Προς Κορινθιους Α΄ 7

1 περι δε ων εγραψατε μοι καλον ανθρωπω γυναικος μη απτεσθαι

And concerning the things of which you wrote to me: [it is] good for a man not to touch a woman,

2 δια δε τας πορνειας εκαστος την εαυτου γυναικα εχετω και εκαστη τον ιδιον ανδρα εχετω

and because of the whoredom let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her proper husband;

3 τη γυναικι ο ανηρ την οφειλομενην ευνοιαν αποδιδοτω ομοιως δε και η γυνη τω ανδρι

to the wife let the husband render the due benevolence, and in like manner also the wife to the husband;

4 η γυνη του ιδιου σωματος ουκ εξουσιαζει αλλ ο ανηρ ομοιως δε και ο ανηρ του ιδιου σωματος ουκ εξουσιαζει αλλ η γυνη

the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband; and in like manner also, the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife.

5 μη αποστερειτε αλληλους ει μη τι αν εκ συμφωνου προς καιρον ινα σχολαζητε τη νηστεια και τη προσευχη και παλιν επι το αυτο συνερχεσθε ινα μη πειραζη υμας ο σατανας δια την ακρασιαν υμων

Do not defraud one another, except by consent for a time, that you may be free for fasting and prayer, and again may come together, that Satan may not tempt you because of your self-indulgence;

6 τουτο δε λεγω κατα συγγνωμην ου κατ επιταγην

and this I say by way of concurrence—not of command,

7 θελω γαρ παντας ανθρωπους ειναι ως και εμαυτον αλλ εκαστος ιδιον χαρισμα εχει εκ θεου ος μεν ουτως ος δε ουτως

for I wish all men to be even as I myself [am]; but each has his own gift of God, one indeed thus and one thus.

8 λεγω δε τοις αγαμοις και ταις χηραις καλον αυτοις εστιν εαν μεινωσιν ως καγω

And I say to the unmarried and to the widows: it is good for them if they may remain even as I [am];

9 ει δε ουκ εγκρατευονται γαμησατωσαν κρεισσον γαρ εστιν γαμησαι η πυρουσθαι

and if they do not have continence—let them marry, for it is better to marry than to burn;

10 τοις δε γεγαμηκοσιν παραγγελλω ουκ εγω αλλ ο κυριος γυναικα απο ανδρος μη χωρισθηναι

and to the married I announce—not I, but the LORD—do not let a wife separate from a husband:

11 εαν δε και χωρισθη μενετω αγαμος η τω ανδρι καταλλαγητω και ανδρα γυναικα μη αφιεναι

but, and if she may separate, let her remain unmarried, or let her be reconciled to the husband, and do not let a husband send a wife away.

12 τοις δε λοιποις εγω λεγω ουχ ο κυριος ει τις αδελφος γυναικα εχει απιστον και αυτη συνευδοκει οικειν μετ αυτου μη αφιετω αυτην

And to the rest I speak—not the LORD—if any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she is pleased to dwell with him, do not let him send her away;

13 και γυνη ητις εχει ανδρα απιστον και αυτος συνευδοκει οικειν μετ αυτης μη αφιετω αυτον

and a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he is pleased to dwell with her, do not let her send him away;

14 ηγιασται γαρ ο ανηρ ο απιστος εν τη γυναικι και ηγιασται η γυνη η απιστος εν τω ανδρι επει αρα τα τεκνα υμων ακαθαρτα εστιν νυν δε αγια εστιν

for the unbelieving husband has been sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified in the husband; otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy.

15 ει δε ο απιστος χωριζεται χωριζεσθω ου δεδουλωται ο αδελφος η η αδελφη εν τοις τοιουτοις εν δε ειρηνη κεκληκεν ημας ο θεος

And if the unbelieving separates himself—let him separate himself: the brother or the sister is not under servitude in such [cases], and in peace has God called us;

16 τι γαρ οιδας γυναι ει τον ανδρα σωσεις η τι οιδας ανερ ει την γυναικα σωσεις

for what, have you known, O wife, whether you will save the husband? Or what, have you known, O husband, whether you will save the wife?

17 ει μη εκαστω ως εμερισεν ο θεος εκαστον ως κεκληκεν ο κυριος ουτως περιπατειτω και ουτως εν ταις εκκλησιαις πασαις διατασσομαι

If not, as God distributed to each, as the LORD has called each—so let him walk; and thus I direct in all the assemblies:

18 περιτετμημενος τις εκληθη μη επισπασθω εν ακροβυστια τις εκληθη μη περιτεμνεσθω

being circumcised—was anyone called? Do not let him become uncircumcised; in uncircumcision was anyone called? Do not let him be circumcised;

19 η περιτομη ουδεν εστιν και η ακροβυστια ουδεν εστιν αλλα τηρησις εντολων θεου

the circumcision is nothing, and the uncircumcision is nothing—but a keeping of the commands of God.

