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 as to the matters about which ye wrote, 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 on account of the commonness of fornication, let every man have his own wife, and every woman 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.

Let the husband render to his wife her due; and so also the wife to 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.

The wife hath not the disposal of her own body, but her husband; and so also the husband hath not the disposal of his own body, but his wife.

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.

Defraud not one another, except by agreement for a time, that ye may have a season for prayer; and be together again, that Satan may not tempt you through your incontinence.

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

But I say this by way of permission, not command.

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.

I would that all men were as I myself; but every one hath his own gift from God, one man this, and another that.

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

I say also to the unmarried and the widows, it is good for them to remain as I 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 control themselves, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn.

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 are married it is my command, yet not mine, but the Lord's: Let not the wife separate herself 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.

and if she have separated herself let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband; and let not the husband put away 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.

But to the rest say I, not the Lord: If any brother hath an unbelieving wife, and she be satisfied to dwell with him, let him not put her away;

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 a wife hath an unbelieving husband, and he be satisfied to dwell with her, let her not put her husband away.

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 hath been made holy by his wife, and the unbelieving wife hath been made holy by the brother; otherwise were your children unclean, but, as it is, 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 unbelieving separateth himself, let him separate himself; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God hath called you to be in peace.

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

For how dost thou know, O wife, but that thou mayst save thy husband? or how dost thou know, O husband, but that thou mayst save thy 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.

But let every one continue to walk in the lot which the Lord appointed him, in the condition in which God called him. And this direction I give 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.

Was any one called being circumcised, let him not become as if uncircumcised; hath any one been called in uncircumcision, let him not become 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, but the keeping of the commandments of God.

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

Let every one remain in the same calling in 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.

Wast thou called being a slave, care not for it; but even if thou canst be made free, use it rather.

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 he that was called in the Lord, being a slave, is the Lord's freeman. In like manner the freeman, who is called, is Christ's slave.

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.

Ye were bought with a price; become not the slaves of men.

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

In that state, brethren, in which he was called, let every one remain 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 of the Lord; but I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord 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.

I think, then, that it is well, on account of the impending distress, for a man to remain as he is.

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

Art thou bound to a wife, seek not to be loosed from her; art thou loosed from a wife, do not seek for one.

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 thou hast married, thou hast committed no sin; and if a virgin hath married, she hath committed no sin. Such, however, will have trouble in the flesh, which I desire to spare you.

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.

But this I say, brethren, the time that remaineth is short; that both they that have wives may be as though 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 they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;

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 they that use this world as not abusing it; for the outward condition 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.

and I would have you free from anxious cares. He that is unmarried careth about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord;

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 he that is married careth about the things of the world, how to please his wife.

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.

There is a difference also between a wife and a virgin; the unmarried woman careth about the things of the Lord, to be holy, both in body and in spirit; but she that is married careth about the things of the world, how to 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.

And this I say for your own profit; not to cast a noose over you, but with a view to what is becoming, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

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 one thinketh that he behaveth improperly in respect to his virgin [[daughter]], if she pass the flower of her age [[without being married]], and if it must be so, let him do what he will, he committeth no sin; let them marry.

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 any one is settled in his purpose, and is under no necessity, but is free to act as he will, and hath determined in his heart to keep his own virgin daughter [[unmarried]], he doeth 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.

So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; and he that doth not give her in marriage doeth 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.

The wife is bound to her husband as long as he liveth; but if her husband die, she is free to marry whom she will, 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 is happier if she remain as she is, in my opinion; and I too think that I have the Spirit of God.