Concerning Married Life
1Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” 2But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. 3The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. 5Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
8Now to the unmarried7:8 Or widowers and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. 9But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
10To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. 11But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
12To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. 14For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
15But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. 16How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
Concerning Change of Status
17Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. 18Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. 19Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts. 20Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.
21Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. 22For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave. 23You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings. 24Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.
Concerning the Unmarried
25Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. 26Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is. 27Are you pledged to a woman? Do not seek to be released. Are you free from such a commitment? Do not look for a wife. 28But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.
29What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; 30those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; 31those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.
32I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord. 33But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— 34and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. 35I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.
36If anyone is worried that he might not be acting honorably toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if his passions are too strong7:36 Or if she is getting beyond the usual age for marriage and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married. 37But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin—this man also does the right thing. 38So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does better.7:36-38 Or 36 If anyone thinks he is not treating his daughter properly, and if she is getting along in years (or if her passions are too strong), and he feels she ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. He should let her get married. 37 But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind to keep the virgin unmarried—this man also does the right thing. 38 So then, he who gives his virgin in marriage does right, but he who does not give her in marriage does better.
39A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord. 40In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is—and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.
Obufumbo
17:1 nny 8, 26Kaakano ku bintu bye mwampandiikira, kirungi omusajja obutakwatanga ku mukazi. 2Naye olw’ebikolwa eby’obwenzi, buli musajja abeerenga ne mukazi we; era na buli mukazi abeerenga ne bba. 37:3 Kuv 21:10; 1Pe 3:7Omusajja ateekwa okutuukirizanga eby’obufumbo byonna eri mukazi we era n’omukazi bw’atyo. 4Kubanga omukazi bw’afumbirwa aba takyafuga mubiri gwe ye wabula bba, era n’omusajja bw’atyo aba takyafuga mubiri gwe ye wabula mukazi we y’aba agulinako obuyinza. 57:5 a Kuv 19:15; 1Sa 21:4, 5 b Mat 4:10 c 1Bs 3:5Buli omu alemenga okumma munne wabula nga mulagaanye ekiseera mulyoke mufune ebbanga ery’okusabiramu n’oluvannyuma muddiŋŋanenga, Setaani aleme okubasuula olw’obuteefuga bwammwe. 67:6 2Ko 8:8Naye kino nkyogera mu ngeri ya kukkiriziganya so si mu ngeri ya kuwa kiragiro. 77:7 a nny 8; 1Ko 9:5 b Mat 19:11, 12; Bar 12:6; 1Ko 12:4, 11Nandyagadde buli omu abeere nga nze; naye buli muntu alina ekirabo ekikye ku bubwe ekiva eri Katonda, omu mu ngeri emu n’omulala mu ngeri endala.
87:8 nny 1, 26Naye njogera eri abo abatannawasa ne bannamwandu; kirungi okusigala nga bwe bali, era nga nze bwe ndi. 97:9 1Ti 5:14Naye bwe baba tebasobola kwefuga bafumbirwe, oba bawase, kubanga okufumbiriganwa kisinga okwakiriranga okw’okwegomba.
107:10 Mal 2:14-16; Mat 5:32; 19:3-9; Mak 10:11; Luk 16:18Naye abafumbo mbawa etteeka eriva eri Mukama waffe: omukazi tanobanga ku bba. 11Singa baawukana, omukazi ateekwa kubeerera awo, oba si ekyo addeyo ewa bba basonyiwagane; n’omusajja tagobanga mukazi we.
127:12 nny 6, 10; 2Ko 11:17Abalala njogera gye bali kubanga si tteeka eriva eri Mukama waffe, naye mbagamba nti owooluganda bw’abeera n’omukazi atali mukkiriza ng’ayagala okubeera naye, tamugobanga. 13Era omukazi omukkiriza alina bba atali mukkiriza naye ng’amwagala, tamuvangako. 147:14 Mal 2:15Kubanga omusajja atali mukkiriza ayinza okufuulibwa omukkiriza ng’ayambibwa mukyala we omukkiriza, oba omukyala atali mukkiriza ayinza okufuulibwa omukkiriza ng’ayambibwa bba omukkiriza. Kubanga bwe kitaba ekyo abaana bammwe banditwaliddwa ng’abatali balongoofu naye ku lw’ekyo abaana bammwe baba balongoofu. 157:15 Bar 14:19; 1Ko 14:33Kyokka oyo atali mukkiriza bw’ayagala okwawukana, baawukane; mu nsonga eyo omusajja omukkiriza oba omukyala taasibwenga mu ekyo, kubanga Katonda ayagala abaana be okubeera n’eddembe. 167:16 a Bar 11:14 b 1Pe 3:1Ggwe omukazi omukkiriza omanyi otya ng’olirokola balo? Oba ggwe omusajja omukkiriza omanyi otya ng’olirokola mukazi wo?
