1 Corinthians · Young's Literal Translation
1 Corinthians 7 Young's Literal Translation
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 And concerning the things of which ye wrote to me: good [it is] for a man not to touch a woman,
1 Περὶ δὲ ὧν ἐγράψατέ μοι, καλὸν ἀνθρώπῳ γυναικὸς μὴ ἅπτεσθαι·
2 and because of the whoredom let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her proper husband;
2 διὰ δὲ τὰς πορνείας ἕκαστος τὴν ἑαυτοῦ γυναῖκα ἐχέτω, καὶ ἑκάστη τὸν ἴδιον ἄνδρα ἐχέτω.
3 to the wife let the husband the due benevolence render, and in like manner also the wife to the husband;
3 τῇ γυναικὶ ὁ ἀνὴρ τὴν ὀφειλομένην εὔνοιαν ἀποδιδότω, ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ ἡ γυνὴ τῷ ἀνδρί.
4 the wife over her own body hath not authority, but the husband; and, in like manner also, the husband over his own body hath not authority, but the wife.
4 ἡ γυνὴ τοῦ ἰδίου σώματος οὐκ ἐξουσιάζει, ἀλλ᾽ ὁ ἀνήρ· ὁμοίως δὲ καὶ ὁ ἀνὴρ τοῦ ἰδίου σώματος οὐκ ἐξουσιάζει, ἀλλ᾽ ἡ γυνή.
5 Defraud not one another, except by consent for a time, that ye may be free for fasting and prayer, and again may come together, that the Adversary may not tempt you because of your incontinence;
5 μὴ ἀποστερεῖτε ἀλλήλους, εἰ μή τι ἂν ἐκ συμφώνου πρὸς καιρόν, ἵνα σχολάζητε τῇ νηστείᾳ καὶ τῇ προσευχῇ καὶ πάλιν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ συνέρχησθε, ἵνα μὴ πειράζῃ ὑμᾶς ὁ σατανᾶς διὰ τὴν ἀκρασίαν ὑμῶν.
6 and this I say by way of concurrence — not of command,
6 τοῦτο δὲ λέγω κατὰ συγγνώμην, οὐ κατ᾽ ἐπιταγήν.
7 for I wish all men to be even as I myself [am]; but each his own gift hath of God, one indeed thus, and one thus.
7 θέλω γὰρ πάντας ἀνθρώπους εἶναι ὡς καὶ ἐμαυτόν· ἀλλ᾽ ἕκαστος ἴδιον χάρισμα ἔχει ἐκ Θεοῦ, ὃς μὲν οὕτως, ὃς δὲ οὕτως.
8 And I say to the unmarried and to the widows: it is good for them if they may remain even as I [am];
8 Λέγω δὲ τοῖς ἀγάμοις καὶ ταῖς χήραις, καλὸν αὐτοῖς ἐστιν ἐὰν μείνωσιν ὡς κἀγώ.
9 and if they have not continence — let them marry, for it is better to marry than to burn;
9 εἰ δὲ οὐκ ἐγκρατεύονται, γαμησάτωσαν· κρεῖσσον γάρ ἐστι γαμῆσαι ἢ πυροῦσθαι.
10 and to the married I announce — not I, but the Lord — let not a wife separate from a husband:
10 τοῖς δὲ γεγαμηκόσι παραγγέλλω, οὐκ ἐγώ, ἀλλ᾽ ὁ Κύριος, γυναῖκα ἀπὸ ἀνδρὸς μὴ χωρισθῆναι·
11 but and if she may separate, let her remain unmarried, or to the husband let her be reconciled, and let not a husband send away a wife.
11 ἐὰν δὲ καὶ χωρισθῇ, μενέτω ἄγαμος ἢ τῷ ἀνδρὶ καταλλαγήτω· καὶ ἄνδρα γυναῖκα μὴ ἀφιέναι.
