi le eŋu kura o. Nenema ke, ne wometso aʋa na ame aɖe hã o la, eya hã megatsi dzi be ele be yeatso aʋa kokoko o.

Has any circumcised man been called? Let him not cover his circumcision. Has any uncircumcised man been called? Let him not be circumcised.

19 Elabena kɔnu sia wɔwɔ mele vevie kura le kristotɔ ƒe agbenɔnɔ me o. Nu si le vevie nye be kristotɔ nakpɔ egbɔ be yele Mawu ƒe sewo dzi wɔm eye be Mawu nakpɔ ŋudzedze le ye ŋu ɣe sia ɣi.

Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; there is only the observance of the commandments of God.

20 Ame sia ame nanɔ nɔnɔme si me wònɔ hafi Mawu yɔe, ne enye aʋatsotsotɔ alo aʋamatsomatsotɔ.

Let each and every one remain in the same calling to which he was called.

21 Ne ènye kluvi hafi zu kristotɔ la, mègana wòaɖe fu na wò o gake ne èkpɔ mɔnu be nàzu ablɔɖevi la, mègana wòato ŋuwò o.

Are you a servant who has been called? Do not be concerned about it. But if you ever have the ability to be free, make use of it.

22 Kluvi si trɔ zu xɔsetɔ la zu Aƒetɔ la ƒe ablɔɖevi, eye wòvo tso nu vɔ̃ ƒe asi sesẽ la te. Ke ne ènye ablɔɖevi hafi zu kristotɔ la, nyae be yezu Kristo ƒe kluvi azɔ.

For any servant who has been called in the Lord is free in the Lord. Similarly, any free person who has been called is a servant in Christ.

23 Yesu Kristo ƒle mi, eye wòxe fe ɖe mia ta keŋkeŋ eya ta miezu etɔ eye le esia ta migawɔ mia ɖokuiwo abe kluviwo ene na amegbetɔwo kple xexe sia me nuwo o.

You have been bought with a price. Do not be willing to become the servants of men.

24 Eya ta nɔvi lɔlɔ̃tɔwo, ale si ame sia ame nɔ hafi zu kristotɔ ko la, nenɔ nenema le Mawu ƒe ŋkume.

Brothers, let each one, in whatever state he was called, remain in that state with God.

25 Azɔ maɖo miaƒe biabia evelia ŋu na mi. Miele biabiam be nu ka yewoawɔ kple ɖetugbi siwo meɖe srɔ̃ haɖe o la hã! Ɖe woaɖe mɔ na wo be woaɖe srɔ̃ faa hã? Le nyateƒe me la, nyemexɔ sedede tɔxɛ aɖeke tso Aƒetɔ la gbɔ le nya sia ŋu o. Ke Mawu ŋutɔ na susum be mawɔ eŋu dɔ, eya ta magblɔ nu si nye ŋutɔ mebu le nya sia ŋu la na mi.

Now, concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord. But I give counsel, as one who has obtained the mercy of the Lord, so as to be faithful.

26 Eyae nye be, le fukpekpe geɖe si le mí kristotɔwo dzi vam le egbeŋkekewo me ta la, anyo be ame sia ame nanɔ anyi abe ale si wòle fifia ene.

Therefore, I consider this to be good, because of the present necessity: that it is good for a man to be such as I am.

27 Ne èɖe srɔ̃ la, mègagbee o. Ne mèɖe srɔ̃ haɖe o la, mègaɖee o.

Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be freed. Are you free of a wife? Do not seek a wife.

28 Ke ne èɖe srɔ̃ la, mèwɔ nu vɔ̃ o, eye ne ɖetugbivi dzaa ɖe srɔ̃ la, mewɔ nu vɔ̃ o, gake ame siwo ɖe srɔ̃ la, woado go fuɖename geɖewo le agbe sia me. Nukpekeame siawo mee medi be maɖe mi tsoe.

But if you take a wife, you have not sinned. And if a virgin has married, she has not sinned. Even so, such as these will have the tribulation of the flesh. But I would spare you from this.

29 Nɔviwo, nu si gblɔm mele lae nye be: Ɣeyiɣi la le kpuie, eya ta tso azɔ dzi la, ame siwo si srɔ̃ le la nanɔ agbe abe srɔ̃ ɖe mele wo si o ene.

