1 Corinthians 7
1 Now concerning the things about which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
Περὶ δὲ ὧν ⸀ἐγράψατε καλὸν ἀνθρώπῳ γυναικὸς μὴ ἅπτεσθαι·
2 But, because of fornication, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.
διὰ δὲ τὰς πορνείας ἕκαστος τὴν ἑαυτοῦ γυναῖκα ἐχέτω, καὶ ἑκάστη τὸν ἴδιον ἄνδρα ἐχέτω.
3 A husband should fulfill his obligation to his wife, and a wife should also act similarly toward her husband.
τῇ γυναικὶ ὁ ἀνὴρ τὴν ⸀ὀφειλὴνἀποδιδότω, ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ ἡ γυνὴ τῷ ἀνδρί.
4 It is not the wife, but the husband, who has power over her body. But, similarly also, it is not the husband, but the wife, who has power over his body.
ἡ γυνὴ τοῦ ἰδίου σώματος οὐκ ἐξουσιάζει ἀλλὰ ὁ ἀνήρ· ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ ὁ ἀνὴρ τοῦ ἰδίου σώματος οὐκ ἐξουσιάζει ἀλλὰ ἡ γυνή.
5 So, do not fail in your obligations to one another, except perhaps by consent, for a limited time, so that you may empty yourselves for prayer. And then, return together again, lest Satan tempt you by means of your abstinence.
μὴ ἀποστερεῖτε ἀλλήλους, εἰ μήτι ἂν ἐκ συμφώνου πρὸς καιρὸν ἵνα ⸀σχολάσητε⸀τῇπροσευχῇ καὶ πάλιν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ ⸀ἦτε ἵνα μὴ πειράζῃ ὑμᾶς ὁ Σατανᾶς διὰ τὴν ἀκρασίαν ὑμῶν.
6 But I am saying this, neither as an indulgence, nor as a commandment.
τοῦτο δὲ λέγω κατὰ συγγνώμην, οὐ κατʼ ἐπιταγήν.
7 For I would prefer it if you were all like myself. But each person has his proper gift from God: one in this way, yet another in that way.
θέλω ⸀δὲπάντας ἀνθρώπους εἶναι ὡς καὶ ἐμαυτόν· ἀλλὰ ἕκαστος ἴδιον ⸂ἔχει χάρισμα ἐκ θεοῦ, ⸀ὁμὲν οὕτως, ⸁ὁδὲ οὕτως.
8 But I say to the unmarried and to widows: It is good for them, if they would remain as they are, just as I also am.
Λέγω δὲ τοῖς ἀγάμοις καὶ ταῖς χήραις, καλὸν ⸀αὐτοῖςἐὰν μείνωσιν ὡς κἀγώ·
9 But if they cannot restrain themselves, they should marry. For it is better to marry, than to be burned.
εἰ δὲ οὐκ ἐγκρατεύονται, γαμησάτωσαν, κρεῖττον γάρ ἐστιν ⸀γαμῆσαιἢ πυροῦσθαι.
10 But to those who have been joined in matrimony, it is not I who commands you, but the Lord: a wife is not to separate from her husband.
Τοῖς δὲ γεγαμηκόσιν παραγγέλλω, οὐκ ἐγὼ ἀλλὰ ὁ κύριος, γυναῖκα ἀπὸ ἀνδρὸς μὴ χωρισθῆναι—
11 But if she has separated from him, she must remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband should not divorce his wife.
ἐὰν δὲ καὶ χωρισθῇ, μενέτω ἄγαμος ἢ τῷ ἀνδρὶ καταλλαγήτω— καὶ ἄνδρα γυναῖκα μὴ ἀφιέναι.
12 Concerning the rest, I am speaking, not the Lord. If any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her.
Τοῖς δὲ λοιποῖς ⸂λέγω ἐγώ, οὐχ ὁ κύριος· εἴ τις ἀδελφὸς γυναῖκα ἔχει ἄπιστον, καὶ αὕτη συνευδοκεῖ οἰκεῖν μετʼ αὐτοῦ, μὴ ἀφιέτω αὐτήν·
13 And if any woman has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce her husband.
καὶ γυνὴ ⸂εἴ τις ἔχει ἄνδρα ἄπιστον, καὶ ⸀οὗτοςσυνευδοκεῖ οἰκεῖν μετʼ αὐτῆς, μὴ ἀφιέτω ⸂τὸν ἄνδρα.
14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through the believing wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through the believing husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean, whereas instead they are holy.
ἡγίασται γὰρ ὁ ἀνὴρ ὁ ἄπιστος ἐν τῇ γυναικί, καὶ ἡγίασται ἡ γυνὴ ἡ ἄπιστος ἐν τῷ ⸀ἀδελφῷ ἐπεὶ ἄρα τὰ τέκνα ὑμῶν ἀκάθαρτά ἐστιν, νῦν δὲ ἅγιά ἐστιν.
