1 Corinthians 7

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	DOUAI-RHEIMS
1 Now in regard to the matters about which you wrote: "It is a good thing for a man not to touch a woman,"	1 Now concerning the thing whereof you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
2 but because of cases of immorality every man should have his own wife, and every woman her own husband.	2 But for fear of fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
3 The husband should fulfill his duty toward his wife, and likewise the wife toward her husband.	3 Let the husband render the debt to his wife, and the wife also in like manner to the husband.
4 A wife does not have authority over her own body, but rather her husband, and similarly a husband does not have authority over his own body, but rather his wife.	4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband. And in like manner the husband also hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
5 Do not deprive each other, except perhaps by mutual consent for a time, to be free for prayer, but then return to one another, so that Satan may not tempt you through your lack of self-control.	5 Defraud not one another, except, perhaps, by consent, for a time, that you may give yourselves to prayer; and return together again, lest Satan tempt you for your incontinency.
6 This I say by way of concession, however, not as a command.	6 But I speak this by indulgence, not by commandment.
7 Indeed, I wish everyone to be as I am, but each has a particular gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.	7 For I would that all men were even as myself: but every one hath his proper gift from God; one after this manner, and another after that.
8 Now to the unmarried and to widows, I say: it is a good thing for them to remain as they are, as I do,	8 But I say to the unmarried, and to the widows: It is good for them if they so continue, even as I.
9 but if they cannot exercise self-control they should marry, for it is better to marry than to be on fire.	9 But if they do not contain themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to be burnt.
10 To the married, however, I give this instruction (not I, but the Lord): a wife should not separate from her husband	10 But to them that are married, not I but the Lord commandeth, that the wife depart not from her husband.
11 --and if she does separate she must either remain single or become reconciled to her husband--and a husband should not divorce his wife.	11 And if she depart, that she remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband. And let not the husband put away his wife.
12 To the rest I say (not the Lord): if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she is willing to go on living with him, he should not divorce her;	12 For to the rest I speak, not the Lord. If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she consent to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
13 and if any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he is willing to go on living with her, she should not divorce her husband.	13 And if any woman hath a husband that believeth not, and he consent to dwell with her, let her not put away her husband.
14 For the unbelieving husband is made holy through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy through the brother. Otherwise your children would be unclean, whereas in fact they are holy.	14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the believing wife; and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the believing husband: otherwise your children should be unclean; but now they are holy.
15 If the unbeliever separates, however, let him separate. The brother or sister is not bound in such cases; God has called you to peace.	15 But if the unbeliever depart, let him depart. For a brother or sister is not under servitude in such cases. But God hath called us in peace.
16 For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband; or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?	16 For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband ? Or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife ?
17 Only, everyone should live as the Lord has assigned, just as God called each one. I give this order in all the churches.	17 But as the Lord hath distributed to every one, as God hath called every one, so let him walk: and so in all churches I teach.
18 Was someone called after he had been circumcised? He should not try to undo his circumcision. Was an uncircumcised person called? He should not be circumcised.	18 Is any man called, being circumcised ? let him not procure uncircumcision. Is any man called in uncircumcision ? let him not be circumcised.
19 Circumcision means nothing, and uncircumcision means nothing; what matters is keeping God's commandments.	19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing: but the observance of the commandments of God.
20 Everyone should remain in the state in which he was called.	20 Let every man abide in the same calling in which he was called.
21 Were you a slave when you were called? Do not be concerned but, even if you can gain your freedom, make the most of it.	21 Wast thou called, being a bondman ? care not for it; but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.
22 For the slave called in the Lord is a freed person in the Lord, just as the free person who has been called is a slave of Christ.	22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a bondman, is the freeman of the Lord. Likewise he that is called, being free, is the bondman of Christ.
23 You have been purchased at a price. Do not become slaves to human beings.	23 You are bought with a price; be not made the bondslaves of men.
24 Brothers, everyone should continue before God in the state in which he was called.	24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he was called, therein abide with God.
25 Now in regard to virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord, but I give my opinion as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy.	25 Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment of the Lord; but I give counsel, as having obtained mercy of the Lord, to be faithful.
26 So this is what I think best because of the present distress: that it is a good thing for a person to remain as he is.	26 I think therefore that this is good for the present necessity, that it is good for a man so to be.
27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek a separation. Are you free of a wife? Then do not look for a wife.	27 Art thou bound to a wife ? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife ? seek not a wife.
28 If you marry, however, you do not sin, nor does an unmarried woman sin if she marries; but such people will experience affliction in their earthly life, and I would like to spare you that.	28 But if thou take a wife, thou hast not sinned. And if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned: nevertheless, such shall have tribulation of the flesh. But I spare you.
29 I tell you, brothers, the time is running out. From now on, let those having wives act as not having them,	29 This therefore I say, brethren; the time is short; it remaineth, that they also who have wives, be as if they had none;
30 those weeping as not weeping, those rejoicing as not rejoicing, those buying as not owning,	30 And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as if they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;
31 those using the world as not using it fully. For the world in its present form is passing away.	31 And they that use this world, as if they used it not: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
32 I should like you to be free of anxieties. An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord.	32 But I would have you to be without solicitude. He that is without a wife, is solicitous for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please God.
33 But a married man is anxious about the things of the world, how he may please his wife,	33 But he that is with a wife, is solicitous for the things of the world, how he may please his wife: and he is divided.
34 and he is divided. An unmarried woman or a virgin is anxious about the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy in both body and spirit. A married woman, on the other hand, is anxious about the things of the world, how she may please her husband.	34 And the unmarried woman and the virgin thinketh on the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she that is married thinketh on the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
35 I am telling you this for your own benefit, not to impose a restraint upon you, but for the sake of propriety and adherence to the Lord without distraction.	35 And this I speak for your profit: not to cast a snare upon you; but for that which is decent, and which may give you power to attend upon the Lord, without impediment.
36 If anyone thinks he is behaving improperly toward his virgin, and if a critical moment has come and so it has to be, let him do as he wishes. He is committing no sin; let them get married.	36 But if any man think that he seemeth dishonoured, with regard to his virgin, for that she is above the age, and it must so be: let him do what he will; he sinneth not, if she marry.
37 The one who stands firm in his resolve, however, who is not under compulsion but has power over his own will, and has made up his mind to keep his virgin, will be doing well.	37 For he that hath determined being steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but having power of his own will; and hath judged this in his heart, to keep his virgin, doth well.
38 So then, the one who marries his virgin does well; the one who does not marry her will do better.	38 Therefore, both he that giveth his virgin in marriage, doth well; and he that giveth her not, doth better.
39 A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whomever she wishes, provided that it be in the Lord.	39 A woman is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband die, she is at liberty: let her marry to whom she will; only in the Lord.
40 She is more blessed, though, in my opinion, if she remains as she is, and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.	40 But more blessed shall she be, if she so remain, according to my counsel; and I think that I also have the spirit of God.