Questions about Marriage
1 Now, to deal with the matters you wrote about.
A man does well not to marry. 2 But because there is so much immorality, every man should have his own wife, and every woman should have her own husband. 3 A man should fulfill his duty as a husband, and a woman should fulfill her duty as a wife, and each should satisfy the other's needs. 4 A wife is not the master of her own body, but her husband is; in the same way a husband is not the master of his own body, but his wife is. 5 Do not deny yourselves to each other, unless you first agree to do so for a while in order to spend your time in prayer; but then resume normal marital relations. In this way you will be kept from giving in to Satan's temptation because of your lack of self-control.
6 I tell you this not as an order, but simply as a permission. 7 Actually I would prefer that all of you were as I am; but each one has a special gift from God, one person this gift, another one that gift.
8 Now, to the unmarried and to the widows I say that it would be better for you to continue to live alone as I do. 9 But if you cannot restrain your desires, go ahead and marry—it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
10 For married people I have a command which is not my own but the Lord's: a wife must not leave her husband; 11 but if she does, she must remain single or else be reconciled to her husband; and a husband must not divorce his wife.
12 To the others I say (I, myself, not the Lord): if a Christian man has a wife who is an unbeliever and she agrees to go on living with him, he must not divorce her. 13 And if a Christian woman is married to a man who is an unbeliever and he agrees to go on living with her, she must not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is made acceptable to God by being united to his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made acceptable to God by being united to her Christian husband. If this were not so, their children would be like pagan children; but as it is, they are acceptable to God. 15 However, if the one who is not a believer wishes to leave the Christian partner, let it be so. In such cases the Christian partner, whether husband or wife, is free to act. God has called you to live in peace. 16 How can you be sure, Christian wife, that you will not save your husband? Or how can you be sure, Christian husband, that you will not save your wife?
Live As God Called You
17 Each of you should go on living according to the Lord's gift to you, and as you were when God called you. This is the rule I teach in all the churches. 18 If a circumcised man has accepted God's call, he should not try to remove the marks of circumcision; if an uncircumcised man has accepted God's call, he should not get circumcised. 19 For whether or not a man is circumcised means nothing; what matters is to obey God's commandments. 20 Each of you should remain as you were when you accepted God's call. 21 Were you a slave when God called you? Well, never mind; but if you have a chance to become free, use it. 22 For a slave who has been called by the Lord is the Lord's free person; in the same way a free person who has been called by Christ is his slave. 23 God bought you for a price; so do not become slaves of people. 24 My friends, each of you should remain in fellowship with God in the same condition that you were when you were called.
Questions about the Unmarried and the Widows
25 Now, concerning what you wrote about unmarried people: I do not have a command from the Lord, but I give my opinion as one who by the Lord's mercy is worthy of trust.
26 Considering the present distress, I think it is better for a man to stay as he is. 27 Do you have a wife? Then don't try to get rid of her. Are you unmarried? Then don't look for a wife. 28 But if you do marry, you haven't committed a sin; and if an unmarried woman marries, she hasn't committed a sin. But I would rather spare you the everyday troubles that married people will have.
29 What I mean, my friends, is this: there is not much time left, and from now on married people should live as though they were not married; 30 those who weep, as though they were not sad; those who laugh, as though they were not happy; those who buy, as though they did not own what they bought; 31 those who deal in material goods, as though they were not fully occupied with them. For this world, as it is now, will not last much longer.
32 I would like you to be free from worry. An unmarried man concerns himself with the Lord's work, because he is trying to please the Lord. 33 But a married man concerns himself with worldly matters, because he wants to please his wife; 34 and so he is pulled in two directions. An unmarried woman or a virgin concerns herself with the Lord's work, because she wants to be dedicated both in body and spirit; but a married woman concerns herself with worldly matters, because she wants to please her husband.
35 I am saying this because I want to help you. I am not trying to put restrictions on you. Instead, I want you to do what is right and proper, and to give yourselves completely to the Lord's service without any reservation.
36 In the case of an engaged couple who have decided not to marry: if the man feels that he is not acting properly toward the young woman and if his passions are too strong and he feels that they ought to marry, then they should get married, as he wants to. There is no sin in this. 37 But if a man, without being forced to do so, has firmly made up his mind not to marry, and if he has his will under complete control and has already decided in his own mind what to do—then he does well not to marry the young woman. 38 So the man who marries does well, but the one who doesn't marry does even better.
39 A married woman is not free as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, then she is free to be married to any man she wishes, but only if he is a Christian. 40 She will be happier, however, if she stays as she is. That is my opinion, and I think that I too have God's Spirit.
