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 whereof ye wrote unto 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.

Nevertheless, [to avoid] fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have 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 unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto 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 hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of 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.

Defraud ye not one the other, except [it be] with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

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

But I speak this by permission, [and] not of 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 would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

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

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

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 cannot contain, 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

And unto the married I command, [yet] not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from [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 and if she depart, 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 speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be 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 the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

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: else were your children unclean; but now are they 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. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such [cases]: but God hath called us to 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 what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save [thy] husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save [thy] 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 hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.

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

Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? 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.

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

Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was 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.

Art thou called [being] a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use [it] rather.

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 called in the Lord, [being] a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, [being] free, is Christ’s servant.

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

Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

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

Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide 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.

Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained 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 suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, [I say], that [it is] good for a man so to be.

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

Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou 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 and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble 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;

But this I say, brethren, the time [is] short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;

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 they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that 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 they that use this world, as not abusing [it]: for the fashion of this world passeth 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 without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to 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 careth for the things that are 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 difference [also] between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for 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.

And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend 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 think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of [her] age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them 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.

Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth 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 he that giveth [her] in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth [her] not in marriage doeth 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 by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty 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 if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.