1 Corinthians 7
1 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
I now deal with the subjects mentioned in your letter. It is well for a man to abstain altogether from marriage.
2 But, because of fornications, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.
But because there is so much fornication every man should have a wife of his own, and every woman should have a husband.
3 Let the husband render unto the wife her due: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
Let a man pay his wife her due, and let a woman also pay her husband his.
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.
A married woman is not mistress of her own person: her husband has certain rights. In the same way a married man is not master of his own person: his wife has certain rights.
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 refuse one another, unless perhaps it is just for a time and by mutual consent, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer and may then associate again; lest the Adversary begin to tempt you because of your deficiency in self-control.
6 But this I say by way of permission, not of commandment.
Thus much in the way of concession, not of 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.
Yet I would that everybody lived as I do; but each of us has his own special gift from God--one in one direction 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.
But I tell the unmarried, and women who are widows, that it is well for them to remain as I am.
9 But if they have not continency, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
If, however, they cannot maintain self-control, by all means let them marry; for marriage is better than the fever of passion.
10 But unto the married I give charge, [yea] not I, but the Lord, That the wife depart not from her husband
But to those already married my instructions are--yet not mine, but the Lord's--that a wife is not to leave her husband;
11 (but and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband); and that the husband leave not his wife.
or if she has already left him, let her either remain as she is or be reconciled to him; and that a husband is not to send away 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 the rest it is I who speak--not the Lord. If a brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, let him not send her away.
13 And the woman which hath an unbelieving husband, and he is content to dwell with her, let her not leave her husband.
And a woman who has an unbelieving husband--if he consents to live with her, let her not separate from him.
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, in such cases, the unbelieving husband has become--and is--holy through union with a Christian woman, and the unbelieving wife is holy through union with a Christian brother. Otherwise your children would be unholy, but in reality they have a place among God'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.
If, however, the unbeliever is determined to leave, let him or her do so. Under such circumstances the Christian man or woman is no slave; God has called us to live lives of 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?
For what assurance have you, O woman, as to whether you will save your husband? Or what assurance have you, O man, as to whether you will 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.
Only, whatever be the condition in life which the Lord has assigned to each individual--and whatever the condition in which he was living when God called him--in that let him continue.
18 Was any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Hath any been called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.
This is what I command in all the Churches. Was any one already circumcised when called? Let him not have recourse to the surgeons. Was any one uncircumcised when called? Let him remain uncircumcised.
19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but the keeping of the commandments of God.
Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing: obedience to God's commandments is everything.
20 Let each man abide in that calling wherein he was called.
Whatever be the condition in life in which a man was, when he was called, in that let him continue.
21 Wast thou called being a bondservant? care not for it: but if thou canst become free, use [it] rather.
Were you a slave when God called you? Let not that weigh on your mind. And yet if you can get your freedom, take advantage of the opportunity.
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 a Christian, if he was a slave when called, is the Lord's freed man, and in the same way a free man, if called, becomes the slave of Christ.
23 Ye were bought with a price; become not bondservants of men.
You have all been redeemed at infinite cost: do not become slaves to men.
24 Brethren, let each man, wherein he was called, therein abide with God.
Where each one stood when he was called, there, brethren, let him still stand--close to 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 faithful.
Concerning unmarried women I have no command to give you from the Lord; but I offer you my opinion, which is that of a man who, through the Lord's mercy, is deserving of your confidence.
26 I think therefore that this is good by reason of the present distress, [namely], that it is good for a man to be as he is.
I think then that, taking into consideration the distress which is now upon us, it is well for a man to 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 bound to a wife? Do not seek to get free. Are you free from the marriage bond? Do not seek for a wife.
28 But and if 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.
Yet if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a maiden marries, she has not sinned. Such people, however, will have outward trouble. But I am for sparing 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;
Yet of this I warn you, brethren: the time has been shortened--so that henceforth those who have wives should be as though 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 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 that use the world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
and those who use the world as not using it to the full. For the world as it now exists 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:
And I would have you free from worldly anxiety. An unmarried man concerns himself with the Lord's business--how he shall please the Lord;
33 but he that is married is careful for the things of the world, how he may please his wife.
but a married man concerns himself with the business of the world--how he shall please his wife.
34 And there is a difference also between the wife and the virgin. She that is unmarried 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.
There is a difference too between a married and an unmarried woman. She who is unmarried concerns herself with the Lord's business--that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but the married woman concerns herself with the business of the world--how she shall 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.
Thus much I say in your own interest; not to lay a trap for you, but to help towards what is becoming, and enable you to wait on the Lord without 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 he is acting unbecomingly towards his still unmarried daughter if she be past the bloom of her youth, and so the matter is urgent, let him do what she desires; he commits no sin; she and her suitor should be allowed to marry.
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.
But if a father stands firm in his resolve, being free from all external constraint and having a legal right to act as he pleases, and in his own mind has come to the decision to keep his daughter unmarried, he will do well.
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.
So that he who gives his daughter in marriage does well, and yet he who does not give her in marriage will do 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 woman is bound to her husband during the whole period that he lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to marry whom she will, provided that he is a Christian.
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.
But in my judgement, her state is a more enviable one if she remains as she is; and I also think that I have the Spirit of God.