Futuwo la kuwo ñininkaaroo
1 Saayiŋ m be feŋ safee la ali ye kuwolu to le, ali ye mennu ñininkaa ali la leetaroo kono. A beteyaata kewo to le ko, a kana maa musoo la. 2 Wo ñaa-wo-ñaa, laañooyaa tuluŋo la marisa kuwolu kamma la, kee-wo-kee si a fansuŋ musoo soto, a ye meŋ futuu, aduŋ musu-wo-musu si a fansuŋ kewo soto. 3 Kewo ñanta a futuumusoo la futuwo ñantoolu bee timmandi la le, aduŋ musoo fanaa ñanta wo le ke la. 4 Musoo maŋ kaŋo soto a faŋo balajaatoo kunna, bari a keemaa le ye a soto. Wo ñaa kiliŋo la, kewo fanaa maŋ kaŋo soto a faŋo balajaatoo kunna, bari a la musoo le ye a soto. 5 Ali kana balaŋ ñoo ma futuwo la karoo la, fo niŋ ali kambenta ka waatoo tomboŋ, ali be meŋ kerekere la ka ke duwaa waatoo ti. Bari wo koolaa, ali si muru ñoo kaŋ kotenke, niŋ wo nte Seetaanoo* si ali marisa noo le, kaatu ali lamfuta faŋ maroo la karoo la le. 6 Ŋa ñiŋ fo yaamaroo le kamma, a maŋ ke luwaa ti. 7 Bari hani wo, n hameta le ko, kewolu bee ye baluu ko nte, niŋ a si ke noo. Bari moo-wo-moo ye a fansuŋ soorifeŋo le soto Alla bulu. Kiliŋ ye ñiŋ siifaa soto, doo ye siifaa doo soto.
8 M be a fo la futuubaloolu niŋ furuyaamusoolu ye ko, a be beteyaa la ì to le, niŋ ì maŋ futuu ko nte be ñaameŋ. 9 Bari niŋ wolu te ì faŋolu mara noo la, ì ñanta futuu la le, kaatu a fisiyaata le ka futuu, diina ka tu hameriŋ laañooyaa la doroŋ.
10 Yaamaroo, m be meŋ dii la futuulaalu la, a maŋ ke m fansuŋ kumoo ti, bari Maariyo la kumoo: Musoo maŋ ñaŋ na i bo la a keemaa to. 11 Bari niŋ a ye wo ke, a si tu wo ñaama, waraŋ a ye muru a keemaa kaŋ. Kewo fanaa maŋ ñaŋ na a la musoo bula la.
12 Moo koteŋolu la kuwo to, a maŋ ke Maariyo la kumoo ti, bari nte ko, niŋ lannamoo ye musoo soto, meŋ maŋ ke Yeesu noomalankoo ti, aduŋ wo musoo sonta ka tu a fee, wo to kewo maŋ ñaŋ na a bula la. 13 Aduŋ niŋ musoo fanaa ye kewo soto, meŋ maŋ ke Yeesu noomalankoo ti, aduŋ kewo sonta ka tu a fee, musoo maŋ ñaŋ na a bula la. 14 Kaatu ñiŋ kewo meŋ maŋ ke Yeesu noomalankoo ti, a seneyandita ka bo niŋ a la musoo le la, aduŋ musoo meŋ maŋ ke Yeesu noomalankoo ti, a seneyandita ka bo niŋ a keemaa le la. Niŋ wo nte, ali diŋolu te seneyaa la, bari saayiŋ, ì seneyaata le.
15 Bari niŋ futuuñoo kiliŋo meŋ maŋ ke Yeesu noomalankoo ti, a lafita ka futuwo baŋ, ali si a bula, a ye taa. Niŋ ñiŋ keta, baadinkewo waraŋ baarimmusoo maŋ tara sitiriŋ kotenke. Alla ye ali kumandi ka baluu kayiroo le kono. 16 Musoo, fo ite ye a loŋ ne baŋ, fo i keemaa la kiisoo be suŋ na ite le la? Kewo, fo ite ye a loŋ ne baŋ, fo i la musoo la kiisoo be suŋ na ite le la?
Ali baluuñaa betoo taa Maariyo kono
17 Moo-wo-moo si baluu loodulaa to, Maariyo ye meŋ dii a la, aniŋ a ye meŋ soto waatoo meŋ na, Alla ye a kumandi. Ñiŋ ne ka ke n na yaamaroo ti Yeesu la kafoolu bee ye. 18 Niŋ moo sunnariŋo naata ke Yeesu noomalankoo ti, a kana a faŋo ke sunnabaloo ti kotenke. Wo ñaa kiliŋo la, niŋ sunnabaloo keta Yeesu noomalankoo ti, a kana sunna. 19 Kaatu sunnoo waraŋ sunnabaliyaa maŋ ke feŋ ti, bari meŋ kummaayaata, wo le mu ka Alla la yaamaroolu muta. 20 Moo-wo-moo ñanta tu la loodulaa to le, a be mennu to nuŋ, janniŋ a be ke la Yeesu noomalankoo ti. 21 Niŋ ite mu joŋo le ti nuŋ, biriŋ Alla ye i kumandi, kana wo muta kasi ti. Bari niŋ ite si a ke noo ka i faŋ firiŋ, a ke. 22 Moo meŋ mu joŋo ti, biriŋ Alla ye a kumandi, wo mu Maariyo la moo foroyandiriŋo le ti. Wo ñaa kiliŋo la, meŋ mu foroo ti, biriŋ Alla ye a kumandi, wo maarii mu Kiristu* la joŋo le ti. 23 Alitolu santa daa koleŋo le la. Wo to, ali kana ke moolu la joŋolu ti. 24 Wo to baadiŋolu*, moo-wo-moo ñanta tu la loodulaa to le, Alla ye a kumandi meŋ to.
