1 Corinthians 7
Wycliffe Bible
7 But of those things that ye have written to me, it is good to a man to touch not a woman [it is good to a man for to not touch a woman].
2 But for fornication each man have his own wife, and each woman have her own husband.
3 The husband yield debt to the wife, and also the wife to the husband.
4 The woman hath not power of her body, but the husband; [also forsooth] and the husband hath not power of his body, but the woman [but the wife].
5 Do not ye defraud each to other [Do not defraud together], but peradventure of consent for a time, that ye give attention to prayer; and again turn again to the same thing, lest Satan tempt you for your uncontinence.
6 But I say this thing as giving leave, not by commandment.[a]
7 For I will, that all men be as myself. But each man hath his proper gift of God; one thus, and another thus.
8 But I say to them, that be not wedded, and to widows [and widows], it is good to them, if they dwell so as I.
9 And if they contain not themselves, be they wedded; for it is better to be wedded, than to be burnt.
10 But to them that be joined in matrimony, I command, not I, but the Lord, that the wife depart not from the husband;
11 and that if she departeth, that she dwell unwedded, or be reconciled to her husband; and the husband forsake not the wife.
12 But to others I say, not the Lord. If any brother hath an unfaithful wife, and she consenteth to dwell with him, leave he her not [If any brother have an unfaithful, or heathen, wife, and she consent for to dwell with him, leave he, or forsake, her not].
13 And if any woman hath an unfaithful husband [And if the woman hath an husband unfaithful], and this consenteth to dwell with her, leave she not the husband.
14 For the unfaithful husband is hallowed by the faithful woman, and the unfaithful woman is hallowed by the faithful husband. Else your children were unclean, but now they be holy.
15 That if the unfaithful departeth, depart he. For why the brother or sister is not subject to servage in such; for God hath called us in peace.
16 And whereof knowest thou, woman, if thou shalt make the man safe; or whereof knowest thou, man, if thou shalt make the woman safe?
17 But as the Lord hath parted to each, and as God hath called each man, so go he, as I teach in all churches.[b]
18 A man circumcised is called, bring he not to prepuce. A man is called in prepuce, be he not circumcised.
19 Circumcision is nought, and prepuce is nought, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
20 Each man in what calling he is called, in that dwell he.
21 Thou servant art called, be it no charge to thee [Thou a servant art called, be it not charge to thee]; but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.
22 He that is a servant, and is called in the Lord, is a free man of the Lord. Also [and] he that is a free man, and is called, is the servant of Christ.
23 With price ye be bought; do not ye be made servants of men.
24 Therefore each man in what thing he is called a brother, dwell he in this with God. [Each man therefore in what calling he is called, in that dwell he with God.]
25 But of virgins I have no commandment of God; but I give counsel, as he that hath gotten mercy of the Lord, that I be true.
26 Therefore I guess, that this thing is good for the present need; for it is good to a man to be so [for it is good for a man to be so].
27 Thou art bound to a wife, do not thou seek unbinding; thou art unbound from a wife, do not thou seek a wife.
28 But if thou hast taken a wife, thou hast not sinned; and if a maiden is wedded, she sinned not; nevertheless such shall have tribulation of flesh. But I spare you.
29 Therefore, brethren [And so, brethren], I say this thing, The time is short. Another is this, that they that have wives, be as though they had none;
30 and they that weep, as they wept not; and they that joy, as they joyed not; and they that buy, as they had not;
31 and they that use this world, as they that use [it] not. For why the figure of this world passeth.[c]
32 But I will, that ye be without busyness [Forsooth I will you to be without busyness], for he that is without wife, is busy what things be of the Lord, how he shall please God.
33 But he that is with a wife, is busy what things be of the world, how he shall please the wife [how he shall please his wife], and he is parted.
34 And a woman unwedded and [a] maiden thinketh what things be of the Lord, that she be holy in body and spirit. But she that is wedded, thinketh what things be of the world, how she shall please the husband [how she shall please her husband].
35 And I say these things to your profit, not that I cast to you a snare, but to that that is seemly, and that giveth easiness, without hindering to make prayers to the Lord. [Soothly I say these things to your profit, not that I cast to you a snare, but to that that is honest, and that giveth facility, or easiness, without letting to beseech to the Lord.]
36 And if any man guesseth himself to be seen foul on his virgin, that she is full waxen [that she is well old], and so it behooveth to be done, do she that that she will[d]; she sinneth not, if she be wedded[e].
37 For he that ordained stably in his heart [For why he that ordained stably, or steadfast, in his heart], not having need, but having power of his will, and hath deemed in his heart this thing, to keep his virgin [for to keep his virginity], doeth well.
