1 Akorinitho 7
1 Na rĩrĩ, ha ũhoro wa maũndũ marĩa mwanyandĩkĩire marũa nĩ ũndũ wamo, ngũmwĩra atĩrĩ: Nĩ wega mũndũ mũrũme kwaga kũhikania.
I now deal with the subjects mentioned in your letter. It is well for a man to abstain altogether from marriage.
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.
But because there is so much fornication every man should have a wife of his own, and every woman should have a husband.
3 Mũthuuri nĩagĩrĩirwo nĩ kũhingagĩria mũtumia wake bata wake wa kĩhiko, o nake mũtumia ahingagĩrie mũthuuriwe bata wake.
Let a man pay his wife her due, and let a woman also pay her husband his.
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.
A married woman is not mistress of her own person: her husband has certain rights. In the same way a married man is not master of his own person: his wife has certain rights.
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.
Do not refuse one another, unless perhaps it is just for a time and by mutual consent, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer and may then associate again; lest the Adversary begin to tempt you because of your deficiency in self-control.
6 Ũhoro ũcio ndawaaria taarĩ rũũtha ngũheana, no ti gwathana ngwathana.
Thus much in the way of concession, not of command.
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.
Yet I would that everybody lived as I do; but each of us has his own special gift from God--one in one direction and one in 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.
But I tell the unmarried, and women who are widows, that it is well for them to remain as I am.
9 No angĩkorwo matingĩhota kwĩgirĩrĩria-rĩ, nĩmahike na mahikanie, tondũ nĩ kaba kũhikania gũkĩra gũikara makĩhĩĩahĩaga.
If, however, they cannot maintain self-control, by all means let them marry; for marriage is better than the fever of passion.
10 Kũrĩ andũ arĩa mahikĩte na makahikania-rĩ, ngwathana ũũ, no ti niĩ, nĩ Mwathani ũgwathana: Mũtumia ndakanatigane na mũthuuriwe.
But to those already married my instructions are--yet not mine, but the Lord's--that a wife is not to 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 has already left him, let her either remain as she is or be reconciled to him; and that a husband is not to send away 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.
To the rest it is I who speak--not the Lord. If a brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, let him not send her away.
13 Nake mũtumia angĩkorwo arĩ na mũthuuri ũtetĩkĩtie, na mũthuuri ũcio etĩkĩre matũũranie-rĩ, nĩatige kũmũingata.
And a woman who has an unbelieving husband--if he consents to live with her, let her not separate from him.
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, in such cases, the unbelieving husband has become--and is--holy through union with a Christian woman, and the unbelieving wife is holy through union with a Christian brother. Otherwise your children would be unholy, but in reality they have a place among God's people.
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.
If, however, the unbeliever is determined to leave, let him or her do so. Under such circumstances the Christian man or woman is no slave; God has called us to live lives of peace.
16 Wee mũtumia-rĩ, ũũĩ atĩa kana nĩwe ũkaahonokia mũthuuri waku? O na wee mũthuuri-rĩ, ũũĩ atĩa kana nĩwe ũkaahonokia mũtumia waku?
For what assurance have you, O woman, as to whether you will save your husband? Or what assurance have you, O man, as to whether you will 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.
Only, whatever be the condition in life which the Lord has assigned to each individual--and whatever the condition in which he was living when God called him--in that let him continue.
18 Mũndũ angĩkorwo eetirwo arĩ mũruu-rĩ, nĩatige gũikara ta atarĩ mũruu. Mũndũ ũrĩa ũtaarĩ mũruu rĩrĩa eetirwo nĩatige kũrua.
This is what I command in all the Churches. Was any one already circumcised when called? Let him not have recourse to the surgeons. Was any one uncircumcised when called? Let him remain uncircumcised.
19 Kũrua gũtirĩ bata; o na kwaga kũrua gũtirĩ bata. Ũndũ ũrĩa ũrĩ bata nĩ kũmenyerera maathani ma Ngai.
Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing: obedience to God's commandments is everything.
20 O mũndũ nĩaikarage o ũrĩa aatariĩ rĩrĩa Ngai aamwĩtire.
Whatever be the condition in life in which a man was, when he was called, in that let him continue.
