1 Corinthians 7

1 Now [I will reply to] the things that you wrote to me about. It is good for people not to get married.

Ich komme auf das, weswegen ihr geschrieben habt: Es ist besser für den Mann, sich mit dem Weibe nicht einzulassen.

2 But because many people are committing sexual immorality, [which God detests], every man should have his own wife [with whom he can have sexual relations], and every woman should have her own husband [with whom she can have sexual relations].

Doch wegen der Gefahr der Unzucht soll jeder sein Weib und jedes Weib ihren Mann haben.

3 Every man must continue having sexual relations [EUP] with his wife, and every woman must continue having sexual relations with her husband.

Der Mann soll dem Weibe die eheliche Pflicht leisten und ebenso das Weib dem Manne.

4 A man’s wife does not have the right over her own body [to be the only one to decide about having sexual relations with her husband]. Instead, her husband also has a right [to decide about that]. Similarly, a woman’s husband does not have the right over his own body [to be the only one to decide about having sexual relations with his wife]. Instead, his wife also has a right [to decide about that].

Das Weib hat kein Verfügungsrecht mehr über seinen Leib, sondern der Mann; desgleichen hat der Mann auch kein Verfügungsrecht mehr über seinen Leib, sondern das Weib.

5 You may refuse [to have sexual relations with] each other [EUP] only if you both first agree to do that for a short time, in order that you may both have more time to pray. Then after that, begin having sexual relations again [EUP] in order that Satan will not be able to persuade you [to have sex with someone else] because you are unable to control your sexual desires.

Verweigert euch einander nicht, außer auf Grund von gegenseitiger Übereinkunft eine Zeitlang, um für das Gebet Zeit zu haben und dann wieder zusammenzuleben, damit euch der Satan nicht versuche wegen eures Mangels an Selbstbeherrschung.

6 I am telling you these things to say that [God] allows [you to get married, but he] does not say that you must [get married].

Ich sage dies nur ab Zugeständnis, nicht als Gebot.

7 I myself wish that all people would stay [unmarried/single], as I am. But God has enabled each person to live in ways that seem right for them. He has enabled some people to [live without getting married], and he has enabled other people to [get married].

Ich wollte aber, alle Menschen wären so wie ich; indes hat jeder von Gott seine eigene Gabe, der eine so, der andere anders.

8 Now I want to say this to you unmarried people and to you whose spouses have died: It would be good for you to remain [unmarried] as I am.

Den Ledigen und Witwen sage ich: Viel besser ist es für sie, wenn sie so bleiben wie ich.

9 But if you cannot control your [sexual desires] [EUP], you should get married. It is better to be married [so that you can satisfy your sexual desires with your spouse] than to constantly have a strong desire [EUP] [for sexual relations].

Doch können sie sich nicht enthalten, so sollen sie heiraten. Denn besser ist heiraten als brennen.

10 And now I will give a command for [believers who are] married. This is not a command from me alone; it also comes from the Lord Jesus. You married women must not (separate from/divorce) your husbands!

Den Verehelichten aber befehle ich, das heißt nicht ich, es ist der Herr: Das Weib darf sich vom Manne nicht trennen.

11 But if any of you do that, you must remain unmarried, or else you should be reconciled with your husband [and live with him again]. Similarly, men must not (separate from/divorce) their wives.

Sollte es sich aber dennoch trennen, so muß es unverehelicht bleiben oder sich wiederum mit seinem Manne versöhnen. Und auch der Mann darf sein Weib nicht entlassen.

12 Now I say this to the rest of you, [to those who became believers after they were married. This is what] I [am saying], not what the Lord [has commanded]. If someone has a wife who is not a believer, if she is willing to keep living with him, he must not divorce her.

Den übrigen sage ich, nicht der Herr: Hat ein Bruder ein ungläubiges Weib und dieses will mit ihm noch weiterleben, so soll er es nicht entlassen.

13 Similarly, if a woman has a husband who is not a believer, if he is willing to keep living with her, she must not divorce him.

Und hat ein gläubiges Weib einen ungläubigen Mann und dieser will mit ihm noch weiterleben, so soll sie den Mann nicht entlassen.

14 [I say that] because God has set apart every woman’s unbelieving husband [for himself] because of his wife [being a believer], and God has set apart every man’s unbelieving wife [for himself] because of her husband [being a believer]. If that were not true, [God would consider] their children unacceptable. But, the fact is that [God does consider] them acceptable to him.

Geheiligt wird der ungläubige Mann im Weib und das ungläubige Weib wird im Bruder heilig; sonst wären ja auch eure Kinder unrein, so aber sind sie heilig.

15 However, if a woman’s husband who is not a believer or a man’s wife who is not a believer wants to leave, let [him or her] do so. The husband or wife who is a believer should not force the other one to stay. God has chosen us in order that we may live peacefully.