Futuubaloolu la kuwo ñininkaaroolu
25 Futuubaloolu la kuwo to, nte maŋ yaamaroo soto Maariyo bulu, bari m be n na hakili ñiimaa yitandi la, ŋa meŋ soto ka bo niŋ Maariyo la hiinoo la, fo n na kumoolu si jari moolu ye. 26 Ŋa m miira saayiŋ, bataa kamma la a beteyaata moo fee le ka tara ko a be ñaameŋ. 27 Niŋ musoo be i bulu, kana futuubaŋo ñini. Niŋ i maŋ musoo soto, kana a ñini. 28 Bari niŋ i futuuta, i maŋ junube kuu ke. Aduŋ niŋ sunkutoo naata futuu, a maŋ junube kuu ke. Bari hani wo, mennu be futuu la, ì be bataa soto la ñiŋ baluwo kono le, aduŋ n lafita ali tankandi la wo la le.
29 Baadiŋolu, m be ñiŋ fo la ali ye ko, waatoo sutiyaata le. Wo kamma la, ka bo saayiŋ na, moolu mennu ye musoolu soto, wolu si ke ko ì maŋ ì soto. 30 Mennu ka woosii, wolu si ke ko mennu buka woosii, mennu ka seewoo, wolu si ke ko ì buka seewoo, mennu ka sandiroo ke, wolu si ke ko ì maŋ feŋ soto, 31 aniŋ mennu ka ñiŋ duniyaa feŋolu dookundi, wolu si ke ko ì buka nafaa soto ì to, kaatu ñiŋ duniyaa keñaa be tambi kaŋ ne.
32 N lafita le ali ye tanka bataa kuwolu ma. Kewo meŋ maŋ musoo soto, wo ka tara tuukuriŋ Maariyo la kuwolu le kaŋ, a si Maariyo kontaanindi noo ñaameŋ. 33 Bari musutiyo ka tara duniyaa kuwolu le to, a si a la musoo kontaanindi noo ñaameŋ, 34 a hakiloo ka janjaŋ ne. Musu futuubaloo waraŋ sunkutoo, wo ka tara tuukuriŋ Maariyo la kuwolu le kaŋ, a be seneyaa la balajaatoo niŋ nooroo kono ñaameŋ. Bari musu futuuriŋo, wo ka tara ñaaniriŋ duniyaa kuwolu le la, a si a keemaa kontaanindi noo ñaameŋ. 35 M maŋ tara ñiŋ kuwolu fo kaŋ ali ye ka dunoo laa ali kaŋ, bari n ka ì fo ali ye ali fansuŋ nafaa le kaŋ, fo ali si kuwolu ke, mennu tilinta, aniŋ ali si Maariyo batu hakili tenkuŋo kono.
36 A si ke noo, doo be ali kono, meŋ ye a miira ko, a maŋ ñaŋ na sunkutu mendiŋo futuu la, meŋ be looriŋ a ye. Bari niŋ a hameta sunkutoo ñiŋ na fo a maŋ a faŋ muta noo, a si a futuu. Wo maŋ ke junuboo ti, ì ñanta futuu la ñoo ye le. 37 Bari moo-wo-moo meŋ ye a muta bambandinke a sondomoo kono ko, a te maa la sunkutoo la, meŋ be looriŋ a ye, wo la hame kuwolu te semboo soto noo la a kaŋ, ate te meŋ mara noo la, wo maarii ka kuu betoo le ke. 38 Wo to, moo meŋ ye sunkutoo futuu, wo maarii ye kuu betoo le ke, bari meŋ si fata noo futuwo ma, wo maarii ye kuu bete baa le ke.
39 Musoo maŋ ñaŋ na i bo la a keemaa to, a be baluuriŋ waatoo meŋ na. Bari niŋ wo faata, a si futuu noo kee-wo-kee ye le, a lafita meŋ na, bari wo maarii ñanta ke la Yeesu noomalankoo le ti. 40 Bari n na miiroo to, a be kontaanoo soto la baake le, niŋ a maŋ futuu kotenke. Ŋa a miira le ko, nte fanaa ye Alla la Nooroo soto le.