21 Wee warĩ ngombo rĩrĩa wetirwo? Ũndũ ũcio ndũgagũtange, no korwo wahota kuona njĩra ya kuuma ũkombo-inĩ-rĩ, gerera yo.
Were you a slave when God called you? Let not that weigh on your mind. And yet if you can get your freedom, take advantage of the opportunity.
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.
For a Christian, if he was a slave when called, is the Lord's freed man, and in the same way a free man, if called, becomes the slave of Christ.
23 Inyuĩ mwagũrirwo goro; mũtigatuĩke ngombo cia andũ.
You have all been redeemed at infinite cost: do not become slaves to men.
24 Ariũ na aarĩ a Ithe witũ, o ũndũ ũrĩa mũndũ eehokeirwo nĩ Ngai-rĩ, nĩaikarage o ũguo ũndũ ũcio Ngai aamwĩtĩire.
Where each one stood when he was called, there, brethren, let him still stand--close to 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.
Concerning unmarried women I have no command to give you from the Lord; but I offer you my opinion, which is that of a man who, through the Lord's mercy, is deserving of your confidence.
26 Nĩ ũndũ wa mathĩĩna ma mahinda maya-rĩ, nguona arĩ wega mũikarage o ũrĩa mũndũ atariĩ.
I think then that, taking into consideration the distress which is now upon us, it is well for a man to remain as he is.
27 Wee nĩũhikanĩtie? Ndũkaingate mũtumia waku. Wee nawe hihi ndũhikanĩtie? Tiga kũhikania.
Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to get free. Are you free from the marriage bond? Do not seek for a wife.
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.
Yet if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a maiden marries, she has not sinned. Such people, however, will have outward trouble. But I am for sparing you.
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;
Yet of this I warn you, brethren: the time has been shortened--so that henceforth those who have wives should be as though they had none,
30 arĩa maracakaya nĩmaikarage ta mataracakaya; nao arĩa makenete nĩmaikarage ta matakenete; o na arĩa mekũgũra indo, nĩmaikarage ta matarĩ kĩndũ marĩ.
those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess,
31 nao arĩa mahũthagĩra indo cia thĩ ĩno, nĩmaikarage ta matohanĩtio nacio. Nĩgũkorwo ũrĩa thĩ ĩno ĩhaana rĩu-rĩ, nĩgũthira ĩrathira.
and those who use the world as not using it to the full. For the world as it now exists is passing away.
32 Niĩ ingĩenda inyuĩ mũikarage mũtegwĩtanga. Mũndũ ũrĩa ũtahikanĩtie etangaga na maũndũ ma Mwathani, na eciiragia o ũrĩa angĩkenia Mwathani.
And I would have you free from worldly anxiety. An unmarried man concerns himself with the Lord's business--how he shall please the Lord;
33 No mũndũ ũrĩa ũhikanĩtie etangaga na maũndũ ma gũkũ thĩ, na eciiragia o ũrĩa angĩkenia mũtumia wake,
but a married man concerns himself with the business of the world--how he shall 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.
There is a difference too between a married and an unmarried woman. She who is unmarried concerns herself with the Lord's business--that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but the married woman concerns herself with the business of the world--how she shall 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.
Thus much I say in your own interest; not to lay a trap for you, but to help towards what is becoming, and enable you to wait on the Lord without distraction.
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.
If, however, a father thinks he is acting unbecomingly towards his still unmarried daughter if she be past the bloom of her youth, and so the matter is urgent, let him do what she desires; he commits no sin; she and her suitor should be allowed to marry.
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 father stands firm in his resolve, being free from all external constraint and having a legal right to act as he pleases, and in his own mind has come to the decision to keep his daughter unmarried, he will do well.
38 Nĩ ũndũ ũcio-rĩ, mũndũ ũrĩa ũhikagia mũirĩtu ũrĩa orĩtie nĩekaga ũrĩa kwagĩrĩire, no ũrĩa ũngĩaga kũmũhikia nĩekaga wega makĩria.
So that he who gives his daughter in marriage does well, and yet he who does not give her in marriage will do 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 woman is bound to her husband during the whole period that he lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to marry whom she will, provided that he is a Christian.
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 judgement, her state is a more enviable one if she remains as she is; and I also think that I have the Spirit of God.
