1 Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.2 Nevertheless, because of sexual perversion, let each have his own wife, and let each have her own husband.3 Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband.4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.5 Do not deprive one another except by agreement for a time, that you may be free for fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.6 But I say this by permission, not by commandment.7 For I wish that all men were even as myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.8 But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am;9 but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to be on fire.10 Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to leave her husband.11 But, indeed, in case she does leave, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to send away his wife.12 But to the rest I say, not the Lord: If any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she is willing to live with him, let him not send her away.13 And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, if he is willing to live with her, let her not leave him.14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let them leave; a brother or sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us in peace.16 For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?17 But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I command in all the churches.18 Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised.19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.20 Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called.21 Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you are able to be made free, rather use it.22 For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lords freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christs slave.23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.24 Brethren, let each one remain with God however he was called.25 Now concerning virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one who, having received mercy from the Lord, is faithful.26 I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present necessity; that it is good for a man to be thus:27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife.28 But also if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I am sparing you.29 But this I say, brethren, the time has been shortened, so that even those who have wives should be as though they had none,30 those who weep 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 those who use this world as not using it up. For the form of this world is passing away.32 But I want you to be free from anxiety. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord; how to please the Lord.33 But he who is married cares about the things of the world; how to please his wife.34 There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world; how to please her husband.35 And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.36 But if any man thinks he is behaving improperly toward his virgin, if she is past the flower of youth, and it is the duty, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin; let him marry.37 Nevertheless he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has control over his own will, and has so determined in his heart that he will keep himself a virgin, does well.38 So then he who gives in marriage does well, but he who does not give in marriage does better.39 A wife is bound by Law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.40 But she is happier if she remains so, according to my judgment; and I think I also have the Spirit of God.
1 But of thilke thingis that ye han write to me, it is good to a man to touche not a womman.2 But for fornycacioun eche man haue his owne wijf, and ech womman haue hir owne hosebonde.3 The hosebonde yelde dette to the wijf, and also the wijf to the hosebonde.4 The womman hath not power of hir bodi, but the hosebonde; and the hosebonde hath not power of his bodi, but the womman.5 Nyle ye defraude eche to othere, but perauenture of consent to a tyme, that ye yyue tent to preier; and eft turne ye ayen to the same thing, lest Sathanas tempte you for youre vncontynence.6 But Y seie this thing as yyuyng leeue, not bi comaundement.7 For Y wole, that alle men be as my silf. But eche man hath his propre yifte of God; oon thus, and another thus.8 But Y seie to hem, that ben not weddid, and to widewis, it is good to hem, if thei dwellen so as Y.9 That if thei conteynen not hem silf, be thei weddid; for it is betere to be weddid, than to be brent.10 But to hem that ben ioyned in matrymonye, Y comaunde, not Y, but the Lord, that the wijf departe not fro the hosebonde;11 and that if sche departith, that sche dwelle vnweddid, or be recounselid to hir hosebonde; and the hosebonde forsake not the wijf.12 But to othere Y seie, not the Lord. If ony brother hath an vnfeithful wijf, and sche consenteth to dwelle with hym, leeue he hir not.13 And if ony womman hath an vnfeithful hosebonde, and this consentith to dwelle with hir, leeue sche not the hosebonde.14 For the vnfeithful hosebonde is halewid bi the feithful womman, and the vnfeithful womman is halewid bi the feithful hosebonde. Ellis youre children weren vncleene, but now thei ben hooli.15 That if the vnfeithful departith, departe he. For whi the brother or sistir is not suget to seruage in siche; for God hath clepid vs in pees.16 And wherof wost thou, womman, if thou schalt make the man saaf; or wherof wost thou, man, if thou schalt make the womman saaf?17 But as the Lord hath departid to ech, and as God hath clepid ech man, so go he, as Y teche in alle chirchis.18 A man circumcidid is clepid, brynge he not to the prepucie. A man is clepid in prepucie, be he not circumcidid.19 Circumcisioun is nouyt, and prepucie is nouyt, but the kepyng of the maundementis of God.20 Ech man in what clepyng he is clepid, in that dwelle he.21 Thou seruaunt art clepid, be it no charge to thee; but if thou maist be fre, `the rather vse thou.22 He that is a seruaunt, and is clepid in the Lord, is a freman of the Lord. Also he that is a freman, and is clepid, is the seruaunt of Crist.23 With prijs ye ben bouyt; nyle ye be maad seruauntis of men.24 Therfor ech man in what thing he is clepid a brothir, dwelle he in this anentis God.25 But of virgyns Y haue no comaundement of God; but Y yyue counseil, as he that hath mercy of the Lord, that Y be trewe.26 Therfor Y gesse, that this thing is good for the present nede; for it is good to a man to be so.27 Thou art boundun to a wijf, nyle thou seke vnbyndyng; thou art vnboundun fro a wijf, nyle thou seke a wijf.28 But if thou hast takun a wijf, thou hast not synned; and if a maidun is weddid, sche synnede not; nethelesse siche schulen haue tribulacioun of fleisch.29 But Y spare you. Therfor, britheren, Y seie this thing, The tyme is schort. Another is this, that thei that han wyues, be as thouy thei hadden noon;30 and thei that wepen, as thei wepten not; and thei that ioien, as thei ioieden not; and thei that bien, as thei hadden not;31 and thei that vsen this world, as thei that vsen not. For whi the figure of this world passith.32 But Y wole, that ye be without bisynesse, for he that is without wijf, is bisi what thingis ben of the Lord, hou he schal plese God.33 But he that is with a wijf, is bysy what thingis ben of the world, hou he schal plese the wijf, and he is departid.34 And a womman vnweddid and maidun thenkith what thingis ben of the Lord, that sche be hooli in bodi and spirit. But sche that is weddid, thenkith what thingis ben of the world, hou sche schal plese the hosebonde.35 And Y seie these thingis to youre profit, not that Y caste to you a snare, but to that that is onest, and that yyueth esynesse, with outen lettyng to make preieris to the Lord.36 And if ony man gessith hym silf to be seyn foule on his virgyn, that sche is ful woxun, and so it bihoueth to be doon, do sche that that sche wole; sche synneth not, if sche be weddid.37 For he that ordeynede stabli in his herte, not hauynge nede, but hauynge power of his wille, and hath demed in his herte this thing, to kepe his virgyn, doith wel.38 Therfore he that ioyneth his virgyn in matrymonye, doith wel; and he that ioyneth not, doith betere.39 The womman is boundun to the lawe, as longe tyme as hir hosebonde lyueth; and if hir hosebonde is deed, sche is delyuered fro the lawe of the hosebonde, be sche weddid to whom sche wole, oneli in the Lord.40 But sche schal be more blessid, if sche dwellith thus, aftir my counsel; and Y wene, that Y haue the Spirit of God.