1 Akorinitho 7
1 Na rĩrĩ, ha ũhoro wa maũndũ marĩa mwanyandĩkĩire marũa nĩ ũndũ wamo, ngũmwĩra atĩrĩ: Nĩ wega mũndũ mũrũme kwaga kũhikania.
Now about what you wrote to me: “It's good not to marry.”
2 No tondũ wa ũrĩa ũmaraya ũingĩhĩte-rĩ, o mũndũ mũrũme nĩagĩrĩirwo nĩ kũgĩa na mũtumia wake mwene, na mũndũ-wa-nja agĩe na mũthuuri wake mwene.
However, because of the temptation to sexual immorality, it is better that each man have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.
3 Mũthuuri nĩagĩrĩirwo nĩ kũhingagĩria mũtumia wake bata wake wa kĩhiko, o nake mũtumia ahingagĩrie mũthuuriwe bata wake.
The husband should meet his wife's sexual needs, and the wife her husband's.
4 Mũtumia ndangĩĩathĩra mwĩrĩ wake mwene, tondũ nĩ wake na mũthuuriwe. Ũguo no taguo mũthuuri atangĩĩathĩra mwĩrĩ wake mwene, tondũ nĩ wake na mũtumia wake.
The wife's body doesn't just belong to her, but her husband; and similarly the husband's body doesn't just belong to him but his wife.
5 Tigagai kũimana, o tiga rĩrĩa mũngĩkorwo mũiguanĩire, naguo gũkorwo nĩ kwa ihinda, nĩgeetha mũgĩĩage na ihinda rĩa kũhooya. Thuutha ũcio no mũcooke hamwe rĩngĩ, nĩguo Shaitani ndakamũgerie tondũ wanyu kũremwo kwĩgirĩrĩria.
So don't deprive each other, except by mutual consent for a while— for example because you want to spend time in prayer. Afterwards be together again so that Satan won't tempt you to sin because of your lack of self-control.
6 Ũhoro ũcio ndawaaria taarĩ rũũtha ngũheana, no ti gwathana ngwathana.
I'm telling you this not as a command, but as a concession.
7 No nyende andũ othe mahaane ta ũrĩa niĩ ndariĩ. No o mũndũ aheetwo kĩheo gĩake mwene kuuma kũrĩ Ngai; mũndũ ũmwe aheetwo kĩheo gĩkĩ, na ũrĩa ũngĩ akaheo kĩrĩa kĩngĩ.
However, I wish that everyone was like me, but each person has their own gift from God—one has this gift, one has another.
8 Na rĩrĩ, nĩ ũndũ wa andũ arĩa matahikanĩtie na atumia a ndigwa, nguuga ũũ: Nĩ wega maikare o ũguo matahikanĩtie, o ta ũrĩa niĩ ndariĩ.
To those who are not yet married, or who are widowed, I would say it is better if they remain like me.
9 No angĩkorwo matingĩhota kwĩgirĩrĩria-rĩ, nĩmahike na mahikanie, tondũ nĩ kaba kũhikania gũkĩra gũikara makĩhĩĩahĩaga.
But if they lack self-control, then they should get married—for it is better to marry than burn with desire.
10 Kũrĩ andũ arĩa mahikĩte na makahikania-rĩ, ngwathana ũũ, no ti niĩ, nĩ Mwathani ũgwathana: Mũtumia ndakanatigane na mũthuuriwe.
These are my instructions to those who are married—in fact not from me but the Lord: The wife should not leave her husband
11 No aangĩka ũguo-rĩ, nĩagĩikare atarĩ mũhiku, kana akorwo ti ũguo, acookerere mũthuuriwe. Ningĩ mũthuuri ndakanaingate mũtumia wake.
(or if she does, she should not re-marry, or she should return to her husband); and the husband should not leave his wife.
12 Nĩ ũndũ wa acio angĩ nguuga ũũ, no nĩ niĩ ndĩroiga, ti Mwathani: Angĩkorwo mũrũ wa Ithe witũ arĩ na mũtumia ũtetĩkĩtie, na mũtumia ũcio etĩkĩre matũũranie-rĩ, nĩatige kũmũingata.
Now, to the rest of you, (and this is me speaking, not the Lord), I would say, “If a Christian man has a non-Christian wife and she is willing to stay with him, he should not leave her.
13 Nake mũtumia angĩkorwo arĩ na mũthuuri ũtetĩkĩtie, na mũthuuri ũcio etĩkĩre matũũranie-rĩ, nĩatige kũmũingata.
And if a Christian woman has a non-Christian husband, and he is willing to stay with her, she should not leave her husband.”
14 Nĩgũkorwo mũthuuri ũrĩa ũtetĩkĩtie nĩatheretio nĩ ũndũ wa mũtumia wake, nake mũtumia ũrĩa ũtarĩ mwĩtĩkia nĩatheretio nĩ ũndũ wa mũthuuri wake mwĩtĩkia. Kũngĩaga gũtuĩka ũguo-rĩ, ciana cianyu no ituĩke ti theru, no ũrĩa kũrĩ rĩu nĩ atĩ nĩ theru.
