1 Corinthians 7
1 As concerninge the thinges wherof ye wrote vnto me: it is good for a ma not to touche a woman.
Now concerning the question in your letter. It is well for a man to have no intercourse with a woman,
2 Neverthelesse to avoyde fornicacio let every man have his wyfe: and let every woman have her husbande.
but because there is so much immorality let each man have his own wife; and let each women have her own husband.
3 Let the man geve vnto the wyfe due benevolence. Lykwyse also the wyfe vnto the man.
Let the husband give his wife her due, and likewise the wife her husband. The wife is not mistress of her own person,
4 The wyfe hath not power over her awne body: but the husbande. And lykewyse the man hath not power over his awne body: but the wyfe
but her husband is; and in the same way the husband is not master of his own person, but his wife is.
5 Withdrawe not youre selves one from another excepte it be with consent for a tyme for to geve youre selves to fastynge and prayer. And afterwarde come agayne to the same thynge lest Satan tempt you for youre incontinencye.
Do not refuse one another, unless it is only temporary and by mutual consent, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again, lest through your lack of self-control Satan begin to tempt you to sin.
6 This I saye of faveour not of comaundement.
But what I have just said is by way of concession, not command.
7 For I wolde that all men were as I my selfe am: but every man hath his proper gyfte of God one after this maner another after that.
I would that every one lived as I do; but each man has his own special gift from God, one this, another that.
8 I saye vnto the vnmaried men and widdowes: it is good for them yf they abyde eve as I do.
But to the unmarried, and the widows, I say that it is well for them to remain as I am.
9 But and yf they canot abstayne let them mary. For it is better to mary then to burne.
If, however, they are not exercising self-control, by all means let them marry; for marriage is better than the fever of passion.
10 Vnto the maryed comaunde not I but the Lorde: that the wyfe separate not her selfe from the man.
But to those already married my commandment is - and not mine, but the Lord’s - that a wife is not to leave her husband;
11 Yf she separate her selfe let her remayne vnmaryed or be reconciled vnto her husbande agayne. And let not the husbande put awaye his wyfe from him.
(or if she has already left him let her either remain as she is, or be reconciled to him), and also that a husband is not to put away his wife.
12 To the remnaunt speake I and not the lorde. Yf eny brother have a wyfe that beleveth not yf she be content to dwell with him let him not put her awaye.
To the rest it is I who am speaking, not the Lord. If any brother has a wife who is not a believer, if he is willing to live with her, let him not send her away.
13 And ye woma which hath to her husbande an infidell yf he consent to dwell with her let her not put him awaye.
And a woman whose husband is not a believer, if he is willing to live with her, let her not separate from him.
14 For ye vnbelevynge husbande is sanctified by the wyfe: and the vnbelevynge wyfe is sanctified by the husbande. Or els were youre chyldren vnclene: but now are they pure.
For the unbelieving husband is consecrated through union with his believing wife; and the unbelieving wife, through union with her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unholy, but now they are consecrated to God.
15 But and yf the vnbelevynge departe let him departe. A brother or a sister is not in subiection to soche. God hath called vs in peace.
But if the unbelieving partner be determined to leave, separation let it be. In such cases the believing husband or wife is not under bondage. But it is into peace that God has called us.
16 For how knowest thou o woman whether thou shalt save that man or no? Other how knowest thou o man whether thou shalt save that woman or no?
For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
17 but even as God hath distributed to every man. As the lorde hath called every person so let him walke: and so orden I in all congregacios.
Only whatever be the lot in life to which God has assigned each one - and whatever the condition in which he was living when God called him- -in that let him continue. Such is the rule I give in all the churches.
18 Yf eny man be called beynge circumcised let him adde nothinge therto. Yf eny be called vncircumcised: let him not be circucised.
So, was any man called, being circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was any man called when he was uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised.
19 Circumcision is nothinge vncircumcision is nothinge: but the kepyng of the comaundmentes of god is altogether.
Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands in everything.
20 Let every man abyde in the same state wherin he was called.
Whatever be the condition of life in which he was called, in that let him continue.
21 Arte thou called a servaut? care not for it. Neverthelesse yf thou mayst be fre vse it rather.
Were you called in slavery? Let not that trouble you; but if you can become free make use of the opportunity.
22 For he that is called in the lorde beynge a servaunt is the lordes freman. Lykwyse he that is called beynge fre is Christes servaut.