177:17 a Bar 12:3 b 1Ko 4:17; 14:33; 2Ko 8:18; 11:28Buli omu abeere mu bulamu Mukama bwe yamuwa, era Katonda mwe yamuyitira mw’abatambuliranga. Ekyo ky’ekiragiro kye mpa ekkanisa zonna. 187:18 Bik 15:1, 2Eyayitibwa ng’amaze okukomolebwa aleme kugamba nti ssinga teyakomolebwa, n’oyo eyakkiriza nga si mukomole aleme kufaayo ku kukomolebwa. 197:19 Bar 2:25-27; Bag 5:6; 6:15; Bak 3:11Kubanga okukomolebwa si kintu era obutakomolebwa si kintu, wabula ekikulu kwe kukwata amateeka ga Katonda. 207:20 nny 24Buli omu abeerenga mu kuyitibwa Katonda kwe yamuyitiramu. 21Oba nga wayitibwa ng’oli muddu ekyo kireme okuba ekikulu; naye bw’oba ng’ofunye omukisa okufuuka ow’eddembe, gukozese. 227:22 a Yk 8:32, 36; Fir 16 b Bef 6:6Kubanga eyayitibwa Mukama nga muddu, Mukama yamufuula wa ddembe, n’oyo eyali ow’eddembe yafuuka muddu wa Kristo. 237:23 1Ko 6:20Mwagulibwa na muwendo noolwekyo temufuukanga baddu ba bantu. 247:24 nny 20Kale abooluganda, buli kifo kyonna omuntu yenna ky’alimu, mwe yayitirwa abeere mu ekyo.
Abatali bafumbo ne bannamwandu
257:25 a nny 6; 2Ko 8:8 b 2Ko 4:1; 1Ti 1:13, 16Naye ku ky’abatafumbirwanga wadde okuwasa, sirina kiragiro kiva eri Mukama wabula Mukama mu kusaasira kwe yampa amagezi agayinza okwesigibwa kwe nnaasinziira okubawa ekirowoozo kyange. 267:26 nny 1, 8Kino nkirowooza nga kirungi, olw’embeera eya kaakano, nga kirungi omuntu okusigala nga bw’ali. 27Obanga oli mufumbo tosaanye kwawukana na munno. Naye obanga wayawukana n’omukazi, tonoonya wa kuwasa. 28Kyokka omusajja bw’awasa aba tayonoonye, era n’embeerera bw’afumbirwa naye aba tayonoonye. Wabula abafumbo, obufumbo bujja kubaleetera emitawaana gye nandiyagadde mwewale.
297:29 nny 31; Bar 13:11, 12Naye kino kye mbategeeza abooluganda nti ekiseera kiyimpawadde. Noolwekyo abo abalina abakazi babe ng’abatabalina. 30N’abo abakaaba babe ng’abatakaaba, n’abo abasanyuka babe ng’abatasanyuka. N’abo abagula ebintu babe ng’abatalina kintu kye bayita kyabwe. 317:31 1Yk 2:17Era n’abo abakozesa eby’oku nsi kuno bireme okubamalamu ennyo, kubanga ensi eya kaakano eggwaawo.
327:32 1Ti 5:5Naye kye mbagaliza mmwe bwe buteraliikirira. Omusajja atali mufumbo yeemalira ku bya Mukama, engeri gy’asanyusa Mukama. 33Naye omufumbo yeeraliikirira bya nsi, nga bw’anaasanyusa mukazi we; 347:34 Luk 2:37aba yeesazeemu, ng’atta aga n’aga. N’omukazi atali mufumbo n’embeerera bafaayo ku bintu bya Mukama, babeerenga batukuvu mu mubiri ne mu mwoyo. Naye omukazi omufumbo yeeraliikirira bya mu nsi, engeri gy’anaasanyusaamu bba. 357:35 Zab 86:11Bino mbyogera olw’okubagasa, so si kubaziyiza kuwasa na kufumbirwa. Kubanga njagala musobole okuweereza Mukama nga tewali birala bibaziyiza okweweerayo ddala.
367:36 nny 28Omusajja bw’alowooza nti aba teyeeyisizza bulungi eri omuwala oyo gw’ayogereza bw’atamuwasa, bwe bafumbiriganwa, aba tayonoonye. 37Naye oyo asobola okwefuga ng’alina omutima omunywevu, n’asalawo awatali kuwalirizibwa nti omuwala tajja kumuwasa, aba asazeewo bulungi. 387:38 Beb 13:4Kale oyo awasa omuwala gw’ayogereza aba akoze bulungi, naye oyo atamuwasa y’aba asinze okukola obulungi.
397:39 a Bar 7:2, 3 b 2Ko 6:14Omukazi omufumbo abeera kitundu kya bba, bba bw’aba akyali mulamu. Naye bba bw’afa olwo ayinza okufumbirwa omusajja omulala gw’ayagala, kyokka omusajja oyo ateekwa kuba mu Mukama waffe yekka. 407:40 nny 25Naye nze ndowooza nti alina omukisa oyo singa taddayo kufumbirwa. Era ndowooza nga nange nnina Omwoyo wa Katonda.