Will aber der ungläubige Teil sich scheiden lassen, so mag er es tun; ein Bruder oder eine Schwester ist in solchen Fällen nicht gebunden; vielmehr hat Gott euch zum Frieden berufen.

16 [You women believers should allow your unbelieving spouses to leave you if they want to], because there is no way that you can be sure that God will save your husband if you stay together [RHQ] (OR, perhaps God will save your husband if you stay together.) Similarly, you men [who are believers], there is no way that you can be sure that God will save your wives if you stay together [RHQ] (OR, perhaps God will save your wives if you stay together.)

Denn weißt du wirklich, Weib, ob du deinen Mann retten wirst? Mann, weißt du denn, ob du dein Weib retten wirst?

17 However, each person should continue in the status that the Lord gave him, the status that he had when the Lord called him [to belong to him]. That is the rule that I tell people in all the congregations [where I speak].

Jeder lebe so, wie der Herr es ihm verliehen, wie Gott ihn berufen hat. Diese Weisung gebe ich überall in den Gemeinden.

18 If a man had already been circumcised [RHQ] when he became a Christian, he should not [try to pretend that he is not] circumcised. If a man had not been circumcised [RHQ] before he became a Christian, he should not become circumcised.

Ward einer als Beschnittener berufen, so suche er dies nicht zu verbergen; ward er als Unbeschnittener berufen, dann lasse er sich nicht beschneiden.

19 [You should not try to change your status that way], because it means nothing [to God] whether someone is circumcised or not. What is important is that we obey what God has commanded.

Es kommt nicht darauf an, ob man beschnitten sei, und nicht darauf, ob man unbeschnitten sei, vielmehr ob man die Gebote Gottes halte.

20 [Generally], each person should remain in the status that he had when he became a Christian.

Ein jeder bleibe in dem Stande, in dem er berufen ward.

21 If one of you was a slave when you [(sg)] became a Christian [RHQ], do not be concerned about it. However, if you get an opportunity to be free, do [what you need to do to become free].

Du wurdest vielleicht als Sklave berufen? Das soll dir keine Sorge machen. Selbst wenn du frei werden kannst, bleibe erst recht dabei.

22 [Do not worry about your previously being a slave], because those who were slaves before they became Christians, the Lord has freed them [from Satan’s control]. Similarly, those who were not slaves before they became Christians, [it is as though] [MET] they are Christ’s slaves [because they must do what he tells them to do] [MET].

Ein Sklave, der im Herrn berufen ist, ist ja ein Freigelassener des Herrn, so wie auch, wer als Freier berufen ward, ein Sklave Christi ist.

23 [Christ] paid a price to buy you [when he died for you]. So do not [act as if you are evil people’s] slaves [by doing the evil things that they tell you to do].

Um einen Preis seid ihr erkauft. Werdet nicht zu Menschensklaven!

24 My fellow believers, [I repeat that in general] each believer, being in fellowship with God, should continue in the status that he had before he became a Christian.

Meine Brüder! Jeder soll vor Gott in dem Stande verbleiben, in dem er berufen ward.

25 Now [I will answer your question] about women who have never married. There is nothing that the Lord has commanded me [to write about them], but I am writing this to tell you what I think [is best], because the Lord [Jesus] has mercifully enabled me to [say] what is reliable.

Was dann die Jungfrauen betrifft, so habe ich kein Gebot vom Herrn; doch einen Rat will ich erteilen als einer, der durch die Gnade des Herrn als zuverlässig erwiesen ward.

26 There are a lot of distressing events [happening] now (OR, that will soon happen), so I think that it is better for people to remain in the marital status that they now have.

Ich meine nun, der gegenwärtigen Bedrängnis wegen sei es gut, daß sie so bleiben; wie es auch für jeden anderen gut ist.

27 If any of you [men] are married [RHQ], do not try to divorce your wife. If any of you are unmarried [RHQ], do not seek a wife.

Du bist an eine Frau gebunden? Suche keine Lösung! Du bist ledig? Suche keine Frau!

28 But if [any of] you [men] get married, you have not committed a sin [by doing that]. Likewise, if an unmarried woman gets married, she has not committed a sin [by doing that]. However, those who get married will have many troubles, [so I am urging you to remain unmarried in order that] you may not experience [such troubles].

Doch wenn du dennoch heiratest, sündigst du nicht. Auch wenn die Jungfrau heiratet, sündigt sie nicht. Doch werden solche irdische Bedrängnis haben, und davor möchte ich euch bewahren.

29 My fellow believers, this is what I mean: There is not much time left [before Christ returns]. So, from now on those men who are married should [devote themselves to serving the Lord as much] as they would if they were not married.