For the slave who has been called in the Lord is the Lord’s freedman; and in the same way, the free man who is called is Christ’s slave.
23 Ye are dearly bought be not mennes seruauntes.
You have been brought with a price; do not become slaves to men.
24 Brethren let everye man wherin he is called therin abyde with God.
Where each man stood when he was called, there, brothers, let him stay, close to God.
25 As concernynge virgins I have no comaundment of the lorde: yet geve I counsell as one that hath obtayned mercye of the lorde to be faythfull.
I have no command from the Lord to give you concerning unmarried women; but I give you my opinion, and it is that of a man who, through the Lord’s mercy, is deserving of your confidence.
26 I suppose that it is good for the present necessite. For it is good for a ma so to be.
I think then, that in view of the time of suffering now imminent, it is best for a man to remain as he is.
27 Arte thou bounde vnto a wyfe? seke not to be lowsed. Arte thou lowsed from a wyfe? seke not a wyfe.
Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from the marriage bond? Do not seek for a wife.
28 But and yf thou take a wyfe thou synnest not. Lykwyse if a virgin mary she synneth not. Neverthelesse soche shall have trouble in their flesshe: but I faver you.
Yet if you do not marry, you have not done wrong; and if a girl marries, she has not done wrong. Such people, however, will have trouble in worldy affairs, and I wish to spare you.
29 This saye I brethre the tyme is shorte. It remayneth that they which have wives be as though they had none
Indeed, brothers, the time that remains to us has been shortened; so let those who have wives live as if they had none,
30 and they that wepe be as though thy wept not: and they that reioyce be as though they reioysed not: and they that bye be as though they possessed not:
let those who weep be as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess,
31 and they yt vse this worlde be as though they vsed it not. For the fassion of this worlde goeth awaye.
and those who use the world as though using it sparingly. For the present phase of the world is passing away.
32 I wolde have you without care: the single man careth for the thinges of the lorde how he maye please the lorde.
So I want you to be free from all anxieties. An unmarried man is anxious about the Lord’s business, how he may please the Lord;
33 But he that hath maried careth for the thinges of the worlde howe he maye please his wyfe.
but a married man is anxious about worldly affairs, how he may please his wife, and he is divided in his mind.
34 There is differece bitwene a virgin and a wyfe. The single woman careth for the thinges of the lorde that she maye be pure both in body and also in sprete But she that is maryed careth for the thinges of the worlde how she maye please her husband.
Again, the woman who is widow, or the maid, is anxious about the Lord’s business, how she may be pure in body and in mind; but the married woman is anxious about worldly affairs, how she may please her husband.
35 This speake I for youre proffit not to tangle you in a snare: but for that which is honest and comly vnto you and that ye maye quyetly cleave vnto the lorde wt out separacion.
It is in your own interest that I say this; not that I may entangle you in a snare, but that I may help you to serve the Lord with fitting and undistracted service.
36 If eny man thinke that it is vncomly for his virgin if she passe the tyme of mariage ad if so nede requyre let him do what he listeth he synneth not: let the be coupled in mariage.
If, however, a father feels that he is not treating his virgin daughter in a seemly manner, in leaving her unmarried beyond the flower of her age, and so the matter is urgent, let him do what she desires; he commits no sin. Let the marriage take place.
37 Neverthelesse he yt purposeth surely in his herte havynge none nede: but hath power over his awne will: and hath so decreed in his herte that he will kepe his virgin doth well.
On the other hand, he who is firm in his purpose and is under no compulsion, but is free to carry out his own wishes, and who has determined to keep his daughter unmarried, does well.
38 So then he that ioyneth his virgin in maryage doth well. But he that ioyneth not his virgin in mariage doth better.
So he that gives his daughter in marriage is doing right, and he who keeps her unmarried will be doing right, and he who keeps her unmarried will be doing better.
39 The wyfe is bounde to the lawe as longe as her husband liveth If her husbande slepe she is at liberte to mary with whom she wyll only in the lorde.
A wife is bound to her husband during his lifetime; but if her husband dies, she is free to marry whomever she will, provided it be in the Lord.
40 But she is happiar yf she so abyde in my iudgmet And I thinke verely that I have the sprete of God.
But she is happier, in my judgment, if she remains as she is; and I think that I, too, have the Spirit of God.
