1 And concerning the things whereof you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
1 Now concerning the thing whereof you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
2 But because of fornication let every man have his own wife, & let every woman have her own husband.
2 But for fear of fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
3 Let the husband render his debt to the wife: and the wife also in like manner to her husband.
3 ¹Let the husband render the debt to his wife, and the wife also in like manner to the husband.
4 The woman hath not power of her own body: but her husband. And in like manner the man also hath not power of his own body; but the woman.
4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband. And in like manner the husband also hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
5 Defraud not one another, except perhaps by consent for a time, that you may give yourself to prayer: and return again together, lest Satan tempt you for your incontinency.
5 Defraud not one another, except, perhaps, by consent, for a time, that you may give yourselves to prayer; and return together again, lest Satan tempt you for your incontinency.
6 But I say this by indulgence, not by commandment.
6 But I speak this by indulgence, not by commandment.
7 For I would all men to be as myself: but every one hath a proper gift of God; one so, and another so.
7 For I would that all men were even as myself: but everyone hath his proper gift from God; one after this manner, and another after that.
8 But I say to the unmarried and to widows: It is good for them if they so abide even as I also.
8 But I say to the unmarried, and to the widows: It is good for them if they so continue, even as I.
9 But if they do not contain themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to be burnt.
9 But if they do not contain themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to be burnt.
10 But to them that be joined in matrimony, not I give commandment, but our Lord, that the wife depart not from her husband:
10 But to them that are married, not I but the Lord commandeth, ²that the wife depart not from her husband.
11 and if she depart, to remain unmarried, or to be reconciled to her husband. And let not the husband put away his wife.
11 And if she depart, that she remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband. And let not the husband put away his wife.
12 For to the rest, I say, not our Lord. If any brother have a wife an infidel, and she consent to dwell with him; let him not put her away.
12 For to the rest I speak, not the Lord. If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she consent to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
13 And if any woman have a husband an infidel, and he consent to dwell with her; let her not put away her husband.
13 And if any woman hath a husband that believeth not, and he consent to dwell with her, let her not put away her husband.
14 For the man an infidel is sanctified by the faithful woman; and the woman an infidel is sanctified by the faithful husband: otherwise your children should be unclean; but now they are holy.
14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the believing wife; and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the believing husband: otherwise your children should be unclean; but now they are holy.
15 But if the infidel depart, let him depart. For the brother or sister is not subject to servitude in such. But in peace hath God called us.
15 But if the unbeliever depart, let him depart. For a brother or sister is not under servitude in such cases. But God hath called us in peace.
16 For how knowest thou woman, if thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou man, if thou shalt save the woman?
16 For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? Or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
17 But to every one as our Lord hath divided, as God hath called every one, so let him walk, and as in all Churches I teach.
17 But as the Lord hath distributed to everyone, as God hath called everyone, so let him walk: and so in all churches I teach.
18 Is any man called being circumcised? Let him not procure prepuce. Is any man called in prepuce? Let him not be circumcised.
18 Is any man called, being circumcised? Let him not procure uncircumcision. Is any man called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised.
19 circumcision is nothing, and prepuce is nothing: but the observation of the commandments of God.
19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing: but the observance of the commandments of God.
20 Every one in the vocation that he was called, in it let him abide.
20 ³Let every man abide in the same calling in which he was called.
21 Wast thou called being a bondman? care not for it: but and if thou canst be made free, use it rather.
21 Wast thou called, being a bondman? Care not for it; but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.
22 For he that in our Lord is called, being a bondman, is the franchised of our Lord. Likewise he that is called, being free, is the bondman of Christ.
22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a bondman, is the freeman of the Lord. Likewise he that is called, being free, is the bondman of Christ.
23 You were bought with price, be not made the bondmen of men.
23 ⁴You are bought with a price; be not made the bondslaves of men.
24 Every brother wherein he was called, in that let him abide before God.
24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he was called, therein abide with God.
25 And as concerning virgins, a commandment of our Lord I have not: but counsel I give, as having obtained mercy of our Lord to be faithful.
25 Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment of the Lord; but I give counsel, as having obtained mercy of the Lord, to be faithful.
26 Ithink therefore that this is good for the present necessity, because it is good for a man so to be.
26 I think therefore that this is good for the present necessity, that it is good for a man so to be.
27 Art thou tied to a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loose from a wife? seek not a wife.
27 Art thou bound to a wife? Seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? Seek not a wife.
28 But if thou take a wife, thou hast not sinned. And if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless tribulation of the flesh shall such have. But I spare you.
28 But if thou take a wife, thou hast not sinned. And if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned: nevertheless, such shall have tribulation of the flesh. But I spare you.
29 This therefore I say, brethren; the time is short, it remaineth, that they also which have wives, be as though they had not;
29 This therefore I say, brethren; the time is short; it remaineth, that they also who have wives, be as if they had none;
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;
30 And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as if they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;
31 and they that use this world, as though they used it not. For the figure of this world passeth away.
31 And they that use this world, as if they used it not: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
32 But I would have you to be without carefulness. He that is without a wife, is careful for the things that pertain to our Lord, how he may please God.
32 But I would have you to be without solicitude. He that is without a wife, is solicitous for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please God.
33 But he that is with a wife, is careful for the things that pertain to the world, how he may please his wife: and he is divided.
33 But he that is with a wife, is solicitous for the things of the world, how he may please his wife: and he is divided.
34 And the woman unmarried & the virgin, thinketh on the things that pertain to our Lord: that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she that is married, thinketh on the things that pertain to the world, how she may please her husband.
34 And the unmarried woman and the virgin thinketh on the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she that is married thinketh on the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
35 And this I speak to your profit: not to cast a snare upon you, but to that which is honest, & that may give you power without impediment to attend upon our Lord.
35 And this I speak for your profit: not to cast a snare upon you; but for that which is decent, and which may give you power to attend upon the Lord, without impediment.
36 But if any man think that he seemeth dishonoured upon his virgin, for that she is past age, and if it must so be, let him do that he will. He sinneth not if she marry.
36 But if any man think that he seemeth dishonored, with regard to his virgin, for that she is above the age, and it must so be: let him do what he will; he sinneth not, if she marry.
37 For he that hath determined in his heart being settled, not having necessity, but having power of his own will, and hath judged this in his heart, to keep his virgin, doeth well.
37 For he that hath determined being steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but having power of his own will; and hath judged this in his heart, to keep his virgin, doth well.
38 Therefore both he that joineth his virgin in matrimony, doeth well: and he that joineth not, doeth better.
38 Therefore, both he that giveth his virgin in marriage, doth well; and he that giveth her not, doth better.
39 A woman is bound to the law so long time as her husband liveth: but if her husband sleep, she is at liberty: let her marry to whom she will: only in our Lord.
39 ⁵A woman is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband die, she is at liberty: let her marry to whom she will; only in the Lord.
40 But more blessed shall she be if she so remain, according to my counsel. And I think that I also have the Spirit of God.
40 But more blessed shall she be, if she so remain, according to my counsel; and I think that I also have the spirit of God.