1 Ndị Kọrint 7

1 Ugbu a, okwu banyere ihe unu dere nʼakwụkwọ: “Ọ dị mma ka nwoke ghara ịmetụ nwanyị aka.”

Now [I will reply to] the things that you wrote to me about. It is good for people not to get married.

2 Ma nʼihi ọtụtụ ihe omume banyere ịkwa iko, ka nwoke ọbụla nwee nwunye nke aka ya, nwanyị ọbụla di nke aka ya.

But because many people are committing sexual immorality, [which God detests], every man should have his own wife [with whom he can have sexual relations], and every woman should have her own husband [with whom she can have sexual relations].

3 Ka nwoke ọbụla jisie ike na-akwụ nwunye ya ụgwọ mmekọ o ji ya. Nwanyị ọbụla ga-emekwara di ya otu aka ahụ.

Every man must continue having sexual relations [EUP] with his wife, and every woman must continue having sexual relations with her husband.

4 Nʼihi na nwanyị ọbụla lụrụ di adịghịkwa achị ahụ ya, kama ọ bụ di ya na-achị ya. Otu aka ahụ, di anakwaghị achị ahụ ya, kama ọ bụ nwunye ya na-achị ya.

A man’s wife does not have the right over her own body [to be the only one to decide about having sexual relations with her husband]. Instead, her husband also has a right [to decide about that]. Similarly, a woman’s husband does not have the right over his own body [to be the only one to decide about having sexual relations with his wife]. Instead, his wife also has a right [to decide about that].

5 Ka di na nwunye hapụ igbochi ibe ha mmekọrịta nke anụ ahụ ruuru ha. Karịakwa maọbụ na mkpebi ha nwere nʼetiti onwe ha ịnọrọ iche nwa oge nta nʼihi inyefe onwe ha ikpe ekpere. Mgbe oge a gasịrị, ha ga-agakwa nʼihu na mmekọrịta ha, ka e site otu a hapụ inye ekwensu ohere ịnwa ha ọnwụnwa nʼihi enweghị ike ha ijide onwe ha aka.

You may refuse [to have sexual relations with] each other [EUP] only if you both first agree to do that for a short time, in order that you may both have more time to pray. Then after that, begin having sexual relations again [EUP] in order that Satan will not be able to persuade you [to have sex with someone else] because you are unable to control your sexual desires.

6 Anaghị m enye nke a dị ka iwu, kama ọ bụ alo ka m na-atụnyere unu.

I am telling you these things to say that [God] allows [you to get married, but he] does not say that you must [get married].

7 Asị m kwuo, aga m asị na ọ ga-aka mma ka mmadụ niile nọrọ dị ka m. Ma onye ọbụla nwere onyinye nke Chineke nyere ya. O nyere otu onye nke a, onye ọzọ nke ọzọ.

I myself wish that all people would stay [unmarried/single], as I am. But God has enabled each person to live in ways that seem right for them. He has enabled some people to [live without getting married], and he has enabled other people to [get married].

8 Ma ana m agwa ndị na-anọghị nʼọnọdụ di na nwunye na ndị di ha nwụrụ anwụ, na ọ ka mma ka ha nọdụ na-alụghị di maọbụ nwunye, dịka m onwe m nọ.

Now I want to say this to you unmarried people and to you whose spouses have died: It would be good for you to remain [unmarried] as I am.

9 Ma ọ bụrụ na ha apụghị ijide onwe ha, ha gaa chọrọ di maọbụ nwunye lụọ. Ọ ka mma ịlụ di maọbụ nwunye, karịa mmadụ ịgba ara site nʼagụụ nke anụ ahụ.

But if you cannot control your [sexual desires] [EUP], you should get married. It is better to be married [so that you can satisfy your sexual desires with your spouse] than to constantly have a strong desire [EUP] [for sexual relations].

10 Ugbu a, unu ndị nwere di na ndị nwere nwunye niile, enwere m iwu m na-enye unu. (O sighị nʼaka m, kama o si nʼaka Onyenwe anyị): O kwesighị ka nwanyị ọbụla hapụ di ya.

And now I will give a command for [believers who are] married. This is not a command from me alone; it also comes from the Lord Jesus. You married women must not (separate from/divorce) your husbands!

11 A sịkwa na ọ hapụ di ya, ya nọọrọ onwe ya, maọbụ ya laghachikwuru di ya. Ka nwoke ọbụla gharakwa ịgba nwunye ya alụkwaghị m.

But if any of you do that, you must remain unmarried, or else you should be reconciled with your husband [and live with him again]. Similarly, men must not (separate from/divorce) their wives.