12 And to the rest I speak — not the Lord — if any brother hath a wife unbelieving, and she is pleased to dwell with him, let him not send her away;
12 τοῖς δὲ λοιποῖς ἐγὼ λέγω, οὐχ ὁ Κύριος· εἴ τις ἀδελφὸς γυναῖκα ἔχει ἄπιστον, καὶ αὐτὴ συνευδοκεῖ οἰκεῖν μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ, μὴ ἀφιέτω αὐτήν·
13 and a woman who hath a husband unbelieving, and he is pleased to dwell with her, let her not send him away;
13 καὶ γυνὴ εἴ τις ἔχει ἄνδρα ἄπιστον, καὶ αὐτὸς συνευδοκεῖ οἰκεῖν μετ᾽ αὐτῆς, μὴ ἀφιέτω αὐτόν.
14 for the unbelieving husband hath been sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife hath been sanctified in the husband; otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy.
14 ἡγίασται γὰρ ὁ ἀνὴρ ὁ ἄπιστος ἐν τῇ γυναικί, καὶ ἡγίασται ἡ γυνὴ ἡ ἄπιστος ἐν τῷ ἀνδρί· ἐπεὶ ἄρα τὰ τέκνα ὑμῶν ἀκάθαρτά ἐστι, νῦν δὲ ἅγιά ἐστιν.
15 And, if the unbelieving doth separate himself — let him separate himself: the brother or the sister is not under servitude in such [cases], and in peace hath God called us;
15 εἰ δὲ ὁ ἄπιστος χωρίζεται, χωριζέσθω. οὐ δεδούλωται ὁ ἀδελφὸς ἢ ἡ ἀδελφὴ ἐν τοῖς τοιούτοις. ἐν δὲ εἰρήνῃ κέκληκεν ἡμᾶς ὁ Θεός.
16 for what, hast thou known, O wife, whether the husband thou shalt save? or what, hast thou known, O husband, whether the wife thou shalt save?
16 τί γὰρ οἶδας, γύναι, εἰ τὸν ἄνδρα σώσεις; ἢ τί οἶδας, ἄνερ, εἰ τὴν γυναῖκα σώσεις;
17 if not, as God did distribute to each, as the Lord hath called each — so let him walk; and thus in all the assemblies do I direct:
17 εἰ μὴ ἑκάστῳ ὡς ἐμέρισεν ὁ Θεός, ἕκαστον ὡς κέκληκεν ὁ Κύριος, οὕτω περιπατείτω. καὶ οὕτως ἐν ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις πάσαις διατάσσομαι.
18 being circumcised — was any one called? let him not become uncircumcised; in uncircumcision was any one called? let him not be circumcised;
18 περιτετμημένος τις ἐκλήθη; μὴ ἐπισπάσθω. ἐν ἀκροβυστίᾳ τις ἐκλήθη; μὴ περιτεμνέσθω.
19 the circumcision is nothing, and the uncircumcision is nothing — but a keeping of the commands of God.
19 ἡ περιτομὴ οὐδέν ἐστι, καὶ ἡ ἀκροβυστία οὐδέν ἐστιν, ἀλλὰ τήρησις ἐντολῶν Θεοῦ.
20 Each in the calling in which he was called — in this let him remain;
20 ἕκαστος ἐν τῇ κλήσει ᾗ ἐκλήθη, ἐν ταύτῃ μενέτω.
21 a servant — wast thou called? be not anxious; but if also thou art able to become free — use [it] rather;
21 δοῦλος ἐκλήθης; μή σοι μελέτω· ἀλλ᾽ εἰ καὶ δύνασαι ἐλεύθερος γενέσθαι, μᾶλλον χρῆσαι.
22 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:
22 ὁ γὰρ ἐν Κυρίῳ κληθεὶς δοῦλος ἀπελεύθερος Κυρίου ἐστίν· ὁμοίως καὶ ὁ ἐλεύθερος κληθεὶς δοῦλός ἐστι Χριστοῦ.
23 with a price ye were bought, become not servants of men;
23 τιμῆς ἠγοράσθητε· μὴ γίνεσθε δοῦλοι ἀνθρώπων.
24 each, in that in which he was called, brethren, in this let him remain with God.
24 ἕκαστος ἐν ᾧ ἐκλήθη, ἀδελφοί, ἐν τούτῳ μενέτω παρὰ τῷ Θεῷ.
