1
Basi kwa habari ya mambo yale mliyoandika, ni heri mwanamume asimguse mwanamke.
Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good to abstain from sexual relations.
2
Lakini kwa sababu ya zinaa kila mwanamume na awe na mke wake mwenyewe, na kila mwanamke na awe na mume wake mwenyewe.
But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.
3
Mume na ampe mkewe haki yake, na vivyo hivyo mke na ampe mumewe haki yake.
The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.
4
Mke hana amri juu ya mwili wake, bali mumewe; vivyo hivyo mume hana amri juu ya mwili wake, bali mkewe.
The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife.
5
Msinyimane isipokuwa mmepatana kwa muda, ili mpate faragha kwa kusali; mkajiane tena, Shetani asije akawajaribu kwa kutokuwa na kiasi kwenu.
Do not deprive each other, except by mutual consent and for a time, so you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again, so that Satan will not tempt you through your lack of self-control.
6
Lakini nasema hayo, kwa kutoa idhini yangu, si kwa amri.
I say this as a concession, not as a command.
7
Ila nipendalo ni kwamba watu wote wawe kama mimi nilivyo; walakini kila mtu ana karama yake mwenyewe itokayo kwa Mungu, huyu hivi, na huyu hivi.
I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
8
Lakini nawaambia wale wasiooa bado, na wajane, Ni heri wakae kama mimi nilivyo.
Now to the unmarried and widows I say this: It is good for them to remain unmarried, as I am.
9
Lakini ikiwa hawawezi kujizuia, na waoe; maana ni afadhali kuoa kuliko kuwaka tamaa.
But if they cannot control themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
10
Lakini wale waliokwisha kuoana nawaagiza; wala hapo si mimi, ila Bwana; mke asiachane na mumewe;
To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.
11
lakini, ikiwa ameachana naye, na akae asiolewe, au apatane na mumewe; tena mume asimwache mkewe.
But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
12
Lakini watu wengine nawaambia mimi, wala si Bwana, ya kwamba iwapo ndugu mmoja ana mke asiyeamini, na mke huyo anakubali kukaa naye asimwache.
To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If a brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.
13
Na mwanamke, ambaye ana mume asiyeamini, na mume huyo anakubali kukaa naye, asimwache mumewe.
And if a woman has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.
14
Kwa maana yule mume asiyeamini hutakaswa katika mkewe; na yule mke asiyeamini hutakaswa katika mumewe; kama isingekuwa hivyo, watoto wenu wangekuwa si safi; bali sasa ni watakatifu.
For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his believing wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.
15
Lakini yule asiyeamini akiondoka, na aondoke. Hapo huyo ndugu mume au ndugu mke hafungiki. Lakini Mungu ametuita katika amani.
But if the unbeliever leaves, let him go. The believing brother or sister is not bound in such cases. God has called you to live in peace.
16
Kwa maana wajuaje, wewe mwanamke, kama utamwokoa mumeo? Au wajuaje, wewe mwanamume, kama utamwokoa mkeo?
How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
17
Lakini kama Bwana alivyomgawia kila mtu, kama Mungu alivyomwita kila mtu, na aenende vivyo hivyo. Ndivyo ninavyoagiza katika makanisa yote.
Regardless, each one should lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is what I prescribe in all the churches.
18
Je! Mtu fulani ameitwa hali amekwisha kutahiriwa? Asijifanye kana kwamba hakutahiriwa. Mtu fulani ameitwa hali hajatahiriwa bado? Basi asitahiriwe.
Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man still uncircumcised when called? He should not be circumcised.
19
Kutahiriwa si kitu, na kutokutahiriwa si kitu bali kuzihifadhi amri za Mungu.
Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commandments is what counts.
20
Kila mtu na akae katika hali ile ile ambayo alikuwa nayo alipoitwa.
Each one should remain in the situation he was in when he was called.
21
Je! Uliitwa u mtumwa? Usione ni vibaya lakini kama ukiweza kuwa na uhuru, afadhali kuutumia.
Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let it concern you—but if you can gain your freedom, take the opportunity.
22
Kwa maana yeye aliyeitwa katika Bwana hali ya utumwa, ni huru wa Bwana. Vivyo hivyo yeye naye aliyeitwa hali ya uhuru, ni mtumwa wa Kristo.
For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman. Conversely, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave.