15 But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart. For a brother or sister cannot be made subject to servitude in this way. For God has called us to peace.
εἰ δὲ ὁ ἄπιστος χωρίζεται, χωριζέσθω· οὐ δεδούλωται ὁ ἀδελφὸς ἢ ἡ ἀδελφὴ ἐν τοῖς τοιούτοις, ἐν δὲ εἰρήνῃ κέκληκεν ⸀ἡμᾶςὁ θεός.
16 And how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
τί γὰρ οἶδας, γύναι, εἰ τὸν ἄνδρα σώσεις; ἢ τί οἶδας, ἄνερ, εἰ τὴν γυναῖκα σώσεις;
17 However, let each one walk just as the Lord has distributed to him, each one just as God has called him. And thus do I teach in all the churches.
Εἰ μὴ ἑκάστῳ ὡς ⸀ἐμέρισενὁ ⸀κύριος ἕκαστον ὡς κέκληκεν ὁ ⸀θεός οὕτως περιπατείτω· καὶ οὕτως ἐν ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις πάσαις διατάσσομαι.
18 Has any circumcised man been called? Let him not cover his circumcision. Has any uncircumcised man been called? Let him not be circumcised.
περιτετμημένος τις ἐκλήθη; μὴ ἐπισπάσθω· ἐν ἀκροβυστίᾳ ⸂κέκληταί τις; μὴ περιτεμνέσθω.
19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; there is only the observance of the commandments of God.
ἡ περιτομὴ οὐδέν ἐστιν, καὶ ἡ ἀκροβυστία οὐδέν ἐστιν, ἀλλὰ τήρησις ἐντολῶν θεοῦ.
20 Let each and every one remain in the same calling to which he was called.
ἕκαστος ἐν τῇ κλήσει ᾗ ἐκλήθη ἐν ταύτῃ μενέτω.
21 Are you a servant who has been called? Do not be concerned about it. But if you ever have the ability to be free, make use of it.
Δοῦλος ἐκλήθης; μή σοι μελέτω· ἀλλʼ εἰ καὶ δύνασαι ἐλεύθερος γενέσθαι, μᾶλλον χρῆσαι.
22 For any servant who has been called in the Lord is free in the Lord. Similarly, any free person who has been called is a servant in Christ.
ὁ γὰρ ἐν κυρίῳ κληθεὶς δοῦλος ἀπελεύθερος κυρίου ἐστίν· ⸀ὁμοίωςὁ ἐλεύθερος κληθεὶς δοῦλός ἐστιν Χριστοῦ.
23 You have been bought with a price. Do not be willing to become the servants of men.
τιμῆς ἠγοράσθητε· μὴ γίνεσθε δοῦλοι ἀνθρώπων.
24 Brothers, let each one, in whatever state he was called, remain in that state with God.
ἕκαστος ἐν ᾧ ἐκλήθη, ἀδελφοί, ἐν τούτῳ μενέτω παρὰ θεῷ.
25 Now, concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord. But I give counsel, as one who has obtained the mercy of the Lord, so as to be faithful.
Περὶ δὲ τῶν παρθένων ἐπιταγὴν κυρίου οὐκ ἔχω, γνώμην δὲ δίδωμι ὡς ἠλεημένος ὑπὸ κυρίου πιστὸς εἶναι.
26 Therefore, I consider this to be good, because of the present necessity: that it is good for a man to be such as I am.
νομίζω οὖν τοῦτο καλὸν ὑπάρχειν διὰ τὴν ἐνεστῶσαν ἀνάγκην, ὅτι καλὸν ἀνθρώπῳ τὸ οὕτως εἶναι.
27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be freed. Are you free of a wife? Do not seek a wife.
δέδεσαι γυναικί; μὴ ζήτει λύσιν· λέλυσαι ἀπὸ γυναικός; μὴ ζήτει γυναῖκα·
28 But if you take a wife, you have not sinned. And if a virgin has married, she has not sinned. Even so, such as these will have the tribulation of the flesh. But I would spare you from this.
ἐὰν δὲ καὶ ⸀γαμήσῃς οὐχ ἥμαρτες. καὶ ἐὰν γήμῃ ἡ παρθένος, οὐχ ἥμαρτεν. θλῖψιν δὲ τῇ σαρκὶ ἕξουσιν οἱ τοιοῦτοι, ἐγὼ δὲ ὑμῶν φείδομαι.