And so, this is what I say, brothers: The time is short. What remains of it is such that: those who have wives should be as if they had none;

30 Ame siwo le nu xam la, nanɔ abe ɖe womele nu xam o ene, dzidzɔkpɔlawo nanɔ abe ɖe womele dzidzɔ kpɔm o ene, eye ame siwo ƒle nuwo kɔ ɖi la nawɔ abe nuawo ɖe menye wo tɔ o ene.

and those who weep, as though they were not weeping; and those who rejoice, as if they were not rejoicing; and those who buy, as if they possessed nothing;

31 Nenema ke ame siwo wɔa xexe sia me nuwo ŋu dɔ nanɔ abe ɖe wometsɔ ɖeke le xexemenuwo me o ene. Elabena ale si xexe sia me le fifia la nu ava yi kpuie.

and those who use the things of this world, as if they were not using them. For the figure of this world is passing away.

32 Migatsi dzi ɖe naneke ŋu o. Ne srɔ̃ mele ŋutsu aɖe si o la, ekema ekpɔa vovo ɖe Aƒetɔ la ƒe dɔ ŋu nyuie eye wòdina ɣe sia ɣi be yeƒe agbe nadze Aƒetɔ ŋu.

But I would prefer you to be without worry. Whoever is without a wife is worried about the things of the Lord, as to how he may please God.

33 Ke srɔ̃tɔ ya mate ŋu awɔ alea o elabena agbe sia me ƒe hloloetsotso xɔa eƒe ɣeyiɣi eye eƒe didi koe nye be yeadze ye srɔ̃ ŋu ɣe sia ɣi.

But whoever is with a wife is worried about the things of the world, as to how he may please his wife. And so, he is divided.

34 Ale eƒe dzi ƒe didiwo ma ɖe akpa gã eve me. Alea ke wònɔna na nyɔnu si ɖe srɔ̃ la kple ɖetugbi si le atsuƒe hã. Nyɔnu si ɖe srɔ̃ la léa be na xexe sia me nuwo kple ale si wòawɔ adze ŋutsu la ŋu. Ke nyɔnu si mele atsuƒe o la ƒe didi katã koe nye be yeawɔ dɔ na Aƒetɔ la le ŋutilã kple gbɔgbɔ me ɣe sia ɣi.

And the unmarried woman and the virgin think about the things that are of the Lord, so that she may be holy in body and in spirit. But she who is married thinks about the things that are of the world, as to how she may please her husband.

35 Menye ɖe mele nya siawo gblɔm be maɖe dzi le mia ƒo le srɔ̃ɖeɖe ŋu o, ke boŋ be makpe ɖe mia ŋu. Medi be miadze agbagba awɔ nu sia nu si ana be miate ŋu asubɔ Mawu nyuie la eye miagaɖe mɔ na nu kukluiwo be woaxe mɔ na mi o.

Furthermore, I am saying this for your own benefit, not in order to cast a snare over you, but toward whatever is honest and whatever may provide you with the ability to be without hindrance, so as to worship the Lord.

36 Ne mia dometɔ aɖe kpɔe be trenɔnɔ menyo na ye o elabena yemetea ŋu ɖua ye ɖokui dzi nyuie o la, ekema ele be wòaɖe srɔ̃. Esia menye nu vɔ̃ o.

But if any man considers himself to seem dishonorable, concerning a virgin who is of adult age, and so it ought to be, he may do as he wills. If he marries her, he does not sin.

37 Gake ne ame aɖe ya tea ŋu ɖua eɖokui dzi nyuie, eye le esia ta wòɖoe le eƒe dzi me be yemaɖe srɔ̃ o la, ewɔe nyuie.

But if he has decided firmly in his heart, and he does not have any obligation, but only the power of his free will, and if he has judged this in his heart, to let her remain a virgin, he does well.

38 Eya ta nɔviwo, minyae be ne ame aɖe ɖe srɔ̃ la, mewɔ nu gbegblẽ o, eye ne ame bubu hã meɖe srɔ̃ o la, etɔ kura ganyo wu.

And so, he who joins with his virgin in matrimony does well, and he who does not join with her does better.

39 Srɔ̃nyɔnu kple srɔ̃ŋutsu le ɖeka zi ale si wole agbe. Ke ne ŋutsua ku la, ekema nyɔnu la kpɔ mɔ aɖe ŋutsu bubu le Aƒetɔ la ƒe ɖoɖo nu.

A woman is bound under the law for as long as her husband lives. But if her husband has died, she is free. She may marry whomever she wishes, but only in the Lord.

40 Ke le nye nukpɔkpɔ nu la, meka ɖe edzi be ne nyɔnu ahosi la megaɖe srɔ̃ bubu kura o la, anyo nɛ wu. Meka ɖe edzi be Mawu ƒe Gbɔgbɔe le aɖaŋu sia ɖom na mi to dzinye.

But she will be more blessed, if she remains in this state, in accord with my counsel. And I think that I, too, have the Spirit of God.