For a husband who is not a Christian, the marriage relationship is made holy by the Christian wife, and for a wife who is not a Christian, the marriage relationship is made holy by the Christian husband. Otherwise it would mean your children were impure, but now they are holy.
15 No rĩrĩ, mũndũ ũcio ũtetĩkĩtie angĩthiĩ-rĩ, nĩarekwo athiĩ. Nĩgũkorwo mũndũ mũrũme, kana mũndũ-wa-nja ũrĩa wĩtĩkĩtie ti muohe nĩ ũhoro ta ũcio; Ngai atwĩtĩte tũtũũranagie na thayũ.
However, if the non-Christian spouse leaves, let them leave. In such cases the Christian man or woman is not slavishly bound, for God has called us to live in peace.
16 Wee mũtumia-rĩ, ũũĩ atĩa kana nĩwe ũkaahonokia mũthuuri waku? O na wee mũthuuri-rĩ, ũũĩ atĩa kana nĩwe ũkaahonokia mũtumia waku?
Wives, who knows? You may save your husband! Husbands, who knows? You may save your wife!
17 No rĩrĩ, mũndũ o mũndũ nĩaikare mũtũũrĩre ũrĩa Mwathani aamũgaĩire, o ũrĩa Ngai aamwĩtĩire. Ũyũ nĩguo watho ũrĩa ngwatha makanitha mothe.
Apart from such cases, each of you should remain in the situation that the Lord has placed you, and continue to live the life to which God has called you. That's my instruction to all the churches.
18 Mũndũ angĩkorwo eetirwo arĩ mũruu-rĩ, nĩatige gũikara ta atarĩ mũruu. Mũndũ ũrĩa ũtaarĩ mũruu rĩrĩa eetirwo nĩatige kũrua.
Were you circumcised when you were converted? Don't become uncircumcised. Were you uncircumcised when you were converted? Don't become circumcised.
19 Kũrua gũtirĩ bata; o na kwaga kũrua gũtirĩ bata. Ũndũ ũrĩa ũrĩ bata nĩ kũmenyerera maathani ma Ngai.
Circumcision doesn't mean anything, and uncircumcision doesn't mean anything. Keeping the commandments of God is what really matters.
20 O mũndũ nĩaikarage o ũrĩa aatariĩ rĩrĩa Ngai aamwĩtire.
Everyone should remain in the position they were in when they were called.
21 Wee warĩ ngombo rĩrĩa wetirwo? Ũndũ ũcio ndũgagũtange, no korwo wahota kuona njĩra ya kuuma ũkombo-inĩ-rĩ, gerera yo.
If you were a slave when you were called, don't worry—though if you have an opportunity to become free, take it.
22 Nĩgũkorwo mũndũ ũrĩa warĩ ngombo rĩrĩa Mwathani aamwĩtire-rĩ, ũcio nĩ mũndũ wa Mwathani ũtarĩ ngombo; ningĩ no taguo, ũrĩa warĩ mũndũ muohore rĩrĩa Mwathani aamwĩtire-rĩ, ũcio nĩ ngombo ya Kristũ.
If you were a slave when the Lord called you, you are now free, working for the Lord. In the same way if you were called when you were free, you are now Christ's slave!
23 Inyuĩ mwagũrirwo goro; mũtigatuĩke ngombo cia andũ.
A price has been paid for you, so don't become a slave to anyone.
24 Ariũ na aarĩ a Ithe witũ, o ũndũ ũrĩa mũndũ eehokeirwo nĩ Ngai-rĩ, nĩaikarage o ũguo ũndũ ũcio Ngai aamwĩtĩire.
Brothers and sisters, remain in the position you were in when you were called, living with God.
25 Rĩu-rĩ, ũhoro wĩgiĩ airĩtu nĩ ũyũ: Ndirĩ na watho uumĩte kũrĩ Mwathani, no nĩngũheana itua rĩakwa ta mũndũ mwĩhokeku nĩ ũndũ wa kũiguĩrwo tha nĩ Mwathani.
Now about “people who are not married,” I don't have a specific instruction from the Lord, so let me give you my opinion as someone who by the Lord's mercy is considered trustworthy.
26 Nĩ ũndũ wa mathĩĩna ma mahinda maya-rĩ, nguona arĩ wega mũikarage o ũrĩa mũndũ atariĩ.
Because of the present difficult situation we are in I think it is best to just stay as you are.
27 Wee nĩũhikanĩtie? Ndũkaingate mũtumia waku. Wee nawe hihi ndũhikanĩtie? Tiga kũhikania.
Are you already married? Don't try to get divorced. Are you unmarried? Don't look to get married.
28 No ũngĩhikania-rĩ, wee ndwĩhĩtie; o na mũirĩtu angĩhika-rĩ, o nake ndehĩtie. No andũ arĩa marahika kana makahikania-rĩ, nĩmarĩonaga mathĩĩna maingĩ mũtũũrĩre-inĩ ũyũ, na nĩmo ndĩrenda kũmũrigĩrĩria.
If you do get married, you haven't sinned. If an unmarried woman gets married, she hasn't sinned. But you will have many troubles in this current world and I would want to spare you these.