25 And concerning the virgins, a command of the Lord I have not; and I give judgment as having obtained kindness from the Lord to be faithful:
25 Περὶ δὲ τῶν παρθένων ἐπιταγὴν Κυρίου οὐκ ἔχω, γνώμην δὲ δίδωμι ὡς ἠλεημένος ὑπὸ Κυρίου πιστὸς εἶναι.
26 I suppose, therefore, this to be good because of the present necessity, that [it is] good for a man that the matter be thus: —
26 νομίζω οὖν τοῦτο καλὸν ὑπάρχειν διὰ τὴν ἐνεστῶσαν ἀνάγκην, ὅτι καλὸν ἀνθρώπῳ τὸ οὕτως εἶναι.
27 Hast thou been bound to a wife? seek not to be loosed; hast thou been loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.
27 δέδεσαι γυναικί; μὴ ζήτει λύσιν· λέλυσαι ἀπὸ γυναικός; μὴ ζήτει γυναῖκα·
28 But and if thou mayest marry, thou didst not sin; and if the virgin may marry, she did not sin; and such shall have tribulation in the flesh: and I spare you.
28 ἐὰν δὲ καὶ γήμῃς, οὐχ ἥμαρτες· καὶ ἐὰν γήμῃ ἡ παρθένος, οὐχ ἥμαρτε· θλῖψιν δὲ τῇ σαρκὶ ἕξουσιν οἱ τοιοῦτοι· ἐγὼ δὲ ὑμῶν φείδομαι.
29 And this I say, brethren, the time henceforth is having been shortened — that both those having wives may be as not having;
29 τοῦτο δέ φημι, ἀδελφοί, ὁ καιρὸς συνεσταλμένος τὸ λοιπόν ἐστιν, ἵνα καὶ οἱ ἔχοντες γυναῖκας ὡς μὴ ἔχοντες ὦσι,
30 and those weeping, as not weeping; and those rejoicing, as not rejoicing; and those buying, as not possessing;
30 καὶ οἱ κλαίοντες ὡς μὴ κλαίοντες, καὶ οἱ χαίροντες ὡς μὴ χαίροντες, καὶ οἱ ἀγοράζοντες ὡς μὴ κατέχοντες,
31 and those using this world, as not using [it] up; for passing away is the fashion of this world.
31 καὶ οἱ χρώμενοι τῷ κόσμῳ τούτῳ ὡς μὴ καταχρώμενοι· παράγει γὰρ τὸ σχῆμα τοῦ κόσμου τούτου.
32 And I wish you to be without anxiety; the unmarried is anxious for the things of the Lord, how he shall please the Lord;
32 θέλω δὲ ὑμᾶς ἀμερίμνους εἶναι. ὁ ἄγαμος μεριμνᾷ τὰ τοῦ Κυρίου, πῶς ἀρέσει τῷ Κυρίῳ·
33 and the married is anxious for the things of the world, how he shall please the wife.
33 ὁ δὲ γαμήσας μεριμνᾷ τὰ τοῦ κόσμου, πῶς ἀρέσει τῇ γυναικί.
34 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 shall please the husband.
34 μεμέρισται [καὶ] ἡ γυνὴ καὶ ἡ παρθένος. ἡ ἄγαμος μεριμνᾷ τὰ τοῦ Κυρίου, ἵνα ᾖ ἁγία καὶ σώματι καὶ πνεύματι· ἡ δὲ γαμήσασα μεριμνᾷ τὰ τοῦ κόσμου, πῶς ἀρέσει τῷ ἀνδρί.
35 And this for your own profit I say: not that I may cast a noose upon you, but for the seemliness and devotedness to the Lord, undistractedly,
35 τοῦτο δὲ πρὸς τὸ ὑμῶν αὐτῶν συμφέρον λέγω, οὐχ ἵνα βρόχον ὑμῖν ἐπιβάλω, ἀλλὰ πρὸς τὸ εὔσχημον καὶ εὐπάρεδρον τῷ Κυρίῳ ἀπερισπάστως.
36 and if any one doth think [it] to be unseemly to his virgin, if she may be beyond the bloom of age, and it ought so to be, what he willeth let him do; he doth not sin — let him marry.
36 Εἰ δέ τις ἀσχημονεῖν ἐπὶ τὴν παρθένον αὐτοῦ νομίζει, ἐὰν ᾖ ὑπέρακμος, καὶ οὕτως ὀφείλει γίνεσθαι, ὃ θέλει ποιείτω· οὐχ ἁμαρτάνει· γαμείτωσαν.