29 And so, this is what I say, brothers: The time is short. What remains of it is such that: those who have wives should be as if they had none;
τοῦτο δέ φημι, ἀδελφοί, ὁ καιρὸς συνεσταλμένος ⸂ἐστίν· τὸ λοιπὸν⸃ ἵνα καὶ οἱ ἔχοντες γυναῖκας ὡς μὴ ἔχοντες ὦσιν,
30 and those who weep, as though they were not weeping; and those who rejoice, as if they were not rejoicing; and those who buy, as if they possessed nothing;
καὶ οἱ κλαίοντες ὡς μὴ κλαίοντες, καὶ οἱ χαίροντες ὡς μὴ χαίροντες, καὶ οἱ ἀγοράζοντες ὡς μὴ κατέχοντες,
31 and those who use the things of this world, as if they were not using them. For the figure of this world is passing away.
καὶ οἱ χρώμενοι ⸂τὸν κόσμον ὡς μὴ καταχρώμενοι· παράγει γὰρ τὸ σχῆμα τοῦ κόσμου τούτου.
32 But I would prefer you to be without worry. Whoever is without a wife is worried about the things of the Lord, as to how he may please God.
Θέλω δὲ ὑμᾶς ἀμερίμνους εἶναι. ὁ ἄγαμος μεριμνᾷ τὰ τοῦ κυρίου, πῶς ⸀ἀρέσῃτῷ κυρίῳ·
33 But whoever is with a wife is worried about the things of the world, as to how he may please his wife. And so, he is divided.
ὁ δὲ γαμήσας μεριμνᾷ τὰ τοῦ κόσμου, πῶς ⸀ἀρέσῃτῇ γυναικί,
34 And the unmarried woman and the virgin think about the things that are of the Lord, so that she may be holy in body and in spirit. But she who is married thinks about the things that are of the world, as to how she may please her husband.
⸀καὶμεμέρισται. καὶ ἡ γυνὴ ⸂ἡ ἄγαμος καὶ ἡ ⸀παρθένοςμεριμνᾷ τὰ τοῦ κυρίου, ἵνα ᾖ ἁγία καὶ ⸀τῷσώματι καὶ ⸁τῷπνεύματι· ἡ δὲ γαμήσασα μεριμνᾷ τὰ τοῦ κόσμου, πῶς ⸀ἀρέσῃτῷ ἀνδρί.
35 Furthermore, I am saying this for your own benefit, not in order to cast a snare over you, but toward whatever is honest and whatever may provide you with the ability to be without hindrance, so as to worship the Lord.
τοῦτο δὲ πρὸς τὸ ὑμῶν αὐτῶν ⸀σύμφορονλέγω, οὐχ ἵνα βρόχον ὑμῖν ἐπιβάλω, ἀλλὰ πρὸς τὸ εὔσχημον καὶ ⸀εὐπάρεδροντῷ κυρίῳ ἀπερισπάστως.
36 But if any man considers himself to seem dishonorable, concerning a virgin who is of adult age, and so it ought to be, he may do as he wills. If he marries her, he does not sin.
Εἰ δέ τις ἀσχημονεῖν ἐπὶ τὴν παρθένον αὐτοῦ νομίζει ἐὰν ᾖ ὑπέρακμος, καὶ οὕτως ὀφείλει γίνεσθαι, ὃ θέλει ποιείτω· οὐχ ἁμαρτάνει· γαμείτωσαν.
37 But if he has decided firmly in his heart, and he does not have any obligation, but only the power of his free will, and if he has judged this in his heart, to let her remain a virgin, he does well.
ὃς δὲ ἕστηκεν ⸂ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ ἑδραῖος μὴ ἔχων ἀνάγκην, ἐξουσίαν δὲ ἔχει περὶ τοῦ ἰδίου θελήματος, καὶ τοῦτο κέκρικεν ἐν τῇ ⸂ἰδίᾳ καρδίᾳ, ⸀τηρεῖντὴν ἑαυτοῦ παρθένον, καλῶς ⸀ποιήσει
38 And so, he who joins with his virgin in matrimony does well, and he who does not join with her does better.
ὥστε καὶ ὁ ⸀γαμίζων⸂τὴν παρθένον ἑαυτοῦ καλῶς ποιεῖ, ⸂καὶ ὁ μὴ ⸁γαμίζωνκρεῖσσον ⸀ποιήσει
39 A woman is bound under the law for as long as her husband lives. But if her husband has died, she is free. She may marry whomever she wishes, but only in the Lord.
Γυνὴ ⸀δέδεταιἐφʼ ὅσον χρόνον ζῇ ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς· ἐὰν ⸀δὲκοιμηθῇ ὁ ἀνήρ, ἐλευθέρα ἐστὶν ᾧ θέλει γαμηθῆναι, μόνον ἐν κυρίῳ·
40 But she will be more blessed, if she remains in this state, in accord with my counsel. And I think that I, too, have the Spirit of God.
μακαριωτέρα δέ ἐστιν ἐὰν οὕτως μείνῃ, κατὰ τὴν ἐμὴν γνώμην, δοκῶ ⸀δὲκἀγὼ πνεῦμα θεοῦ ἔχειν.
