¹De quibus autem scripsistis mihi:Now concerning the things about which you wrote to me:Bonum est homini mulierem non tangere:It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

¹De quibus autem scripsistis mihi:Now concerning the things about which you wrote to me:Bonum est homini mulierem non tangere:It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

²propter fornicationem autem unusquisque suam uxorem habeat,But, because of fornication, let each man have his own wife,et unaquæque suum virum habeat.and let each woman have her own husband.

²propter fornicationem autem unusquisque suam uxorem habeat,But, because of fornication, let each man have his own wife,et unaquæque suum virum habeat.and let each woman have her own husband.

³Uxori vir debitum reddat:A husband should fulfill his obligation to his wife,similiter autem et uxor viro.and a wife should also act similarly toward her husband.

³Uxori vir debitum reddat:A husband should fulfill his obligation to his wife,similiter autem et uxor viro.and a wife should also act similarly toward her husband.

⁴Mulier sui corporis potestatem non habet, sed vir. Similiter autem et vir sui corporis potestatem non habet, sed mulier.It is not the wife, but the husband, who has power over her body. But, similarly also, it is not the husband, but the wife, who has power over his body.

⁴Mulier sui corporis potestatem non habet, sed vir. Similiter autem et vir sui corporis potestatem non habet, sed mulier.It is not the wife, but the husband, who has power over her body. But, similarly also, it is not the husband, but the wife, who has power over his body.

⁵Nolite fraudare invicem,So, do not fail in your obligations to one another,nisi forte ex consensu ad tempus,except perhaps by consent, for a limited time,ut vacetis orationi: et iterum revertimini in idipsum,so that you may empty yourselves for prayer. And then,ne tentet vos Satanas propter incontinentiam vestram.return together again, lest Satan tempt you by means of your abstinence.

⁵Nolite fraudare invicem,So, do not fail in your obligations to one another,nisi forte ex consensu ad tempus,except perhaps by consent, for a limited time,ut vacetis orationi: et iterum revertimini in idipsum,so that you may empty yourselves for prayer. And then,ne tentet vos Satanas propter incontinentiam vestram.return together again, lest Satan tempt you by means of your abstinence.

⁶Hoc autem dico secundum indulgentiam,But I am saying this, neither as an indulgence,non secundum imperium.nor as a commandment.

⁶Hoc autem dico secundum indulgentiam,But I am saying this, neither as an indulgence,non secundum imperium.nor as a commandment.

⁷Volo enim omnes vos esse sicut meipsum:For I would prefer it if you were all like myself.sed unusquisque proprium donum habet ex Deo:But each person has his proper gift from God:alius quidem sic,one in this way,alius vero sic.yet another in that way.

⁷Volo enim omnes vos esse sicut meipsum:For I would prefer it if you were all like myself.sed unusquisque proprium donum habet ex Deo:But each person has his proper gift from God:alius quidem sic,one in this way,alius vero sic.yet another in that way.

⁸Dico autem non nuptis,But I say to the unmarried and to widows:et viduis:It is good for them,bonum est illis si sic permaneant,if they would remain as they are,sicut et ego.just as I also am.

⁸Dico autem non nuptis,But I say to the unmarried and to widows:et viduis:It is good for them,bonum est illis si sic permaneant,if they would remain as they are,sicut et ego.just as I also am.

⁹Quod si non se continent,But if they cannot restrain themselves,nubant.they should marry.Melius est enim nubere,For it is better to marry,quam uri.than to be burned.

⁹Quod si non se continent,But if they cannot restrain themselves,nubant.they should marry.Melius est enim nubere,For it is better to marry,quam uri.than to be burned.

¹⁰Iis autem qui matrimonio juncti sunt,But to those who have been joined in matrimony,præcipio non ego,it is not I who commands you,sed Dominus,but the Lord:uxorem a viro non discedere:a wife is not to separate from her husband.

¹⁰Iis autem qui matrimonio juncti sunt,But to those who have been joined in matrimony,præcipio non ego,it is not I who commands you,sed Dominus,but the Lord:uxorem a viro non discedere:a wife is not to separate from her husband.

¹¹quod si discesserit,But if she has separated from him,manere innuptam,she must remain unmarried,aut viro suo reconciliari.or be reconciled to her husband.Et vir uxorem non dimittat.And a husband should not divorce his wife.

¹¹quod si discesserit,But if she has separated from him,manere innuptam,she must remain unmarried,aut viro suo reconciliari.or be reconciled to her husband.Et vir uxorem non dimittat.And a husband should not divorce his wife.

¹²Nam ceteris ego dico,Concerning the rest,non Dominus.I am speaking,Si quis frater uxorem habet infidelem,not the Lord. If any brother has an unbelieving wife,et hæc consentit habitare cum illo,and she consents to live with him,non dimittat illam.he should not divorce her.