37 And he who hath stood stedfast in the heart — not having necessity — and hath authority over his own will, and this he hath determined in his heart — to keep his own virgin — doth well;
37 ὃς δὲ ἕστηκεν ἑδραῖος ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ, μὴ ἔχων ἀνάγκην, ἐξουσίαν δὲ ἔχει περὶ τοῦ ἰδίου θελήματος, καὶ τοῦτο κέκρικεν ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ, τοῦ τηρεῖν τὴν ἑαυτοῦ παρθένον, καλῶς ποιεῖ.
38 so that both he who is giving in marriage doth well, and he who is not giving in marriage doth better.
38 ὥστε καὶ ὁ ἐκγαμίζων καλῶς ποιεῖ, ὁ δὲ μὴ ἐκγαμίζων κρεῖσσον ποιεῖ.
39 A wife hath been bound by law as long 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;
39 Γυνὴ δέδεται νόμῳ ἐφ᾽ ὅσον χρόνον ζῇ ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς· ἐὰν δὲ κοιμηθῇ ὁ ἀνὴρ αὐτῆς, ἐλευθέρα ἐστὶν ᾧ θέλει γαμηθῆναι, μόνον ἐν Κυρίῳ.
40 and she is happier if she may so remain — according to my judgment; and I think I also have the Spirit of God.
40 μακαριωτέρα δέ ἐστιν ἐὰν οὕτω μείνῃ, κατὰ τὴν ἐμὴν γνώμην· δοκῶ δὲ κἀγὼ Πνεῦμα Θεοῦ ἔχειν.
Cross references (38)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 1 Corinthians 7:8; Matthew 19:10–11; 1 Corinthians 7:26–27; 1 Corinthians 7:37–38; Genesis 20:6
- 2 Ephesians 5:28; Ephesians 5:33; 1 Corinthians 7:9; Proverbs 18:22; Proverbs 5:18–19
- 3 1 Peter 3:7; Exodus 21:10
- 4 Matthew 19:9; Hosea 3:3; Mark 10:11–12
- 5 Exodus 19:15; Joel 2:16; Zechariah 12:12–14; 1 Samuel 21:4–5; Matthew 19:11
- 6 2 Corinthians 8:8; 1 Corinthians 7:25; 1 Corinthians 7:12; 2 Corinthians 11:17
- 7 Matthew 19:11–12; 1 Corinthians 7:8; Romans 12:6; 1 Corinthians 9:5; 1 Corinthians 12:4
- 8 1 Corinthians 7:32; 1 Corinthians 7:34–35; 1 Corinthians 7:7; 1 Corinthians 7:26–27; 1 Corinthians 7:1
- 9 1 Corinthians 7:2; 1 Timothy 5:14; 1 Timothy 5:11; 1 Corinthians 7:28; 1 Corinthians 7:36
- 10 Matthew 5:32; Luke 16:18; Malachi 2:14–16; Matthew 19:3–9; Mark 10:11–12
- 11 Jeremiah 3:1; 1 Corinthians 7:10; Deuteronomy 22:19; Isaiah 50:1; Judges 19:2–3
- 12 1 Corinthians 7:6; 2 Corinthians 11:17; 1 Corinthians 7:25; Ezra 10:2–3; Ezra 10:11–19
- 14 Malachi 2:15–16; 1 Timothy 4:5; Isaiah 52:1; Titus 1:15; Romans 11:16
- 15 Romans 14:19; James 3:17–18; 2 Corinthians 13:11; 1 Corinthians 14:33; Matthew 12:50
- 16 1 Peter 3:1–2; Romans 11:14; 1 Corinthians 9:22; James 5:19–20; Luke 15:10
- 17 1 Corinthians 4:17; 1 Corinthians 7:24; Romans 12:3–8; 1 Corinthians 7:20–21; 2 Corinthians 11:28
- 18 Acts 15:5; Acts 15:19; Galatians 5:1–3; Colossians 3:11; Acts 15:28
- 19 Galatians 5:6; Galatians 6:15; 1 John 2:3–4; Romans 2:25–29; 1 John 3:22–24
- 20 1 Corinthians 7:17; 1 Thessalonians 4:11; Proverbs 27:8; 2 Thessalonians 3:12; 1 Corinthians 7:21–24
- 21 1 Peter 2:18–24; Colossians 3:11; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Luke 12:29; Luke 10:40–41
- 22 1 Peter 2:16; Philemon 16; Colossians 3:22–24; Galatians 5:13; Romans 6:18–22
- 23 1 Corinthians 6:20; 1 Peter 1:18–19; Titus 2:14; Leviticus 25:42; Revelation 5:9
- 24 1 Corinthians 7:20; Colossians 3:23–24; 1 Corinthians 7:17; Genesis 17:1; 1 Corinthians 10:31