12 Ma ana m agwa mmadụ ndị ọzọ (nke a abụghị iwu nke Onyenwe anyị nyere). Ọ bụrụ na nwanna alụọ nwanyị nke na-ekweghị ekwe, ya achụpụla ya ma ọ bụrụ na nwanyị ahụ achọọ ịnọgide dịka nwunye ya.

Now I say this to the rest of you, [to those who became believers after they were married. This is what] I [am saying], not what the Lord [has commanded]. If someone has a wife who is not a believer, if she is willing to keep living with him, he must not divorce her.

13 Ọ bụrụkwa na nwanyị kwere ekwe alụọ di nke na-ekweghị ekwe, ya agbarala di ya alụkwaghị m, ma ọ bụrụ na di ya chọrọ ịnọgide dịka di ya.

Similarly, if a woman has a husband who is not a believer, if he is willing to keep living with her, she must not divorce him.

14 Nʼihi na edoola di ahụ na-ekweghị ekwe nsọ site na nwunye ya, otu a kwa a na-edokwa nwunye ahụ na-ekweghị ekwe nsọ site na di ya, bụ onye kwere ekwe. Ọ bụrụ na ọ dịghị otu a, ụmụ unu ga-abụ ndị na-adịghị ọcha. Ma otu ọ dị, ha dị nsọ.

[I say that] because God has set apart every woman’s unbelieving husband [for himself] because of his wife [being a believer], and God has set apart every man’s unbelieving wife [for himself] because of her husband [being a believer]. If that were not true, [God would consider] their children unacceptable. But, the fact is that [God does consider] them acceptable to him.

15 Ma ọ bụrụ na onye ahụ nke na-ekweghị ekwe ekewapụ onwe ya, ya dịrị otu ahụ, nke a emeghị ka nwanna anyị nwoke maọbụ nwanna anyị nwanyị bụrụ ohu nʼọnọdụ dị otu a, nʼihi na Chineke kpọrọ anyị ka anyị bie ndụ udo.

However, if a woman’s husband who is not a believer or a man’s wife who is not a believer wants to leave, let [him or her] do so. The husband or wife who is a believer should not force the other one to stay. God has chosen us in order that we may live peacefully.

16 Gị nwunye, ị mara maọbụ gị ga-azọpụta di gị? Ma, gị bụ di, si aṅa mara maọbụ gị ga-azọpụta nwunye gị?

[You women believers should allow your unbelieving spouses to leave you if they want to], because there is no way that you can be sure that God will save your husband if you stay together [RHQ] (OR, perhaps God will save your husband if you stay together.) Similarly, you men [who are believers], there is no way that you can be sure that God will save your wives if you stay together [RHQ] (OR, perhaps God will save your wives if you stay together.)

17 Ka onye ọbụla bie ndụ ya dịka amara Onyenwe anyị nyere ya si dị, nakwa nʼọnọdụ nke Chineke kpọrọ ya. Nke a bụ iwu m na-enye nʼụlọ chọọchị niile.

However, each person should continue in the status that the Lord gave him, the status that he had when the Lord called him [to belong to him]. That is the rule that I tell people in all the congregations [where I speak].

18 Akpọrọ onye ọbụla mgbe e biri ya ugwu? Ya achọla iwepụ akara obibi ugwu ya. Ka onye a na-ebighị ugwu tupu ọkpụkpọ ya hapụ inye onwe ya nsogbu ịchọ ụzọ a ga-esi bie ya ugwu.

If a man had already been circumcised [RHQ] when he became a Christian, he should not [try to pretend that he is not] circumcised. If a man had not been circumcised [RHQ] before he became a Christian, he should not become circumcised.

19 Nʼihi na ọ dịghị mkpa ma e biri gị ugwu ma e bighị gị ugwu. Ihe kachasị mkpa bụ idebe iwu Chineke.

[You should not try to change your status that way], because it means nothing [to God] whether someone is circumcised or not. What is important is that we obey what God has commanded.

20 Ka onye ọbụla nọgide dịka ọ dị mgbe a kpọrọ ya.

[Generally], each person should remain in the status that he had when he became a Christian.

21 Ị bụ ohu mgbe a kpọrọ gị? Echegbula onwe gị nʼihi ya. Kama ọ bụrụ na ọ dị ụzọ ị pụrụ isi nwere onwe gị, were ohere ahụ mee ihe ugbu a.

If one of you was a slave when you [(sg)] became a Christian [RHQ], do not be concerned about it. However, if you get an opportunity to be free, do [what you need to do to become free].

22 Nʼihi na onye ọbụla Onyenwe anyị Chineke kpọrọ mgbe o bụ ohu, aghọọla onye nweere onwe ya nʼime Onyenwe anyị. Otu aka ahụ, onye nwerela onwe ya mgbe Onyenwe anyị kpọrọ ya aghọọla ohu nke Kraịst.