¹²Nam ceteris ego dico,Concerning the rest,non Dominus.I am speaking,Si quis frater uxorem habet infidelem,not the Lord. If any brother has an unbelieving wife,et hæc consentit habitare cum illo,and she consents to live with him,non dimittat illam.he should not divorce her.

¹³Et si qua mulier fidelis habet virum infidelem,And if any woman has an unbelieving husband,et hic consentit habitare cum illa,and he consents to live with her,non dimittat virum:she should not divorce her husband.

¹³Et si qua mulier fidelis habet virum infidelem,And if any woman has an unbelieving husband,et hic consentit habitare cum illa,and he consents to live with her,non dimittat virum:she should not divorce her husband.

¹⁴sanctificatus est enim vir infidelis per mulierem fidelem,For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through the believing wife,et sanctificata est mulier infidelis per virum fidelem:and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through the believing husband.alioquin filii vestri immundi essent,Otherwise, your children would be unclean,nunc autem sancti sunt.whereas instead they are holy.

¹⁴sanctificatus est enim vir infidelis per mulierem fidelem,For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through the believing wife,et sanctificata est mulier infidelis per virum fidelem:and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through the believing husband.alioquin filii vestri immundi essent,Otherwise, your children would be unclean,nunc autem sancti sunt.whereas instead they are holy.

¹⁵Quod si infidelis discedit,But if the unbeliever departs,discedat:let him depart.non enim servituti subjectus est frater,For a brotheraut soror in hujusmodi:or sister cannot be made subject to servitude in this way.in pace autem vocavit nos Deus.For God has called us to peace.

¹⁵Quod si infidelis discedit,But if the unbeliever departs,discedat:let him depart.non enim servituti subjectus est frater,For a brotheraut soror in hujusmodi:or sister cannot be made subject to servitude in this way.in pace autem vocavit nos Deus.For God has called us to peace.

¹⁶Unde enim scis mulier,And how do you know, wife,si virum salvum facies?whether you will save your husband?aut unde scis vir,Or how do you know, husband,si mulierem salvam facies?whether you will save your wife?

¹⁶Unde enim scis mulier,And how do you know, wife,si virum salvum facies?whether you will save your husband?aut unde scis vir,Or how do you know, husband,si mulierem salvam facies?whether you will save your wife?

¹⁷Nisi unicuique sicut divisit Dominus,However,unumquemque sicut vocavit Deus,let each one walk just as the Lord has distributed to him,ita ambulet,each one just as God has called him.et sicut in omnibus ecclesiis doceo.And thus do I teach in all the churches.

¹⁷Nisi unicuique sicut divisit Dominus,However,unumquemque sicut vocavit Deus,let each one walk just as the Lord has distributed to him,ita ambulet,each one just as God has called him.et sicut in omnibus ecclesiis doceo.And thus do I teach in all the churches.

¹⁸Circumcisus aliquis vocatus est?Has any circumcised man been called?non adducat præputium.Let him not cover his circumcision.In præputio aliquis vocatus est?Has any uncircumcised man been called?non circumcidatur.Let him not be circumcised.

¹⁸Circumcisus aliquis vocatus est?Has any circumcised man been called?non adducat præputium.Let him not cover his circumcision.In præputio aliquis vocatus est?Has any uncircumcised man been called?non circumcidatur.Let him not be circumcised.

¹⁹Circumcisio nihil est,Circumcision is nothing,et præputium nihil est:and uncircumcision is nothing;sed observatio mandatorum Dei.there is only the observance of the commandments of God.

¹⁹Circumcisio nihil est,Circumcision is nothing,et præputium nihil est:and uncircumcision is nothing;sed observatio mandatorum Dei.there is only the observance of the commandments of God.

²⁰Unusquisque in qua vocatione vocatus est,Let eachin ea permaneat.and every one remain in the same calling to which he was called.

²⁰Unusquisque in qua vocatione vocatus est,Let eachin ea permaneat.and every one remain in the same calling to which he was called.

²¹Servus vocatus es?Are you a servant who has been called?non sit tibi curæ:Do not be concerned about it.sed et si potes fieri liber,But if you ever have the ability to be free,magis utere.make use of it.

²¹Servus vocatus es?Are you a servant who has been called?non sit tibi curæ:Do not be concerned about it.sed et si potes fieri liber,But if you ever have the ability to be free,magis utere.make use of it.

²²Qui enim in Domino vocatus est servus, libertus est Domini:For any servant who has been called in the Lord is free in the Lord.similiter qui liber vocatus est, servus est Christi.Similarly, any free person who has been called is a servant in Christ.