23
Mlinunuliwa kwa thamani; msiwe watumwa wa wanadamu.
You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.
24
Ndugu zangu, kila mtu na akae mbele za Mungu katika hali iyo hiyo aliyoitwa nayo.
Brothers, each one should remain in the situation he was in when God called him.
25
Kwa habari za wanawali sina amri ya Bwana, lakini natoa shauri langu, mimi niliyejaliwa kwa rehema za Bwana kuwa mwaminifu.
Now about virgins, I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.
26
Basi, naona hili kuwa jema, kwa ajili ya shida iliyopo, kwamba ni vema mtu akae kama alivyo.
Because of the present crisis, I think it is good for a man to remain as he is.
27
Je! Umefungwa kwa mke? Usitake kufunguliwa. Umefunguliwa? Usitafute mke.
Are you committed to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you free of commitment? Do not look for a wife.
28
Lakini, kama ukioa, huna hatia; wala mwanamwali akiolewa, hana hatia; lakini watu kama hao watakuwa na dhiki katika mwili nami nataka kuwazuilia hayo.
But if you do marry, you have not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.
29
Lakini, ndugu, nasema hivi, muda ubakio si mwingi; basi tokea sasa wale walio na wake na wawe kama hawana;
What I am saying, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none;
30
na wale waliao kama hawalii; na wale wafurahio kama hawafurahi; na wale wanunuao, kama hawana kitu.
those who weep, as if they did not; those who are joyful, as if they were not; those who make a purchase, as if they had nothing;
31
Na wale wautumiao ulimwengu huu, kama hawautumii sana; kwa maana mambo ya ulimwengu huu yanapita.
and those who use the things of this world, as if not dependent on them. For this world in its present form is passing away.
32
Lakini nataka msiwe na masumbufu. Yeye asiyeoa hujishughulisha na mambo ya Bwana, ampendezeje Bwana;
I want you to be free from concern. The unmarried man is concerned about the work of the Lord, how he can please the Lord.
33
bali yeye aliyeoa hujishughulisha na mambo ya dunia hii, jinsi atakavyompendeza mkewe.
But the married man is concerned about the affairs of this world, how he can please his wife,
34
Tena iko tofauti hii kati ya mke na mwanamwali. Yeye asiyeolewa hujishughulisha na mambo ya Bwana, apate kuwa mtakatifu mwili na roho. Lakini yeye aliyeolewa hujishughulisha na mambo ya dunia hii, jinsi atakavyompendeza mumewe.
and his interests are divided. The unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the work of the Lord, how she can be holy in both body and spirit. But the married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world, how she can please her husband.
35
Nasema hayo niwafaidie, si kwamba niwategee tanzi, bali kwa ajili ya vile vipendezavyo, tena mpate kumhudumia Bwana pasipo kuvutwa na mambo mengine.
I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but in order to promote proper decorum and undivided devotion to the Lord.
36
Lakini mtu awaye yote akiona ya kuwa hamtendei mwanamwali wake vipendezavyo, na ikiwa huyo amepita uzuri wa ujana wake, na ikiwapo haja, basi, afanye apendavyo, hatendi dhambi, na awaruhusu waoane.
However, if someone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward his betrothed, and if she is beyond her youth and they ought to marry, let him do as he wishes; he is not sinning; they should get married.
37
Lakini yeye aliyesimama kwa uthabiti wa moyo wake, hana sharti, lakini aweza kuyatawala mapenzi yake, tena amekusudia moyoni mwake kumlinda mwanamwali wake, atatenda vema.
But the man who is firmly established in his heart and under no constraint, with control over his will and resolve in his heart not to marry the virgin, he will do well.
38
Basi, hivyo na amwozaye mwanamwali wake afanya vema; na yeye asiyemwoza atazidi kufanya vema.
So then, he who marries the virgin does well, but he who does not marry her does even better.
39
Mwanamke hufungwa maadamu mumewe yu hai, lakini ikiwa mumewe amefariki, yu huru kuolewa na mtu ye yote amtakaye; katika Bwana tu.
A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, as long as he belongs to the Lord.
40
Lakini heri yeye zaidi akikaa kama alivyo; ndivyo nionavyo mimi, nami nadhani ya kuwa mimi nami nina Roho wa Mungu.
In my judgment, however, she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.