[Do not worry about your previously being a slave], because those who were slaves before they became Christians, the Lord has freed them [from Satan’s control]. Similarly, those who were not slaves before they became Christians, [it is as though] [MET] they are Christ’s slaves [because they must do what he tells them to do] [MET].

23 Akwụọla ụgwọ isi unu, unu abụkwala ohu mmadụ ọzọ.

[Christ] paid a price to buy you [when he died for you]. So do not [act as if you are evil people’s] slaves [by doing the evil things that they tell you to do].

24 Ụmụnna m, nʼọnọdụ ọbụla mmadụ nọ mgbe a kpọrọ ya, ya nọgidesie ike nʼime Chineke.

My fellow believers, [I repeat that in general] each believer, being in fellowship with God, should continue in the status that he had before he became a Christian.

25 Ihe banyere ụmụ agbọghọ na-amaghị nwoke. Enweghị m iwu ọbụla site nʼaka Onyenwe anyị banyere ajụjụ a, ma aga m ekwu uche nke aka m dịka onye sitere nʼebere nke Onyenwe anyị kwesiri ntụkwasị obi.

Now [I will answer your question] about women who have never married. There is nothing that the Lord has commanded me [to write about them], but I am writing this to tell you what I think [is best], because the Lord [Jesus] has mercifully enabled me to [say] what is reliable.

26 Echere m na ọ ka mma ugbu a, nʼihi nsogbu nke na-abịanụ ka onye ọbụla nọdụrụ onwe ya dịka o siri nọrọ ugbu a.

There are a lot of distressing events [happening] now (OR, that will soon happen), so I think that it is better for people to remain in the marital status that they now have.

27 Ị lụọla nwanyị? Achọla nkewa. Ọ bụ na ị lụbeghị nwanyị? Ejela ịchọ onye ị ga-alụ.

If any of you [men] are married [RHQ], do not try to divorce your wife. If any of you are unmarried [RHQ], do not seek a wife.

28 Ma ọ bụrụ na i kpebie nʼobi gị ịlụ nwunye, i meghị mmehie ọbụla; ọ bụrụkwa na nwaagbọghọ ekpebie na ọ ga-alụ di, o meghị mmehie. Ndị lụrụ di na nwunye ga-enwe ọtụtụ nsogbu nʼime ụwa. Ọ ga-amasị m igbochiri unu nsogbu ndị ahụ.

But if [any of] you [men] get married, you have not committed a sin [by doing that]. Likewise, if an unmarried woman gets married, she has not committed a sin [by doing that]. However, those who get married will have many troubles, [so I am urging you to remain unmarried in order that] you may not experience [such troubles].

29 Ihe unu kwesiri ịma, ụmụnna, bụ na oge anyị nwere fọdụrụ naanị ntakịrị, site ugbu a gaa nʼihu ndị nwere nwunye ga-adị ndụ ha dịka ndị na-enweghị.

My fellow believers, this is what I mean: There is not much time left [before Christ returns]. So, from now on those men who are married should [devote themselves to serving the Lord as much] as they would if they were not married.

30 Ka ndị na-akwa akwa bie ndụ dịka ndị ihe anaghị ewute, ka ndị na-achị ọchị dịrị ka ndị obi na-adịghị atọ ụtọ. Ka ndị na-azụ ahịa dịrị dịka ndị na-enweghị ngwa ahịa ọbụla.

Those who are sad should [devote themselves to serving the Lord as much] as they would if they were not sad. Those who are rejoicing [should devote themselves to serving the Lord as much] as they would if they were not joyful.

31 Ka ndị na-etinye oge nʼihe ụtọ nke ụwa hapụ ibi ndụ ịchọ iritecha ihe niile dị nʼụwa nʼuru. Nʼihi na ụwa, otu ọ dị ugbu a, bụ ihe na-agabiga agabiga.

Those who are buying things should [devote themselves to serving the Lord as much] as they would if they did not possess those things. Because this world as it exists now will soon be gone, those who are actively involved in the affairs of this life [should not devote all their time] to be involved in those things.

32 Unu emela ihe ga-ewetara unu oke echiche. Nwoke na-alụbeghị nwanyị nwere ohere iji oge ya niile rụọra Onyenwe anyị ọrụ. O nwekwara ohere ịgbalịsị ike ime ihe ga-atọ Onyenwe anyị ụtọ.

[Another reason why] I [encourage you to remain unmarried is that] I desire that none of you be anxious [about the everyday affairs of this life]. Unmarried men are [able to be primarily] concerned about serving the Lord Jesus and trying to please him.