20 εκαστος εν τη κλησει η εκληθη εν ταυτη μενετω

Each in the calling in which he was called—in this let him remain;

21 δουλος εκληθης μη σοι μελετω αλλ ει και δυνασαι ελευθερος γενεσθαι μαλλον χρησαι

a servant—were you called? Do not be anxious; but if also you are able to become free—use [it] rather;

22 ο γαρ εν κυριω κληθεις δουλος απελευθερος κυριου εστιν ομοιως και ο ελευθερος κληθεις δουλος εστιν χριστου

for he who [is] in the LORD—having been called a servant—is the LORD’s freedman: in like manner also he the freeman, having been called, is servant of Christ:

23 τιμης ηγορασθητε μη γινεσθε δουλοι ανθρωπων

you were bought with a price, do not become servants of men;

24 εκαστος εν ω εκληθη αδελφοι εν τουτω μενετω παρα τω θεω

each, in that in which he was called, brothers, in this let him remain with God.

25 περι δε των παρθενων επιταγην κυριου ουκ εχω γνωμην δε διδωμι ως ηλεημενος υπο κυριου πιστος ειναι

And concerning the virgins, I do not have a command of the LORD; and I give judgment as having obtained kindness from the LORD to be faithful.

26 νομιζω ουν τουτο καλον υπαρχειν δια την ενεστωσαν αναγκην οτι καλον ανθρωπω το ουτως ειναι

I suppose, therefore, this to be good because of the present necessity, that [it is] good for a man that the matter be thus:

27 δεδεσαι γυναικι μη ζητει λυσιν λελυσαι απο γυναικος μη ζητει γυναικα

Have you been bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed; have you been loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife.

28 εαν δε και γημης ουχ ημαρτες και εαν γημη η παρθενος ουχ ημαρτεν θλιψιν δε τη σαρκι εξουσιν οι τοιουτοι εγω δε υμων φειδομαι

But, and if you may marry, you did not sin; and if the virgin may marry, she did not sin; and such will have tribulation in the flesh: and I spare you.

29 τουτο δε φημι αδελφοι οτι ο καιρος συνεσταλμενος το λοιπον εστιν ινα και εχοντες γυναικας ως μη εχοντες ωσιν

And this I say, brothers, the time from now on is having been shortened—that both those having wives may be as not having;

30 και οι κλαιοντες ως μη κλαιοντες και οι χαιροντες ως μη χαιροντες και οι αγοραζοντες ως μη κατεχοντες

and those weeping, as not weeping; and those rejoicing, as not rejoicing; and those buying, as not possessing;

31 και οι χρωμενοι τω κοσμω τουτω ως μη καταχρωμενοι παραγει γαρ το σχημα του κοσμου τουτου

and those using this world, as not using [it] up; for the [present] form of this world is passing away.

32 θελω δε υμας αμεριμνους ειναι ο αγαμος μεριμνα τα του κυριου πως αρεσει τω κυριω

And I wish you to be without anxiety; the unmarried is anxious for the things of the LORD, how he will please the LORD;

33 ο δε γαμησας μεριμνα τα του κοσμου πως αρεσει τη γυναικι

and the married is anxious for the things of the world, how he will please the wife.

34 μεμερισται η γυνη και η παρθενος η αγαμος μεριμνα τα του κυριου ινα η αγια και σωματι και πνευματι η δε γαμησασα μεριμνα τα του κοσμου πως αρεσει τω ανδρι

The wife and the virgin have been distinguished: the unmarried is anxious for the things of the LORD, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit, and the married is anxious for the things of the world, how she will please the husband.

35 τουτο δε προς το υμων αυτων συμφερον λεγω ουχ ινα βροχον υμιν επιβαλω αλλα προς το ευσχημον και ευπροσεδρον τω κυριω απερισπαστως

And this I say for your own profit: not that I may cast a noose on you, but for the seemliness and devotedness to the LORD, undistractedly,

36 ει δε τις ασχημονειν επι την παρθενον αυτου νομιζει εαν η υπερακμος και ουτως οφειλει γινεσθαι ο θελει ποιειτω ουχ αμαρτανει γαμειτωσαν

and if anyone thinks [it] to be unseemly to his virgin, if she may be beyond the bloom of age, and it ought to be so, what he wills let him do; he does not sin—let him marry.

37 ος δε εστηκεν εδραιος εν τη καρδια μη εχων αναγκην εξουσιαν δε εχει περι του ιδιου θεληματος και τουτο κεκρικεν εν τη καρδια αυτου του τηρειν την εαυτου παρθενον καλως ποιει

And he does well who has stood steadfast in the heart—not having necessity—and has authority over his own will, and he has determined this in his heart—to keep his own virgin;

38 ωστε και ο εκγαμιζων καλως ποιει ο δε μη εκγαμιζων κρεισσον ποιει

so that both he who is giving in marriage does well, and he who is not giving in marriage does better.

39 γυνη δεδεται νομω εφ οσον χρονον ζη ο ανηρ αυτης εαν δε κοιμηθη ο ανηρ αυτης ελευθερα εστιν ω θελει γαμηθηναι μονον εν κυριω

A wife has been bound by law [for] as long [a] time as her husband may live, and if her husband may sleep, she is free to be married to whom she will—only in the LORD;

40 μακαριωτερα δε εστιν εαν ουτως μεινη κατα την εμην γνωμην δοκω δε καγω πνευμα θεου εχειν

and she is happier if she may so remain—according to my judgment; and I think I also have the Spirit of God.