- 25 1 Corinthians 7:6; 1 Corinthians 4:2; 1 Corinthians 7:40; 2 Corinthians 8:8–10; 1 Corinthians 7:12
- 26 1 Corinthians 7:1; 1 Corinthians 7:8; Luke 23:28–29; 1 Peter 4:17; 1 Corinthians 7:28
- 27 1 Corinthians 7:12–14; 1 Corinthians 7:20
- 28 Hebrews 13:4; 1 Corinthians 7:32–36; 1 Corinthians 7:26; 2 Corinthians 1:23
- 29 1 John 2:17; Romans 13:11–12; 1 Corinthians 7:31; James 4:13–16; Hebrews 13:13–14
- 30 Ecclesiastes 3:4; John 16:22; Luke 6:21; Psalm 126:5–6; Revelation 7:17
- 31 1 John 2:17; 1 Peter 4:7; Luke 21:34; James 4:14; 1 Peter 1:24
- 32 Matthew 6:25–34; 1 Timothy 5:5; Philippians 4:6; Psalm 55:22; Matthew 13:22
- 33 1 Peter 3:7; Colossians 3:19; 1 Timothy 5:8; Ephesians 5:25–33; Luke 12:22
- 34 Luke 10:40–42; 1 Corinthians 6:20; Luke 2:36–37; Romans 12:1–2; Philippians 1:20
- 35 1 Corinthians 7:33–34; 1 Corinthians 7:36; Luke 8:14; Philippians 4:8; 1 Corinthians 7:2
- 36 1 Corinthians 7:9; 1 Corinthians 7:37
- 38 Hebrews 13:4; 1 Corinthians 7:1–2; 1 Corinthians 7:37; 1 Corinthians 7:32–34; 1 Corinthians 7:8
- 39 Romans 7:2–3; 2 Corinthians 6:14–16; 1 Corinthians 7:10; 1 Corinthians 7:15; Malachi 2:11
- 40 1 Corinthians 7:8; 1 Corinthians 7:1; 1 Corinthians 7:25–26; 1 Corinthians 7:6; 2 Corinthians 12:11
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
Having corrected the three heaviest things laid to their charge, one, the distraction of the Church, another, about the fornicator, a third, about the covetous person, he thenceforth uses a milder sort of speech. And he interposes some exhortation and advice about marriage and virginity, giving the hearers some respite from more unpleasant subjects.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 12 (1889)
And they are also unacquainted with [the meaning of] the passing away of the heaven and earth; but Paul was not ignorant of it when he declared, "For the figure of this world passeth away." In the next place, David explains their question, for he says that when the fashion of this world passes away, not only shall God remain, …
For Thy omnipotency is not far from us even when we are far from Thee, else in truth ought I more vigilantly to have given heed to the voice from the clouds: "Nevertheless, such shall have trouble in the flesh, but I spare you;" and, "It is good for a man not to touch a woman;" and, "He that is …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)
… to the monks also, except marriage; yea rather, even with respect to this, Paul commands us to put ourselves altogether on a level with them; saying, "For the fashion of this world passeth away:" that "they that have wives be as though they had none." "Wherefore" (so he speaks) "I do not bid you take possession of the summits of …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
… should testify of himself "the Spirit of God is in me, and I offer glory after being made wise through the grace that flows from Him." For to a Paul it is becoming to say "I think also that I have the Spirit of God," and again, "that good thing which was committed to thee keep by the Holy Ghost …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 8 (1895)