²²Qui enim in Domino vocatus est servus, libertus est Domini:For any servant who has been called in the Lord is free in the Lord.similiter qui liber vocatus est, servus est Christi.Similarly, any free person who has been called is a servant in Christ.

²³Pretio empti estis:You have been bought with a price.nolite fieri servi hominum.Do not be willing to become the servants of men.

²³Pretio empti estis:You have been bought with a price.nolite fieri servi hominum.Do not be willing to become the servants of men.

²⁴Unusquisque in quo vocatus est, fratres, in hoc permaneat apud Deum.Brothers, let each one, in whatever state he was called, remain in that state with God.

²⁴Unusquisque in quo vocatus est, fratres, in hoc permaneat apud Deum.Brothers, let each one, in whatever state he was called, remain in that state with God.

²⁵De virginibus autem præceptum Domini non habeo:Now, concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord.consilium autem do,But I give counsel,tamquam misericordiam consecutus a Domino,as one who has obtained the mercy of the Lord,ut sim fidelis.so as to be faithful.

²⁵De virginibus autem præceptum Domini non habeo:Now, concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord.consilium autem do,But I give counsel,tamquam misericordiam consecutus a Domino,as one who has obtained the mercy of the Lord,ut sim fidelis.so as to be faithful.

²⁶Existimo ergo hoc bonum esse propter instantem necessitatem,Therefore, I consider this to be good, because of the present necessity:quoniam bonum est homini sic esse.that it is good for a man to be such as I am.

²⁶Existimo ergo hoc bonum esse propter instantem necessitatem,Therefore, I consider this to be good, because of the present necessity:quoniam bonum est homini sic esse.that it is good for a man to be such as I am.

²⁷Alligatus es uxori?Are you bound to a wife?noli quærere solutionem.Do not seek to be freed.Solutus es ab uxore?Are you free of a wife?noli quærere uxorem.Do not seek a wife.

²⁷Alligatus es uxori?Are you bound to a wife?noli quærere solutionem.Do not seek to be freed.Solutus es ab uxore?Are you free of a wife?noli quærere uxorem.Do not seek a wife.

²⁸Si autem acceperis uxorem, non peccasti.But if you take a wife, you have not sinned.Et si nupserit virgo,And if a virgin has married,non peccavit:she has not sinned.tribulationem tamen carnis habebunt hujusmodi.Even so, such as these will have the tribulation of the flesh.Ego autem vobis parco.But I would spare you from this.

²⁸Si autem acceperis uxorem, non peccasti.But if you take a wife, you have not sinned.Et si nupserit virgo,And if a virgin has married,non peccavit:she has not sinned.tribulationem tamen carnis habebunt hujusmodi.Even so, such as these will have the tribulation of the flesh.Ego autem vobis parco.But I would spare you from this.

²⁹Hoc itaque dico,And so,fratres:this is what I say,tempus breve est:brothers:reliquum est,The time is short.ut et qui habent uxores,What remains of it is such that:tamquam non habentes sint:those who have wives should be as if they had none;

²⁹Hoc itaque dico,And so,fratres:this is what I say,tempus breve est:brothers:reliquum est,The time is short.ut et qui habent uxores,What remains of it is such that:tamquam non habentes sint:those who have wives should be as if they had none;

³⁰et qui flent,and those who weep,tamquam non flentes:as though they were not weeping;et qui gaudent,and those who rejoice,tamquam non gaudentes:as if they were not rejoicing;et qui emunt,and those who buy,tamquam non possidentes:as if they possessed nothing;

³⁰et qui flent,and those who weep,tamquam non flentes:as though they were not weeping;et qui gaudent,and those who rejoice,tamquam non gaudentes:as if they were not rejoicing;et qui emunt,and those who buy,tamquam non possidentes:as if they possessed nothing;

³¹et qui utuntur hoc mundo,and those who use the things of this world,tamquam non utantur:as if they were not using them.præterit enim figura hujus mundi.For the figure of this world is passing away.

³¹et qui utuntur hoc mundo,and those who use the things of this world,tamquam non utantur:as if they were not using them.præterit enim figura hujus mundi.For the figure of this world is passing away.

³²Volo autem vos sine sollicitudine esse.But I would prefer you to be without worry.Qui sine uxore est, sollicitus est quæ Domini sunt,Whoever is without a wife is worried about the things of the Lord,quomodo placeat Deo.as to how he may please God.

³²Volo autem vos sine sollicitudine esse.But I would prefer you to be without worry.Qui sine uxore est, sollicitus est quæ Domini sunt,Whoever is without a wife is worried about the things of the Lord,quomodo placeat Deo.as to how he may please God.

