1 Corinthians 7

1 Now concerning the things about which you wrote to me: it is good for a man not to touch a woman.

Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me, it is good for a man not to touch a woman.

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

But, to avoid lewd practices, let every man have his own wife, and every woman her own husband.

3 Let the husband give his wife the affection owed her, and likewise also the wife her husband.

Let the husband render to the wife that which is due, and likewise, also, the wife to the husband.

4 The wife doesn’t have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise also the husband doesn’t have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

The wife has not power over her own body, but the husband; likewise, also, the husband has not power over his own body, but the wife.

5 Don’t deprive one another, unless it is by consent for a season, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer, and may be together again, that Satan doesn’t tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

Debar not one another, unless by agreement for a time, that you may have leisure for prayer; and come together again, lest Satan tempt you through your incontinence.

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

But this I say by permission, not by commandment:

7 Yet I wish that all men were like me. However, each man has his own gift from God, one of this kind, and another of that kind.

for I could wish that all men were even as I am myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this way, another in that.

8 But I say to the unmarried and to widows, it is good for them if they remain even as I am.

But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It would be good for them, if they remain as I myself.

9 But if they don’t have self-control, let them marry. For it’s better to marry than to burn with passion.

But if they can not be continent, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn.

10 But to the married I command—not I, but the Lord—that the wife not leave her husband

But to the married I give commandment, not I, but the Lord: Let not the wife leave her husband:

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

but if she leave him, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and, let not the husband put away his wife.

12 But to the rest I—not the Lord—say, if any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she is content to live with him, let him not leave her.

But to the rest, I, and not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife that believes not, and she is well pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

13 The woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he is content to live with her, let her not leave her husband.

And if any woman has a husband that believes not, and he is well pleased to dwell with her, let her not put him away.

14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.

For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; for if not, then are your children unclean; but now they are holy.

15 Yet if the unbeliever departs, let there be separation. The brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us in peace.

But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart; the brother or sister is not bound in such cases. But God has called us to live 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?

For how do you know, O wife, but that you may save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, but that you may save your wife?

17 Only, as the Lord has distributed to each man, as God has called each, so let him walk. So I command in all the assemblies.

But as God has assigned a place to every one, as the Lord has called every one, so let him continue to live: and so do I command in all the churches.

18 Was anyone called having been circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised.

Has any one been called that had been circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the mark of circumcision. Has any one been called that had not been circumcised? Let him not be circumcised,

19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is keeping God’s commandments.

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

20 Let each man stay in that calling in which he was called.

Let every one remain in that condition in which he was, when called.

21 Were you called being a bondservant? Don’t let that bother you, but if you get an opportunity to become free, use it.

Were you a servant when you were called? Care not for it. But if you can become free, rather enjoy your freedom.

22 For he who was called in the Lord being a bondservant is the Lord’s free man. Likewise he who was called being free is Christ’s bondservant.

For he that is in the Lord, having been called when a servant, is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise, also, the freeman who has been called, is Christ’s servant.

23 You were bought with a price. Don’t become bondservants of men.

You have been bought with a price; become not the servants of men.

24 Brothers, let each man, in whatever condition he was called, stay in that condition with God.

Brethren, let every one, in whatever condition he is called, abide in this with God.

25 Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who has obtained mercy from the Lord to be trustworthy.

But with respect to virgins, I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment as one that is enabled, by the mercy of the Lord, to be faithful.

26 Therefore I think that because of the distress that is on us, it’s good for a man to remain as he is.

I think, then, that this is good for the present affliction―that it is good for a man to be as he is.

27 Are you bound to a wife? Don’t seek to be freed. Are you free from a wife? Don’t seek a wife.

Are you bound to a wife? Seek not a separation. Are you loosed from a wife? Seek not a wife.

28 But if you marry, you have not sinned. If a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have oppression in the flesh, and I want to spare you.

But if you should marry, you would not sin. And if a virgin should marry, she would not sin. But such will have affliction in the flesh. But I spare you.

29 But I say this, brothers: the time is short. From now on, both those who have wives may be as though they had none;

Now, this I say, brethren, the time is fraught with trials. It remains that those who have wives be as though they had them not;

30 and those who weep, as though they didn’t weep; and those who rejoice, as though they didn’t rejoice; and those who buy, as though they didn’t possess;

and those who weep, as though they wept not; and those who rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and those who buy, as though they possessed not:

31 and those who use the world, as not using it to the fullest. For the mode of this world passes away.

and those who use this world, as not abusing it; for the outward show of this world passes away.

32 But I desire to have you to be free from cares. He who is unmarried is concerned for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord;

But I would have you to be without anxiety. The unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord:

33 but he who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife.

but he that is married, is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife.

34 There is also 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 she may please her husband.

There is a difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy in body and in spirit; but she that is married, is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

35 This I say for your own benefit, not that I may ensnare you, but for that which is appropriate, and that you may attend to the Lord without distraction.

I speak this for your own profit; not that I would entangle you, but that you may decorously and devotedly wait upon the Lord, without distraction.

36 But if any man thinks that he is behaving inappropriately toward his virgin, if she is past the flower of her age, and if need so requires, let him do what he desires. He doesn’t sin. Let them marry.

But if any man thinks he would treat his virgin daughter amiss, should she pass the bloom of life, and it is necessary that it should be so, let him do as he pleases, he does not sin; let them ( the suitor and the daughter ) marry.

37 But he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no urgency, but has power over his own will, and has determined in his own heart to keep his own virgin, does well.

But he that stands firm in his purpose, having no necessity to give his daughter in marriage, but has liberty with respect to his own will, and has thus decided in his own heart, that he will keep his daughter a virgin, does well.

38 So then both he who gives his own virgin in marriage does well, and he who doesn’t give her in marriage does better.

So then, even he that gives her in marriage, does well; but he that gives her not in marriage, does better.

39 A wife is bound by law for as long as her husband lives; but if the husband is dead, she is free to be married to whomever she desires, only in the Lord.

The wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband die, she is free to be married to whom she will, only in the Lord.

40 But she is happier if she stays as she is, in my judgment, and I think that I also have God’s Spirit.

But she is happier, in my judgment, if she remains as she is; and I think that I have, also, the Spirit of God.