33 Ma nwoke nwere nwunye na-echegbu onwe ya banyere ihe igbo mkpa nke ụwa a, otu ọ ga-esi mee ihe ga-atọ nwunye ya ụtọ.

But married men are [often] greatly concerned about the affairs of this life. Specifically, they are concerned about pleasing their wives.

34 Ọ na-enwekwa obi abụọ nʼihe ọbụla ọ chọrọ ime. Otu a ka ọ dịkwa nye nwaagbọghọ na-alụbeghị di maọbụ onye nke na-amabeghị nwoke, nchegbu ya bụ banyere ihe nke Onyenwe anyị. Ọchịchọ ya bụ ka ọ dị nsọ nʼanụ ahụ ya na nʼime mmụọ ya. Ma nwanyị nwere di na-echegbu onwe ya banyere ihe nke ụwa a, otu ọ ga-esi mee ihe ga-atọ di ya ụtọ.

So their thinking is divided. Unmarried women are [able to be] concerned about serving the Lord. They want to set apart their minds and their bodies for serving the Lord. But married women are [often] concerned about the affairs of this life. Specifically, they are concerned about how to please their husbands.

35 Ana m ekwu ihe ndị a maka ọ dị mma nke unu onwe unu, ọ bụghị ịgbalị igbochi unu, kama ọ bụ ka unu nwee ike bie ndụ unu nʼụzọ kwesiri ekwesi, werekwa ịhụnanya zuruoke rụọra Onyenwe anyị ọrụ.

I am telling you this for your own good. I am not saying it in order to restrict you. Instead, I am saying it in order that you may do what is proper and be able to serve the Lord without being distracted {things distracting you}.

36 Ọ bụrụ na nwoke ọbụla enweghị ike ijide onwe ya nʼihi agụụ mmekọrịta nke nwoke na nwanyị na-agụ ya nʼebe nwaagbọghọ ya na ya kpebiri ịlụ nọ, ya mee ihe ọ na-achọ, o meghị mmehie ọbụla, ha lụọ di na nwunye.

[Some of you men have asked about your unmarried daughters]. [I suggest that] if any man thinks that he may be treating his daughter unfairly [by keeping her from marrying], and if it is already past [the right] time for her to get married, and if he thinks that she ought to be married, he should do what he wants to do. He should let her get married. He will not be sinning [by doing that].

37 Ma ọ bụrụ na onye ọbụla ekpebie nʼobi ya, ma nwee ike ijide onwe ya, ka o si nʼenweghị mmanye ọbụla idebe nwaagbọghọ e kwuru na ọ ga-alụ na-enweghị mmekọ ọbụla, ọ bụ ihe dị mma ka o mere.

But if a man feels absolutely sure [that it is better that his daughter not get married], and if nothing is forcing [her to get married], and if he is free to do what he decides to do on the matter, if he decides that his daughter should not get married, he is doing what is right in [keeping her from marrying].

38 Ya mere, onye ahụ lụrụ nwaagbọghọ o kwuru na ọ ga-alụ mere nke ọma, ma onye kpebikwara na ọ gaghị alụ mekwara nke ọma karịa.

So any man who decides that his daughter should get married is doing what is good, but if he decides that she should not get married, he is doing something even better. (OR, [Some of you men have asked about the women to whom you are engaged to marry]. If any man thinks that he may be treating that woman unfairly [by not marrying her], and if it is already past [the right] time for her to get married, and if he wants to marry her very much, he should do what he wants to do. He should marry her. He will not be sinning [by doing that]. But if a man feels absolutely sure [that it is better] for him not to get married, and if nothing is forcing [them to get married], if he is free to make his own decision on the matter, if he decides not to get married, he is doing what is right. So any man who decides that he should get married to the woman he is engaged to is doing what is good, but if he decides that he should not get married, he is doing something even better.)

39 Njikọta e jikọtara nwunye na di ya na-adị ire naanị mgbe di nwanyị dị ndụ. Ọ bụrụ na di ya anwụọ o nwere ike ịlụ di ọzọ, ma ọ lụọ ya nʼime Onyenwe anyị.

Women must remain married to their husbands while their husbands are still alive. But if a woman’s husband dies, she is free to marry any [unmarried] man whom she wants to marry, but he must belong to the Lord.

40 Nʼuche m, ọ ga-enwe ọṅụ nʼobi ya karịa ma ọ bụrụ na ọ lụghị di ọzọ. Ana m echekwa na mụ onwe m nwekwara Mmụọ nke Chineke.

However, I think that she will be happier if she does not marry again. And I believe that the Spirit of God is [directing] me [as I say that].