Doch das, Brüder, muß ich sagen: Die Zeit ist kurz bemessen. Daß doch künftighin Verheiratete so leben, als wären sie nicht verheiratet,

30 Those who are sad should [devote themselves to serving the Lord as much] as they would if they were not sad. Those who are rejoicing [should devote themselves to serving the Lord as much] as they would if they were not joyful.

die Weinenden, als weinten sie nicht, die Fröhlichen, als wären sie nicht fröhlich, die Kaufenden, als behielten sie nichts,

31 Those who are buying things should [devote themselves to serving the Lord as much] as they would if they did not possess those things. Because this world as it exists now will soon be gone, those who are actively involved in the affairs of this life [should not devote all their time] to be involved in those things.

und die mit der Welt verkehren, als hätten sie nichts davon; denn die Gestalt dieser Welt vergeht.

32 [Another reason why] I [encourage you to remain unmarried is that] I desire that none of you be anxious [about the everyday affairs of this life]. Unmarried men are [able to be primarily] concerned about serving the Lord Jesus and trying to please him.

Ich möchte aber, daß ihr ohne Sorgen seid. Wer ledig ist, sorgt für die Sache des Herrn: er möchte gern dem Herrn gefallen.

33 But married men are [often] greatly concerned about the affairs of this life. Specifically, they are concerned about pleasing their wives.

Doch der Verehelichte sorgt sich um Weltliches: er möchte gern dem Weib gefallen,

34 So their thinking is divided. Unmarried women are [able to be] concerned about serving the Lord. They want to set apart their minds and their bodies for serving the Lord. But married women are [often] concerned about the affairs of this life. Specifically, they are concerned about how to please their husbands.

er ist geteilt. Die unverheiratete Frau und die Jungfrau sorgt sich um die Sache des Herrn: daß sie an Leib und Seele heilig sei; doch die Verheiratete sorgt sich ab um Weltliches: sie möchte gern dem Mann gefallen.

35 I am telling you this for your own good. I am not saying it in order to restrict you. Instead, I am saying it in order that you may do what is proper and be able to serve the Lord without being distracted {things distracting you}.

Das sage ich aber nur zu eurem eigenen Nutzen, nicht, um euch eine Schlinge überzuwerfen, sondern damit ihr wohlanständig und beharrlich, ohne Ablenkung beim Herrn aushaltet.

36 [Some of you men have asked about your unmarried daughters]. [I suggest that] if any man thinks that he may be treating his daughter unfairly [by keeping her from marrying], and if it is already past [the right] time for her to get married, and if he thinks that she ought to be married, he should do what he wants to do. He should let her get married. He will not be sinning [by doing that].

Wenn aber einer an seiner Jungfrau ungeziemend zu handeln glaubt, wenn diese über ihrer Reife ist, und es kommt so zu einem Muß, dann tue er, was er mag; er sündigt nicht; sie mögen heiraten.

37 But if a man feels absolutely sure [that it is better that his daughter not get married], and if nothing is forcing [her to get married], and if he is free to do what he decides to do on the matter, if he decides that his daughter should not get married, he is doing what is right in [keeping her from marrying].

Doch wer in seinem Innern gefestigt ist und keinerlei Notwendigkeit zu folgen braucht und Gewalt über seine Begierlichkeit hat, wenn nun ein solcher sich in seinem Inneren dafür entschieden hat, seine Jungfrau zu behalten, der tut wohl daran.

38 So any man who decides that his daughter should get married is doing what is good, but if he decides that she should not get married, he is doing something even better. (OR, [Some of you men have asked about the women to whom you are engaged to marry]. If any man thinks that he may be treating that woman unfairly [by not marrying her], and if it is already past [the right] time for her to get married, and if he wants to marry her very much, he should do what he wants to do. He should marry her. He will not be sinning [by doing that]. But if a man feels absolutely sure [that it is better] for him not to get married, and if nothing is forcing [them to get married], if he is free to make his own decision on the matter, if he decides not to get married, he is doing what is right. So any man who decides that he should get married to the woman he is engaged to is doing what is good, but if he decides that he should not get married, he is doing something even better.)

Wer also seine Jungfrau verheiratet, der handelt gut; doch wer sie nicht verheiratet, der handelt besser.

39 Women must remain married to their husbands while their husbands are still alive. But if a woman’s husband dies, she is free to marry any [unmarried] man whom she wants to marry, but he must belong to the Lord.

Das Weib ist gebunden, solange sein Mann noch lebt; ist nun sein Mann entschlafen, dann ist es frei und kann heiraten, wen es will; es soll jedoch im Herrn geschehen.

40 However, I think that she will be happier if she does not marry again. And I believe that the Spirit of God is [directing] me [as I say that].

Sie ist indessen seliger, wenn sie so bleibt. Dies ist zwar nur meine eigene Meinung; ich glaube jedoch, auch den Geist Gottes zu haben.