³³Qui autem cum uxore est,But whoever is with a wife is worried about the things of the world,sollicitus est quæ sunt mundi,as to how he may please his wife.quomodo placeat uxori,And so,et divisus est.he is divided.

³³Qui autem cum uxore est,But whoever is with a wife is worried about the things of the world,sollicitus est quæ sunt mundi,as to how he may please his wife.quomodo placeat uxori,And so,et divisus est.he is divided.

³⁴Et mulier innupta, et virgo, cogitat quæ Domini sunt,And the unmarried woman and the virgin think about the things that are of the Lord,ut sit sancta corpore, et spiritu.so that she may be holy in body and in spirit.Quæ autem nupta est, cogitat quæ sunt mundi,But she who is married thinks about the things that are of the world,quomodo placeat viro.as to how she may please her husband.

³⁴Et mulier innupta, et virgo, cogitat quæ Domini sunt,And the unmarried woman and the virgin think about the things that are of the Lord,ut sit sancta corpore, et spiritu.so that she may be holy in body and in spirit.Quæ autem nupta est, cogitat quæ sunt mundi,But she who is married thinks about the things that are of the world,quomodo placeat viro.as to how she may please her husband.

³⁵Porro hoc ad utilitatem vestram dico:Furthermore,non ut laqueum vobis injiciam,I am saying this for your own benefit,sed ad id,not in order to cast a snare over you,quod honestum est,but toward whatever is honest and whatever may provide you with the ability to be without hindrance,et quod facultatem præbeat sine impedimento Dominum obsecrandi.so as to worship the Lord.

³⁵Porro hoc ad utilitatem vestram dico:Furthermore,non ut laqueum vobis injiciam,I am saying this for your own benefit,sed ad id,not in order to cast a snare over you,quod honestum est,but toward whatever is honest and whatever may provide you with the ability to be without hindrance,et quod facultatem præbeat sine impedimento Dominum obsecrandi.so as to worship the Lord.

³⁶Si quis autem turpem se videri existimat super virgine sua,But if any man considers himself to seem dishonorable,quod sit superadulta,concerning a virgin who is of adult age,et ita oportet fieri:and so it ought to be,quod vult faciat:he may do as he wills.non peccat,If he marries her,si nubat.he does not sin.

³⁶Si quis autem turpem se videri existimat super virgine sua,But if any man considers himself to seem dishonorable,quod sit superadulta,concerning a virgin who is of adult age,et ita oportet fieri:and so it ought to be,quod vult faciat:he may do as he wills.non peccat,If he marries her,si nubat.he does not sin.

³⁷Nam qui statuit in corde suo firmus,But if he has decided firmly in his heart,non habens necessitatem,and he does not have any obligation,potestatem autem habens suæ voluntatis,but only the power of his free will,et hoc judicavit in corde suo,and if he has judged this in his heart,servare virginem suam,to let her remain a virgin,bene facit.he does well.

³⁷Nam qui statuit in corde suo firmus,But if he has decided firmly in his heart,non habens necessitatem,and he does not have any obligation,potestatem autem habens suæ voluntatis,but only the power of his free will,et hoc judicavit in corde suo,and if he has judged this in his heart,servare virginem suam,to let her remain a virgin,bene facit.he does well.

³⁸Igitur et qui matrimonio jungit virginem suam,And so, he who joins with his virgin in matrimony does well,bene facit: et qui non jungit, melius facit.and he who does not join with her does better.

³⁸Igitur et qui matrimonio jungit virginem suam,And so, he who joins with his virgin in matrimony does well,bene facit: et qui non jungit, melius facit.and he who does not join with her does better.

³⁹Mulier alligata est legi quanto tempore vir ejus vivit,A woman is bound under the law for as long as her husband lives.quod si dormierit vir ejus,But if her husband has died,liberata est:she is free.cui vult nubat,She may marry whomever she wishes,tantum in Domino.but only in the Lord.

³⁹Mulier alligata est legi quanto tempore vir ejus vivit,A woman is bound under the law for as long as her husband lives.quod si dormierit vir ejus,But if her husband has died,liberata est:she is free.cui vult nubat,She may marry whomever she wishes,tantum in Domino.but only in the Lord.

⁴⁰Beatior autem erit si sic permanserit secundum meum consilium:But she will be more blessed, if she remains in this state, in accord with my counsel.puto autem quod et ego Spiritum Dei habeam.And I think that I, too, have the Spirit of God.

⁴⁰Beatior autem erit si sic permanserit secundum meum consilium:But she will be more blessed, if she remains in this state, in accord with my counsel.puto autem quod et ego Spiritum Dei habeam.And I think that I, too, have the Spirit of God.