1 Corinthians 7

1 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

With reference to the subjects about which you wrote to me: It is good for a man to remain single.

2 But, because of fornications, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.

But, owing to the prevalence of immorality, I advise every man to have his own wife, and every woman her husband.

3 Let the husband render unto the wife her due: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

A husband should give his wife her due, and a wife her husband.

4 The wife hath not power over her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power over his own body, but the wife.

It is not the wife, but the husband, who exercises power over her body; and so, too, it is not the husband, but the wife, who exercises power over his body.

5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be by consent for a season, that ye may give yourselves unto prayer, and may be together again, that Satan tempt you not because of your incontinency.

Do not deprive each other of what is due – unless it is only for a time and by mutual consent, so that your minds may be free for prayer until you again live as man and wife – otherwise Satan might take advantage of your want of self-control and tempt you.

6 But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment.

I say this, however, as a concession, not as a command.

7 Yet I would that all men were even as I myself. Howbeit each man hath his own gift from God, one after this manner, and another after that.

I should wish everyone to be just what I am myself. But everyone has his own gift from God – one in one way, and one in another.

8 But I say to the unmarried and to widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.

My advice, then, to those who are not married, and to widows, is this: It would be good for them to remain as I am myself.

9 But if they have not continency, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

But, if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to be consumed with passion.

10 But unto the married I give charge, [yea] not I, but the Lord, That the wife depart not from her husband

To those who are married my direction is – yet it is not mine, but the Master’s – that a woman is not to leave her husband

11 (but should she depart, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband); and that the husband leave not his wife.

(If she has done so, she should remain as she is, or else be reconciled to her husband) and also that a man is not to divorce his wife.

12 But to the rest say I, not the Lord: If any brother hath an unbelieving wife, and she is content to dwell with him, let him not leave her.

To all others I say – I, not the Master – If a follower of the Lord is married to a woman, who is an unbeliever but willing to live with him, he should not divorce her;

13 And the woman that hath an unbelieving husband, and he is content to dwell with her, let her not leave her husband.

and a woman who is married to a man, who is an unbeliever but willing to live with her, should not divorce her husband.

14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the brother: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

For, through his wife, the husband who is an unbeliever has become associated with Christ’s people; and the wife who is an unbeliever has become associated with Christ’s people through the Lord’s follower whom she has married. Otherwise your children would be “defiled,” but, as it is, they belong to Christ’s people.

15 Yet if the unbelieving departeth, let him depart: the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such [cases]: but God hath called us in peace.

However, if the unbeliever wishes to be separated, let them be so. Under such circumstances neither is bound; God has called you to live in peace.

16 For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O husband, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

How can you tell, wife, whether you may not save your husband? And how can you tell, husband, whether you may not save your wife?

17 Only, as the Lord hath distributed to each man, as God hath called each, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all the churches.

In any case, a person should continue to live in the condition which the Lord has allotted to them, and in which they were when God called them. This is the rule that I lay down in every church.

18 Was any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Hath any been called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.

Was a man already circumcised when he was called? Then he should not efface his circumcision. Has a man been called when uncircumcised? Then he should not be circumcised.

19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but the keeping of the commandments of God.

Circumcision is nothing; the want of it is nothing; but to keep the commands of God is everything.

20 Let each man abide in that calling wherein he was called.

Let everyone remain in that condition of life in which they were when the call came to them.

21 Wast thou called being a bondservant? care not for it: nay, even if thou canst become free, use [it] rather.

Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let that trouble you. No, even if you are able to gain your freedom, still do your best.

22 For he that was called in the Lord being a bondservant, is the Lord’s freedman: likewise he that was called being free, is Christ’s bondservant.

For the person who was a slave when they were called to the master’s service is the Master’s freedman; so, too, the person who was free when called is Christ’s slave.

23 Ye were bought with a price; become not bondservants of men.

You were bought, and the price was paid. Do not let yourselves become slaves to people.

24 Brethren, let each man, wherein he was called, therein abide with God.

Friends, let everyone remain in the condition in which they were when they were called, in close communion with God.

25 Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: but I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be trustworthy.

With regard to unmarried women, I have no command from the Master to give you, but I tell you my opinion, and the Master in his mercy has made me worthy to be trusted.

26 I think therefore that this is good by reason of the distress that is upon us, [namely], that it is good for a man to be as he is.

I think, then, that, in view of the time of suffering that has now come upon us, what I have already said is best – that a man should remain as he is.

27 Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

Are you married to a wife? Then do not seek to be separated. Are you separated from a wife? Then do not seek for a wife.

28 But shouldest thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Yet such shall have tribulation in the flesh: and I would spare you.

Still, if you should marry, that is not wrong; nor, if a young woman marries, is that wrong. But those who marry will have much trouble to bear, and my wish is to spare you.

29 But this I say, brethren, the time is shortened, that henceforth both those that have wives may be as though they had none;

What I mean, friends, is this – the time is short. Meanwhile, let those who have wives live as if they had none,

30 and those that weep, as though they wept not; and those that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and those that buy, as though they possessed not;

those who are weeping as if not weeping, those who are rejoicing as if not rejoicing, those who buy as if not possessing,

31 and those that use the world, as not using it to the full: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

and those who use the good things of the world as using them sparingly; for this world as we see it is passing away.

32 But I would have you to be free from cares. He that is unmarried is careful for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord:

I want you to be free from anxiety. The unmarried man is anxious about the Master’s cause, desiring to please him;

33 but he that is married is careful for the things of the world, how he may please his wife,

while the married man is anxious about worldly matters, desiring to please his wife;

34 and is divided. [So] also the woman that is unmarried and the virgin is careful for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married is careful for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

and so his interests are divided. Again, the unmarried woman, whether she is old or young, is anxious about the Master’s cause, striving to be pure both in body and in spirit, while the married woman is anxious about worldly matters, desiring to please her husband.

35 And this I say for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is seemly, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

I say this for your own benefit, not with any intention of putting a halter round your necks, but in order to secure for the Master seemly and constant devotion, free from all distraction.

36 But if any man thinketh that he behaveth himself unseemly toward his virgin [daughter], if she be past the flower of her age, and if need so requireth, let him do what he will; he sinneth not; let them marry.

If, however, a father thinks that he is not acting fairly by his unmarried daughter, when she is past her youth, and if under these circumstances her marriage ought to take place, he should act as he thinks right. He is doing nothing wrong – let the marriage take place.

37 But he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power as touching his own will, and hath determined this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin [daughter], shall do well.

On the other hand, a father, who has definitely made up his mind, and is under no compulsion, but is free to carry out his own wishes, and who has come to the decision, in his own mind, to keep his unmarried daughter at home will be doing right.

38 So then both he that giveth his own virgin [daughter] in marriage doeth well; and he that giveth her not in marriage shall do better.

In short, the one who consents to his daughter’s marriage is doing right, and yet the other will be doing better.

39 A wife is bound for so long time as her husband liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is free to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives; but, if the husband should pass to his rest, the widow is free to marry anyone she wishes, provided he is a believer.

40 But she is happier if she abide as she is, after my judgment: and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.

Yet she will be happier if she remains as she is – in my opinion, for I think that I also have the Spirit of God.