29 Ũndũ ũrĩa ndĩrenda kuuga, ariũ na aarĩ a Ithe witũ, nĩ atĩ ihinda nĩ inini. Kuuma rĩu andũ arĩa marĩ na atumia nĩ kwagĩrĩire maikarage ta matarĩ nao;
I'm telling you, brothers and sisters, that time is short, and from now on for those who are married it may seem as if they are not married,
30 arĩa maracakaya nĩmaikarage ta mataracakaya; nao arĩa makenete nĩmaikarage ta matakenete; o na arĩa mekũgũra indo, nĩmaikarage ta matarĩ kĩndũ marĩ.
and those who weep as if they did not weep, and those that celebrated as if they had not celebrated, and those that bought as if they did not own,
31 nao arĩa mahũthagĩra indo cia thĩ ĩno, nĩmaikarage ta matohanĩtio nacio. Nĩgũkorwo ũrĩa thĩ ĩno ĩhaana rĩu-rĩ, nĩgũthira ĩrathira.
and those who are engaged with the world as if it is not fulfilling—for the present world order is passing away.
32 Niĩ ingĩenda inyuĩ mũikarage mũtegwĩtanga. Mũndũ ũrĩa ũtahikanĩtie etangaga na maũndũ ma Mwathani, na eciiragia o ũrĩa angĩkenia Mwathani.
I would prefer you to be free from such worries. A man who is not married pays attention to what is important to the Lord, and how he can please the Lord.
33 No mũndũ ũrĩa ũhikanĩtie etangaga na maũndũ ma gũkũ thĩ, na eciiragia o ũrĩa angĩkenia mũtumia wake,
But a man who is married pays attention to what is important in this world, and how he can please his wife.
34 naguo wendi wa ngoro yake nĩmũgayũkanu. Mũndũ-wa-nja ũtarĩ mũhiku kana mũirĩtu etangaga na maũndũ ma Mwathani: Muoroto wake nĩ kwĩheana harĩ Mwathani mwĩrĩ na roho. No mũtumia mũhiku etangaga na maũndũ ma thĩ ĩno, na eciiragia o ũrĩa angĩkenia mũthuuriwe.
As a result his loyalties are divided. Similarly an unmarried woman or girl pays attention to what is important to the Lord, so she may live a life dedicated both in body and spirit. But a married woman pays attention to what is important in this world, and how she can please her husband.
35 Ndĩramwarĩria maũndũ maya nĩgeetha mũgunĩke, ti atĩ nĩguo ndĩmũrigĩrĩrie, no nĩgeetha mũikarage na mĩthiĩre ĩrĩa yagĩrĩire, mwĩheanĩte biũ harĩ Mwathani mũtekũguucĩrĩrio nĩ maũndũ mangĩ.
I'm telling you this for your benefit. I'm not trying to put a noose around your neck, but to show you the right thing to do so you can serve the Lord without being distracted.
36 Mũndũ o wothe angĩona atĩ nĩarahĩtĩria mũirĩtu ũrĩa orĩtie, nake mũirĩtu ũcio akorwo matukũ make ma ũirĩtu wake nĩmarahĩtũka-rĩ, mũndũ ũcio angĩigua nĩagĩrĩirwo nĩ kũhikania-rĩ, nĩeke o ũguo ekwenda. Ti kwĩhia ekwĩhia. Nĩmagĩrĩirwo mahikanie.
But if a man thinks he's behaving improperly with the woman he's engaged to, and if he thinks he will give in to his strong sexual desire, and if he thinks he ought to get married, he is not sinning by getting married.
37 No rĩrĩ, ũrĩa ũtuĩte na ngoro yake atekũringĩrĩrio, no nĩwe mwene wĩyendeire, na agatua itua atĩ ndekũhikia mũirĩtu ũcio-rĩ, mũndũ ũcio o nake nĩekĩte ũrĩa kwagĩrĩire.
But if a man stays true to his principles, and there is no obligation to marry, and has the power to keep his feelings under control and stay engaged to her, he does well not to marry.
38 Nĩ ũndũ ũcio-rĩ, mũndũ ũrĩa ũhikagia mũirĩtu ũrĩa orĩtie nĩekaga ũrĩa kwagĩrĩire, no ũrĩa ũngĩaga kũmũhikia nĩekaga wega makĩria.
So the man who marries the woman he's engaged to does well, while the one who does not get married does better.
39 Mũtumia nĩohanĩtio na mũthuuriwe rĩrĩa rĩothe mũthuuriwe arĩ muoyo. No mũthuuriwe angĩkua, nĩmuohore na no ahikĩre mũndũ o ũrĩa angĩenda, no mũndũ ũcio no nginya akorwo nĩetĩkĩtie Mwathani.
A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry whoever she wants in the Lord.
40 No itua rĩakwa nĩ atĩrĩ, mũtumia ũcio angĩaga kũhika rĩngĩ, no akorwo arĩ na gĩkeno makĩria. Na ngwĩciiria atĩ niĩ o na niĩ ndĩ na Roho wa Ngai.
But in my opinion she would be happier if she didn't re-marry—and I think I too have the Spirit of God when I say this.
