7:1 De quibus autem scripsistis mihi : Bonum est homini mulierem non tangere :

7:1 Now concerning the things whereof you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

7:2 propter fornicationem autem unusquisque suam uxorem habeat, et unaquæque suum virum habeat.

7:2 But for fear of fornication, let every man have his own wife: and let every woman have her own husband.

7:3 Uxori vir debitum reddat : similiter autem et uxor viro.

7:3 Let the husband render the debt to his wife: and the wife also in like manner to the husband.

7:4 Mulier sui corporis potestatem non habet, sed vir. Similiter autem et vir sui corporis potestatem non habet, sed mulier.

7:4 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.

7:5 Nolite fraudare invicem, nisi forte ex consensu ad tempus, ut vacetis orationi : et iterum revertimini in idipsum, ne tentet vos Satanas propter incontinentiam vestram.

7:5 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.

7:6 Hoc autem dico secundum indulgentiam, non secundum imperium.

7:6 But I speak this by indulgence, not by commandment.

7:7 Volo enim omnes vos esse sicut meipsum : sed unusquisque proprium donum habet ex Deo : alius quidem sic, alius vero sic.

7:7 For I would that all men were even as myself. But every one hath his proper gift from God: one after this manner, and another after that.

7:8 Dico autem non nuptis, et viduis : bonum est illis si sic permaneant, sicut et ego.

7:8 But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they so continue, even as I.

7:9 Quod si non se continent, nubant. Melius est enim nubere, quam uri.

7:9 But if they do not contain themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to be burnt.

7:10 Iis autem qui matrimonio juncti sunt, præcipio non ego, sed Dominus, uxorem a viro non discedere :

7:10 But to them that are married, not I, but the Lord, commandeth that the wife depart not from her husband.

7:11 quod si discesserit, manere innuptam, aut viro suo reconciliari. Et vir uxorem non dimittat.

7:11 And if she depart, that she remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And let not the husband put away his wife.

7:12 Nam ceteris ego dico, non Dominus. Si quis frater uxorem habet infidelem, et hæc consentit habitare cum illo, non dimittat illam.

7:12 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.

7:13 Et si qua mulier fidelis habet virum infidelem, et hic consentit habitare cum illa, non dimittat virum :

7:13 And if any woman hath a husband that believeth not and he consent to dwell with her: let her not put away her husband.

7:14 sanctificatus est enim vir infidelis per mulierem fidelem, et sanctificata est mulier infidelis per virum fidelem : alioquin filii vestri immundi essent, nunc autem sancti sunt.

7:14 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.

7:15 Quod si infidelis discedit, discedat : non enim servituti subjectus est frater, aut soror in hujusmodi : in pace autem vocavit nos Deus.

7:15 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.

7:16 Unde enim scis mulier, si virum salvum facies ? aut unde scis vir, si mulierem salvam facies ?

7:16 For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? Or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

7:17 Nisi unicuique sicut divisit Dominus, unumquemque sicut vocavit Deus, ita ambulet, et sicut in omnibus ecclesiis doceo.

7:17 But as the Lord hath distributed to every one, as God hath called every one: so let him walk. And so in all churches I teach.

7:18 Circumcisus aliquis vocatus est ? non adducat præputium. In præputio aliquis vocatus est ? non circumcidatur.

7:18 Is any man called, being circumcised? Let him not procure uncircumcision. Is any man called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised.

7:19 Circumcisio nihil est, et præputium nihil est : sed observatio mandatorum Dei.

7:19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing: but the observance of the commandments of God.

7:20 Unusquisque in qua vocatione vocatus est, in ea permaneat.

7:20 Let every man abide in the same calling in which he was called.

7:21 Servus vocatus es ? non sit tibi curæ : sed et si potes fieri liber, magis utere.

7:21 Wast thou called, being a bondman? Care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.

7:22 Qui enim in Domino vocatus est servus, libertus est Domini : similiter qui liber vocatus est, servus est Christi.

7:22 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.

7:23 Pretio empti estis : nolite fieri servi hominum.

7:23 You are bought with a price: be not made the bondslaves of men.

7:24 Unusquisque in quo vocatus est, fratres, in hoc permaneat apud Deum.

7:24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he was called, therein abide with God.

7:25 De virginibus autem præceptum Domini non habeo : consilium autem do, tamquam misericordiam consecutus a Domino, ut sim fidelis.

7:25 Now, concerning virgins, I have no commandment of the Lord: but I give counsel, as having obtained mercy of the Lord, to be faithful.

7:26 Existimo ergo hoc bonum esse propter instantem necessitatem, quoniam bonum est homini sic esse.

7:26 I think therefore that this is good for the present necessity: that it is good for a man so to be.

7:27 Alligatus es uxori ? noli quærere solutionem. Solutus es ab uxore ? noli quærere uxorem.

7:27 Art thou bound to a wife? Seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? Seek not a wife.

7:28 Si autem acceperis uxorem, non peccasti. Et si nupserit virgo, non peccavit : tribulationem tamen carnis habebunt hujusmodi. Ego autem vobis parco.

7:28 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.

7:29 Hoc itaque dico, fratres : tempus breve est : reliquum est, ut et qui habent uxores, tamquam non habentes sint :

7:29 This therefore I say, brethren: The time is short. It remaineth, that they also who have wives be as if they had none:

7:30 et qui flent, tamquam non flentes : et qui gaudent, tamquam non gaudentes : et qui emunt, tamquam non possidentes :

7:30 And they that weep, as though they wept not: and they that rejoice, as if they rejoiced not: and they that buy as if they possessed not:

7:31 et qui utuntur hoc mundo, tamquam non utantur : præterit enim figura hujus mundi.

7:31 And they that use this world, as if they used it not. For the fashion of this world passeth away.

7:32 Volo autem vos sine sollicitudine esse. Qui sine uxore est, sollicitus est quæ Domini sunt, quomodo placeat Deo.

7:32 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.

7:33 Qui autem cum uxore est, sollicitus est quæ sunt mundi, quomodo placeat uxori, et divisus est.

7:33 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.

7:34 Et mulier innupta, et virgo, cogitat quæ Domini sunt, ut sit sancta corpore, et spiritu. Quæ autem nupta est, cogitat quæ sunt mundi, quomodo placeat viro.

7:34 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.

7:35 Porro hoc ad utilitatem vestram dico : non ut laqueum vobis injiciam, sed ad id, quod honestum est, et quod facultatem præbeat sine impedimento Dominum obsecrandi.

7:35 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.

7:36 Si quis autem turpem se videri existimat super virgine sua, quod sit superadulta, et ita oportet fieri : quod vult faciat : non peccat, si nubat.

7:36 But if any man think that he seemeth dishonoured 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.

7:37 Nam qui statuit in corde suo firmus, non habens necessitatem, potestatem autem habens suæ voluntatis, et hoc judicavit in corde suo, servare virginem suam, bene facit.

7:37 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.

7:38 Igitur et qui matrimonio jungit virginem suam, bene facit : et qui non jungit, melius facit.

7:38 Therefore both he that giveth his virgin in marriage doth well: and he that giveth her not doth better.

7:39 Mulier alligata est legi quanto tempore vir ejus vivit, quod si dormierit vir ejus, liberata est : cui vult nubat, tantum in Domino.

7:39 A 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.

7:40 Beatior autem erit si sic permanserit secundum meum consilium : puto autem quod et ego Spiritum Dei habeam.

7:40 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.