Questions Regarding Marriage
1 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
Basi kwa habari ya mambo yale mliyoandika, ni heri mwanamume asimguse mwanamke.
2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
Lakini kwa sababu ya zinaa kila mwanamume na awe na mke wake mwenyewe, na kila mwanamke na awe na mume wake mwenyewe.
3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
Mume na ampe mkewe haki yake, na vivyo hivyo mke na ampe mumewe haki yake.
4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
Mke hana amri juu ya mwili wake, bali mumewe; vivyo hivyo mume hana amri juu ya mwili wake, bali mkewe.
5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
Msinyimane isipokuwa mmepatana kwa muda, ili mpate faragha kwa kusali; mkajiane tena, Shetani asije akawajaribu kwa kutokuwa na kiasi kwenu.
6 But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.
Lakini nasema hayo, kwa kutoa idhini yangu, si kwa amri.
7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.
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.
8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
Lakini nawaambia wale wasiooa bado, na wajane, Ni heri wakae kama mimi nilivyo.
9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
Lakini ikiwa hawawezi kujizuia, na waoe; maana ni afadhali kuoa kuliko kuwaka tamaa.
10 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:
Lakini wale waliokwisha kuoana nawaagiza; wala hapo si mimi, ila Bwana; mke asiachane na mumewe;
11 but and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.
lakini, ikiwa ameachana naye, na akae asiolewe, au apatane na mumewe; tena mume asimwache mkewe.
12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
Lakini watu wengine nawaambia mimi, wala si Bwana, ya kwamba iwapo ndugu mmoja ana mke asiyeamini, na mke huyo anakubali kukaa naye asimwache.
13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
Na mwanamke, ambaye ana mume asiyeamini, na mume huyo anakubali kukaa naye, asimwache mumewe.
14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
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.
15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases : but God hath called us to peace.
Lakini yule asiyeamini akiondoka, na aondoke. Hapo huyo ndugu mume au ndugu mke hafungiki. Lakini Mungu ametuita katika amani.
16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
Kwa maana wajuaje, wewe mwanamke, kama utamwokoa mumeo? Au wajuaje, wewe mwanamume, kama utamwokoa mkeo?
17 But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.
Lakini kama Bwana alivyomgawia kila mtu, kama Mungu alivyomwita kila mtu, na aenende vivyo hivyo. Ndivyo ninavyoagiza katika makanisa yote.
18 Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.
Je! Mtu fulani ameitwa hali amekwisha kutahiriwa? Asijifanye kana kwamba hakutahiriwa. Mtu fulani ameitwa hali hajatahiriwa bado? Basi asitahiriwe.
19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
Kutahiriwa si kitu, na kutokutahiriwa si kitu bali kuzihifadhi amri za Mungu.
20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.
Kila mtu na akae katika hali ile ile ambayo alikuwa nayo alipoitwa.
21 Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.
Je! Uliitwa u mtumwa? Usione ni vibaya lakini kama ukiweza kuwa na uhuru, afadhali kuutumia.
22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.
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.
23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
Mlinunuliwa kwa thamani; msiwe watumwa wa wanadamu.
24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.
Ndugu zangu, kila mtu na akae mbele za Mungu katika hali iyo hiyo aliyoitwa nayo.
25 Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.
Kwa habari za wanawali sina amri ya Bwana, lakini natoa shauri langu, mimi niliyejaliwa kwa rehema za Bwana kuwa mwaminifu.
26 I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say , that it is good for a man so to be.
Basi, naona hili kuwa jema, kwa ajili ya shida iliyopo, kwamba ni vema mtu akae kama alivyo.
27 Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.
Je! Umefungwa kwa mke? Usitake kufunguliwa. Umefunguliwa? Usitafute mke.
28 But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.
Lakini, kama ukioa, huna hatia; wala mwanamwali akiolewa, hana hatia; lakini watu kama hao watakuwa na dhiki katika mwili nami nataka kuwazuilia hayo.
29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;
Lakini, ndugu, nasema hivi, muda ubakio si mwingi; basi tokea sasa wale walio na wake na wawe kama hawana;
30 and they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;
na wale waliao kama hawalii; na wale wafurahio kama hawafurahi; na wale wanunuao, kama hawana kitu.
31 and they that use this world, as not abusing it : for the fashion of this world passeth away.
Na wale wautumiao ulimwengu huu, kama hawautumii sana; kwa maana mambo ya ulimwengu huu yanapita.
32 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:
Lakini nataka msiwe na masumbufu. Yeye asiyeoa hujishughulisha na mambo ya Bwana, ampendezeje Bwana;
33 but he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.
bali yeye aliyeoa hujishughulisha na mambo ya dunia hii, jinsi atakavyompendeza mkewe.
34 There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
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.
35 And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.
Nasema hayo niwafaidie, si kwamba niwategee tanzi, bali kwa ajili ya vile vipendezavyo, tena mpate kumhudumia Bwana pasipo kuvutwa na mambo mengine.
36 But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age , and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.
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.
37 Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.
Lakini yeye aliyesimama kwa uthabiti wa moyo wake, hana sharti, lakini aweza kuyatawala mapenzi yake, tena amekusudia moyoni mwake kumlinda mwanamwali wake, atatenda vema.
38 So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.
Basi, hivyo na amwozaye mwanamwali wake afanya vema; na yeye asiyemwoza atazidi kufanya vema.
39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
Mwanamke hufungwa maadamu mumewe yu hai, lakini ikiwa mumewe amefariki, yu huru kuolewa na mtu ye yote amtakaye; katika Bwana tu.
40 But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.
Lakini heri yeye zaidi akikaa kama alivyo; ndivyo nionavyo mimi, nami nadhani ya kuwa mimi nami nina Roho wa Mungu.
