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 matters 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 the cases of fornication, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should 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.

The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise 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 does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

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.

Do not deprive one another, except by mutual consent for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to fasting and prayer and then come together again so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

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

Now I say this as a concession, not as a 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.

For I wish that all people were as I am. But each has his own gift from God, one person in this manner and another in that manner.

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

Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them if they remain even 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 exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

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.

Now to the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not 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 does separate, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and a husband must 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.

Now to the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she consents to dwell with him, he must 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 a woman has an unbelieving husband and he consents to dwell with her, she must not divorce him.

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 is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her husband. Otherwise your children would be 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 spouse separates, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not enslaved in such cases. God has called us to live 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 do yoʋ know, O wife, whether yoʋ will save yoʋr husband? Or how do yoʋ know, O husband, whether yoʋ will save yoʋr 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.

Nevertheless, each person should live the life that God has assigned to him and to which the Lord has called him. This is the rule I lay down 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 man already circumcised when he was called? He should not remove the marks of circumcision. Was any man uncircumcised when he was called? He should 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 what matters is keeping the commandments of God.

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

Each person should remain in the 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.

Were yoʋ a slave when yoʋ were called? Do not be concerned about it, but if yoʋ are able to become free, make the most of the opportunity.

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 who was called in the Lord as a slave is the Lord's freedman. In the same way, he who was called as a free man 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.

You were bought with a price; do not become 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.

Brothers, each person should remain with God in the condition in which he was called.

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 do not have a command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who has been shown mercy by the Lord to be trustworthy.

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 it is good then, on account of the present distress, for a man to remain as he is.

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

Are yoʋ pledged to marry a woman? Do not seek to be released. Are yoʋ free from such a commitment? 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 even if yoʋ do marry, yoʋ have not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will have tribulation in the flesh, and I am trying 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 I say this, brothers: The time is short. From now on those who have wives should live 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 those who weep as though they were not weeping, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they did not possess,

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 this world as though they were not making full use of it. For the form 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 want you to be free from concern. The unmarried man is concerned about the affairs of the Lord, how he will 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 the married man is concerned about the affairs of the world, how he will 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 between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman is concerned about the affairs of the Lord, how she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But the married woman is concerned about the affairs of the world, how she will 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.

I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote proper behavior and devotion to 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.

Now if any man thinks that he is acting improperly toward his virgin daughter by not letting her marry, if she is past the bloom of her youth and it seems necessary to do so, he should do what he wants. He is not sinning by letting her get married.

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 the man who stands firm in his heart, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and has determined in his heart to keep his virgin daughter from marrying, 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.

So then, he who gives her in marriage does well, but he who does not give her in marriage 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 wife is bound by the law to her husband for as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to anyone 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.

Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.