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 sexual immoralities, 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.

Let the husband give his wife the affection owed her, and likewise also the wife 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 doesn’t have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise also the husband doesn’t 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.

Don’t deprive one another, unless it is by consent for a season, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer, and may be together again, that Satan doesn’t tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

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

But this I say by way of concession, not of 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.

Yet I wish that all men were like me. However, each man has his own gift from God, one of this kind, and another of that kind.

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 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 don’t have self-control, let them marry. For it’s 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.

But to the married I command—not I, but the Lord—that the wife not leave 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 departs, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband not leave 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 I—not the Lord—say, if any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she is content to live with him, let him not leave 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.

The woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he is content to live with her, let her not leave 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 is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now 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.

Yet if the unbeliever departs, let there be separation. The brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us 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 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.

Only, as the Lord has distributed to each man, as God has called each, so let him walk. So I command in all the assemblies.

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 anyone called having been circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? 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, but what matters is keeping God’s commandments.

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

Let each man stay in that 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 you called being a bondservant? Don’t let that bother you, but if you get an opportunity to become free, use 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 he who was called in the Lord being a bondservant is the Lord’s free man. Likewise he who was called being free is Christ’s bondservant.

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. Don’t become bondservants 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 man, in whatever condition he was called, stay in that condition 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 my judgment as one who has obtained mercy from 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.

Therefore I think that because of the distress that is on us, it’s good for a man to remain as he is.

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

Are you bound to a wife? Don’t seek to be freed. Are you free from a wife? Don’t 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 marry, you have not sinned. If a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have oppression in the flesh, and I want 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, both those who 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 those who weep, as though they didn’t weep; and those who rejoice, as though they didn’t rejoice; and those who buy, as though they didn’t 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 the world, as not using it to the fullest. For the mode of this world passes 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 desire to have you to be free from cares. He who is unmarried is concerned for 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 who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may 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 also a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—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.

This I say for your own benefit, not that I may ensnare you, but for that which is appropriate, and that you may attend 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.

But if any man thinks that he is behaving inappropriately toward his virgin, if she is past the flower of her age, and if need so requires, let him do what he desires. He doesn’t 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 he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no urgency, but has power over his own will, and has determined in his own heart to keep his own virgin, 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 both he who gives his own virgin in marriage does well, and he who doesn’t 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 law for as long as her husband lives; but if the husband is dead, she is free to be married to whomever she desires, 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 stays as she is, in my judgment, and I think that I also have God’s Spirit.