1 N ow concerning the things whereof ye wrote: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

And concerning the things of which ye wrote to me: good for a man not to touch a woman,

2 B ut, because of fornications, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.

and because of the whoredom let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her proper husband;

3 L et the husband render unto the wife her due: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

to the wife let the husband the due benevolence render, and in like manner also the wife to the husband;

4 T he wife hath not power over her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power over his own body, but the wife.

the wife over her own body hath not authority, but the husband; and, in like manner also, the husband over his own body hath not authority, but the wife.

5 D efraud ye not one the other, except it be by consent for a season, that ye may give yourselves unto prayer, and may be together again, that Satan tempt you not because of your incontinency.

Defraud not one another, except by consent for a time, that ye may be free for fasting and prayer, and again may come together, that the Adversary may not tempt you because of your incontinence;

6 B ut this I say by way of concession, not of commandment.

and this I say by way of concurrence -- not of command,

7 Y et I would that all men were even as I myself. Howbeit each man hath his own gift from God, one after this manner, and another after that.

for I wish all men to be even as I myself; but each his own gift hath of God, one indeed thus, and one thus.

8 B ut I say to the unmarried and to widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.

And I say to the unmarried and to the widows: it is good for them if they may remain even as I;

9 B ut if they have not continency, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

and if they have not continence -- let them marry, for it is better to marry than to burn;

10 B ut unto the married I give charge, yea not I, but the Lord, That the wife depart not from her husband

and to the married I announce -- not I, but the Lord -- let not a wife separate from a husband:

11 ( but should she depart, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband); and that the husband leave not his wife.

but and if she may separate, let her remain unmarried, or to the husband let her be reconciled, and let not a husband send away a wife.

12 B ut to the rest say I, not the Lord: If any brother hath an unbelieving wife, and she is content to dwell with him, let him not leave her.

And to the rest I speak -- not the Lord -- if any brother hath a wife unbelieving, and she is pleased to dwell with him, let him not send her away;

13 A nd the woman that hath an unbelieving husband, and he is content to dwell with her, let her not leave her husband.

and a woman who hath a husband unbelieving, and he is pleased to dwell with her, let her not send him away;

14 F or the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the brother: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

for the unbelieving husband hath been sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife hath been sanctified in the husband; otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy.

15 Y et if the unbelieving departeth, let him depart: the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us in peace.

And, if the unbelieving doth separate himself -- let him separate himself: the brother or the sister is not under servitude in such, and in peace hath God called us;

16 F or how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? Or how knowest thou, O husband, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

for what, hast thou known, O wife, whether the husband thou shalt save? or what, hast thou known, O husband, whether the wife thou shalt save?

17 O nly, as the Lord hath distributed to each man, as God hath called each, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all the churches.

if not, as God did distribute to each, as the Lord hath called each -- so let him walk; and thus in all the assemblies do I direct:

18 W as any man called being circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Hath any been called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised.

being circumcised -- was any one called? let him not become uncircumcised; in uncircumcision was any one called? let him not be circumcised;

19 C ircumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but the keeping of the commandments of God.

the circumcision is nothing, and the uncircumcision is nothing -- but a keeping of the commands of God.

20 L et each man abide in that calling wherein he was called.

Each in the calling in which he was called -- in this let him remain;

21 W ast thou called being a bondservant? Care not for it: nay, even if thou canst become free, use it rather.

a servant -- wast thou called? be not anxious; but if also thou art able to become free -- use rather;

22 F or he that was called in the Lord being a bondservant, is the Lord's freedman: likewise he that was called being free, is Christ's bondservant.

for he who in the Lord -- having been called a servant -- is the Lord's freedman: in like manner also he the freeman, having been called, is servant of Christ:

23 Y e were bought with a price; become not bondservants of men.

with a price ye were bought, become not servants of men;

24 B rethren, let each man, wherein he was called, therein abide with God.

each, in that in which he was called, brethren, in this let him remain with God.

25 N ow concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: but I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be trustworthy.

And concerning the virgins, a command of the Lord I have not; and I give judgment as having obtained kindness from the Lord to be faithful:

26 I think therefore that this is good by reason of the distress that is upon us, namely, that it is good for a man to be as he is.

I suppose, therefore, this to be good because of the present necessity, that good for a man that the matter be thus: --

27 A rt thou bound unto a wife? Seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? Seek not a wife.

Hast thou been bound to a wife? seek not to be loosed; hast thou been loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

28 B ut shouldest thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Yet such shall have tribulation in the flesh: and I would spare you.

But and if thou mayest marry, thou didst not sin; and if the virgin may marry, she did not sin; and such shall have tribulation in the flesh: and I spare you.

29 B ut this I say, brethren, the time is shortened, that henceforth both those that have wives may be as though they had none;

And this I say, brethren, the time henceforth is having been shortened -- that both those having wives may be as not having;

30 a nd those that weep, as though they wept not; and those that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and those that buy, as though they possessed not;

and those weeping, as not weeping; and those rejoicing, as not rejoicing; and those buying, as not possessing;

31 a nd those that use the world, as not using it to the full: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

and those using this world, as not using up; for passing away is the fashion of this world.

32 B ut I would have you to be free from cares. He that is unmarried is careful for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord:

And I wish you to be without anxiety; the unmarried is anxious for the things of the Lord, how he shall please the Lord;

33 b ut he that is married is careful for the things of the world, how he may please his wife,

and the married is anxious for the things of the world, how he shall please the wife.

34 a nd is divided. So also the woman that is unmarried and the virgin is careful for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married is careful for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

The wife and the virgin have been distinguished: the unmarried is anxious for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit, and the married is anxious for the things of the world, how she shall please the husband.

35 A nd this I say for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is seemly, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

And this for your own profit I say: not that I may cast a noose upon you, but for the seemliness and devotedness to the Lord, undistractedly,

36 B ut if any man thinketh that he behaveth himself unseemly toward his virgin daughter, if she be past the flower of her age, and if need so requireth, let him do what he will; he sinneth not; let them marry.

and if any one doth think to be unseemly to his virgin, if she may be beyond the bloom of age, and it ought so to be, what he willeth let him do; he doth not sin -- let him marry.

37 B ut he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power as touching in his own heart, to keep his own virgin daughter, shall do well.

And he who hath stood stedfast in the heart -- not having necessity -- and hath authority over his own will, and this he hath determined in his heart -- to keep his own virgin -- doth well;

38 S o then both he that giveth his own virgin daughter in marriage doeth well; and he that giveth her not in marriage shall do better.

so that both he who is giving in marriage doth well, and he who is not giving in marriage doth better.

39 A wife is bound for so long time as her husband liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is free to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

A wife hath been bound by law as long time as her husband may live, and if her husband may sleep, she is free to be married to whom she will -- only in the Lord;

40 B ut she is happier if she abide as she is, after my judgment: and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.

and she is happier if she may so remain -- according to my judgment; and I think I also have the Spirit of God.