1 Korinthierbrevet 7

1 Vad nu angår det I haven skrivit om, så svarar jag detta: En man gör visserligen väl i att icke komma vid någon kvinna;

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

2 men för att undgå otuktssynder må var man hava sin egen hustru, och var kvinna sin egen man.

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 Mannen give sin hustru vad han är henne pliktig, sammalunda ock hustrun sin man.

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

4 Hustrun råder icke själv över sin kropp, utan mannen; sammalunda råder ej heller mannen över sin kropp, utan hustrun.

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 Dragen eder icke undan från varandra, om icke möjligen, med bådas samtycke, till en tid, för att I skolen hava ledighet till bönen. Kommen sedan åter tillsammans, så att Satan icke frestar eder, då I nu icke kunnen leva återhållsamt.

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 Detta säger jag likväl såsom en tillstädjelse, icke såsom en befallning.

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 Jag skulle dock vilja att alla människor vore såsom jag. Men var och en har fått sin särskilda nådegåva från Gud, den ene så, den andre så.

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 Till de ogifta åter och till änkorna säger jag att de göra väl, om de förbliva i samma ställning som jag.

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 Men kunna de icke leva återhållsamt, så må de gifta sig; ty det är bättre att gifta sig än att vara upptänd av begär.

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 Men dem som äro gifta bjuder jag -- dock icke jag, utan Herren; En hustru må icke skilja sig från sin man

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 (om hon likväl skulle skilja sig, så förblive hon ogift eller förlike sig åter med mannen), ej heller må en man förskjuta sin hustru.

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 Till de andra åter säger jag själv, icke Herren: Om någon som hör till bröderna har en hustru som icke är troende, och denna är villig att leva tillsammans med honom, så må han icke förskjuta henne.

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 Likaså, om en hustru har en man som icke är troende, och denne är villig att leva tillsammans med henne, så må hon icke förskjuta mannen.

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 Ty den icke troende mannen är helgad i och genom sin hustru, och den icke troende hustrun är helgad i och genom sin man, då han är en broder; annars vore ju edra barn orena, men nu äro de heliga. --

[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 Om däremot den icke troende vill skiljas, så må han få skiljas. En broder eller syster är i sådana fall intet tvång underkastad, och Gud har kallat oss till att leva i frid.

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 Ty huru kan du veta, du hustru, om du skall frälsa din man? Eller du man, huru vet du om du skall frälsa din hustru?

[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 Må allenast var och en vandra den väg fram, som Herren har bestämt åt honom, var och en i den ställning vari Gud har kallat honom. Den ordningen stadgar jag för alla församlingar.

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 Har någon blivit kallad såsom omskuren, så göre han sig icke åter lik de oomskurna; har någon blivit kallad såsom oomskuren, så låte han icke omskära sig.

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 Det kommer icke an på om någon är omskuren eller oomskuren; allt beror på huruvida han håller Guds bud.

[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 Var och en förblive i den kallelse vari han var, när han blev kallad.

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

21 Har du blivit kallad såsom träl, så låt detta icke gå dig till sinnes; dock, om du kan bliva fri, så begagna dig hellre därav.

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 Ty den träl som har blivit kallad till att vara i Herren, han är en Herrens frigivne; sammalunda är ock den frie, som har blivit kallad, en Kristi livegne.

[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 I ären köpta, och betalningen är given; bliven icke människors trälar.

[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 Ja, mina bröder, var och en förblive inför Gud i den ställning vari han har blivit kallad.

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 Vad vidare angår dem som äro jungfrur, så har jag icke att åberopa någon befallning av Herren, utan giver allenast ett råd, såsom en som genom Herrens barmhärtighet har blivit förtroende värd.

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 Jag menar alltså, med tanke på den nöd som står för dörren, att den människa gör väl, som förbliver såsom hon är.

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 Är du bunden vid hustru, så sök icke att bliva lös. Är du utan hustru, så sök icke att få hustru.

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 Om du likväl skulle gifta dig, så syndar du icke därmed; ej heller syndar en jungfru, om hon gifter sig. Dock komma de som så göra att draga över sig lekamliga vedermödor; och jag skulle gärna vilja skona eder.

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 Men det säger jag, mina bröder: Tiden är kort; därför må härefter de som hava hustrur vara såsom hade de inga,

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 och de som gråta såsom gräte de icke, och de som glädja sig såsom gladde de sig icke, och de som köpa något såsom finge de icke behålla det,

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 och de som bruka denna världen såsom gjorde de icke något bruk av den. Ty den nuvarande världsordningen går mot sitt slut;

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 och jag skulle gärna vilja att I voren fria ifrån omsorger. Den man som icke är gift ägnar nämligen sin omsorg åt vad som hör Herren till, huru han skall behaga Herren;

[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 men den gifte mannen ägnar sin omsorg åt vad som hör världen till, huru han skall behaga sin hustru,

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

34 och så är hans hjärta delat. Likaså ägnar den kvinna, som icke längre är gift eller som är jungfru, sin omsorg åt vad som hör Herren till, att hon må vara helig till både kropp och ande; men den gifta kvinnan ägnar sin omsorg åt vad som hör världen till, huru hon skall behaga sin man.

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 Detta säger jag till eder egen nytta, och icke för att lägga något band på eder, utan för att I skolen föra en hövisk vandel och stadigt förbliva vid Herren.

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 Men om någon menar sig handla otillbörligt mot sin ogifta dotter därmed att hon får bliva överårig, då må han göra såsom han vill, om det nu måste så vara; han begår därmed ingen synd. Må hon få gifta sig.

[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 Om däremot någon är fast i sitt sinne och icke bindes av något nödtvång, utan kan följa sin egen vilja, och så i sitt sinne är besluten att låta sin ogifta dotter förbliva såsom hon är, då gör denne väl.

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 Alltså: den som gifter bort sin dotter, han gör väl; och den som icke gifter bort henne, han gör ännu bättre.

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 En hustru är bunden så länge hennes man lever; men när hennes man är avsomnad, står det henne fritt att gifta sig med vem hon vill, blott det sker i Herren.

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 Men lyckligare är hon, om hon förbliver såsom hon är. Så är min mening, och jag tror att också jag har Guds Ande.

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].