1 Corinthians 7
Douay-Rheims Bible, American Edition (1899)Translation
Douay-Rheims Bible, American Edition (1899)
Berean Standard Bible
1Now concerning the thing whereof you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
1Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good to abstain from sexual relations.
2But for fear of fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
2But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.
3Let the husband render the debt to his wife, and the wife also in like manner to the husband.
3The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.
4The 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.
4The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife.
5Defraud 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.
5Do not deprive each other, except by mutual consent and for a time, so you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again, so that Satan will not tempt you through your lack of self-control.
6But I speak this by indulgence, not by commandment.
6I say this as a concession, not as a command.
7For 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.
7I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
8But I say to the unmarried, and to the widows: It is good for them if they so continue, even as I.
8Now to the unmarried and widows I say this: It is good for them to remain unmarried, as I am.
9But if they do not contain themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to be burnt.
9But if they cannot control themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
10But to them that are married, not I but the Lord commandeth, that the wife depart not from her husband.
10To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.
11And if she depart, that she remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband. And let not the husband put away his wife.
11But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
12For 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.
12To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If a brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.
13And if any woman hath a husband that believeth not, and he consent to dwell with her, let her not put away her husband.
13And if a woman has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.
14For 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.
14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his believing wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.
15But 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.
15But if the unbeliever leaves, let him go. The believing brother or sister is not bound in such cases. God has called you to live in peace.
16For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? Or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
16How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
17But 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.
17Regardless, each one should lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is what I prescribe in all the churches.
18Is any man called, being circumcised? let him not procure uncircumcision. Is any man called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.
18Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man still uncircumcised when called? He should not be circumcised.
19Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing: but the observance of the commandments of God.
19Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commandments is what counts.
20Let every man abide in the same calling in which he was called.
20Each one should remain in the situation he was in when he was called.
21Wast thou called, being a bondman? care not for it; but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.
21Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let it concern you—but if you can gain your freedom, take the opportunity.
22For 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.
22For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman. Conversely, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave.
23You are bought with a price; be not made the bondslaves of men.
23You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.
24Brethren, let every man, wherein he was called, therein abide with God.
24Brothers, each one should remain in the situation he was in when God called him.
25Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment of the Lord; but I give counsel, as having obtained mercy of the Lord, to be faithful.
25Now about virgins, I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.
26I think therefore that this is good for the present necessity, that it is good for a man so to be.
26Because of the present crisis, I think it is good for a man to remain as he is.
27Art thou bound to a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.
27Are you committed to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you free of commitment? Do not look for a wife.
28But 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.
28But if you do marry, you have not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.
29This therefore I say, brethren; the time is short; it remaineth, that they also who have wives, be as if they had none;
29What I am saying, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none;
30And 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;
30those who weep, as if they did not; those who are joyful, as if they were not; those who make a purchase, as if they had nothing;
31And they that use this world, as if they used it not: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
31and those who use the things of this world, as if not dependent on them. For this world in its present form is passing away.
32But 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.
32I want you to be free from concern. The unmarried man is concerned about the work of the Lord, how he can please the Lord.
33But he that is with a wife, is solicitous for the things of the world, how he may please his wife: and he is divided.
33But the married man is concerned about the affairs of this world, how he can please his wife,
34And 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.
34and his interests are divided. The unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the work of the Lord, how she can be holy in both body and spirit. But the married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world, how she can please her husband.
35And 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.
35I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but in order to promote proper decorum and undivided devotion to the Lord.
36But 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.
36However, if someone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward his betrothed, and if she is beyond her youth and they ought to marry, let him do as he wishes; he is not sinning; they should get married.
37For 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.
37But the man who is firmly established in his heart and under no constraint, with control over his will and resolve in his heart not to marry the virgin, he will do well.
38Therefore, both he that giveth his virgin in marriage, doth well; and he that giveth her not, doth better.
38So then, he who marries the virgin does well, but he who does not marry her does even better.
39A 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.
39A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, as long as he belongs to the Lord.
40But more blessed shall she be, if she so remain, according to my counsel; and I think that I also have the spirit of God.
40In my judgment, however, she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.
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