38 Therefore he that joineth his virgin in matrimony, doeth well; and he that joineth not, doeth better.
39 The woman is bound to the law, as long time as her husband liveth; and if her husband is dead, she is delivered from the law of the husband [she is delivered from the law], be she wedded to whom she will, only in the Lord.
40 But she shall be more blessed, if she dwelleth thus [if she shall thus dwell], after my counsel; and I ween, that I have the Spirit of God.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 7:6 Forsooth I say this thing by indulgence, not after commandment.
- 1 Corinthians 7:17 No but as the Lord hath parted to each, as God hath called each man, so go he, and as I teach in all churches.
- 1 Corinthians 7:31 and they that use this world, as not using. Forsooth the figure, or fairness, or prosperity, of this world passeth.
- 1 Corinthians 7:36 do she what she will/do her keeper what she will/do she that he will
- 1 Corinthians 7:36 s/he sinneth not, if s/he be wedded
1 Corinthians 7
New Matthew Bible
Of marriage, virginity, and widowhood.
7 As for the things you wrote to me about: it is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his wife, and let every woman have her husband. 3 Let the man give due affection to his wife; likewise also the wife to the man. 4 The wife does not have right over her own body, but the husband, and likewise the husband does not have right over his own body, but the wife. 5 Do not withdraw yourselves one from another, unless it be with consent for a time to give yourselves to fasting and prayer. And afterward, come again to the same thing, lest Satan tempt you through your lack of self control.
6 This I say by way of concession, and not of commandment. 7 For I would that all men were as I myself am. But every one has his own gift from God – one of this kind, another of that. 8 I say to the unmarried men and widows that it is good for them if they remain just as I do. 9 But if they cannot abstain, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn.
10 To the married command not I, but the Lord, that the wife should not separate herself from the man. 11 But if she separates herself, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband again. And let not the husband put his wife away from him.
12 To the rest I, and not the Lord, speak. If any brother has a wife who does not believe, if she is content to dwell with him, let him not put her away. 13 And the woman who has an unbelieving husband, if he consents to dwell with her, let her not put him away. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean; but now they are pure. 15 But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not bound to such. God has called us in peace. 16 For how do you know, O woman, whether you will save that man or not? Or how do you know, O man, whether you will save that woman or not? – 17 but even as God has granted to each.
As the Lord has called every person, so let him walk; and I so ordain in all the congregations. 18 If a man is called when circumcised, let him add nothing to it. If a man is called when uncircumcised, let him not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing, uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God is everything. 20 Let every person abide in the same state in which he was called. 21 Are you called when a servant? Care not for it. But if you may be free, avail yourself of it rather. 22 For he who is called in the Lord when a servant, is the Lord’s free man. Likewise, he who is called when free is Christ’s servant. 23 You are dearly bought; do not be men’s servants. 24 Brethren, let each, in whatever state he is called, abide therein with God.
25 Concerning virgins I have no commandment from the Lord, yet I give counsel as one who has obtained mercy from the Lord to be faithful. 26 I suppose that it is good for the present necessity. For it is good for a man so to be.
27 Are you bound to a wife? Seek not to be released. Are you released from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 But if you take a wife, you do not sin. Likewise, if a virgin marries, she does not sin. Nevertheless, the married will have trouble in their flesh. But I make allowance for you.
29 This I say, brethren: the time is short. It remains that those who have wives should be as though they had none, 30 and those who weep should be as though they wept not, and those who rejoice should be as though they did not rejoice. And those who buy should be as though they did not possess, 31 and those who are occupied in this world should be as not consumed in it. For the fashion of this world is passing away.
32 I would have you be without preoccupation. The single man cares for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord. 33 But he who is married cares for the things of the world, how he may please his wife. 34 There is a difference between a virgin and a wife. The single woman cares for the things of the Lord, that she may be pure both in body and also in spirit. But she who is married cares for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. 35 This I say for your profit – not to tangle you in a snare, but for that which is fitting and agreeable for you, and so that you may quietly cleave unto the Lord without hindrance.
36 If any man thinks that it is not best for his virgin, if she is passing the time of marriage and if need so requires, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin; let them be coupled in marriage. 37 Nevertheless, he who purposes surely in his heart, having no need, but has power over his own will, and has thus determined in his heart that he will keep his virgin, does well. 38 So then, he who joins his virgin in marriage does well, but he who does not join his virgin in marriage does better.
39 The wife is bound to the law as long as her husband lives. If her husband sleeps, she is at liberty to marry whomever she wishes, only in the Lord. 40 But she is happier if she remains as she is, in my judgment. And I think indeed that I have the Spirit of God.
2001 by Terence P. Noble
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.