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 question in your letter. It is well for a man to have no intercourse with a woman,

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

but because there is so much immorality let each man have his own wife; and let each women 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 give his wife her due, and likewise the wife her husband. The wife is not mistress of her own person,

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.

but her husband is; and in the same way the husband is not master of his own person, but his wife is.

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.

Do not refuse one another, unless it is only temporary and by mutual consent, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again, lest through your lack of self-control Satan begin to tempt you to sin.

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

But what I have just said is by way of concession, not command.

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.

I would that every one lived as I do; but each man has his own special gift from God, one this, another that.

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

But to the unmarried, and the widows, I say that it is well for them to remain as I am.

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

If, however, they are not exercising self-control, by all means let them marry; for marriage is better than the fever of passion.

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

But to those already married my commandment is - and not mine, but the Lord’s - that a wife is not to 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.

(or if she has already left him let her either remain as she is, or be reconciled to him), and also that a husband is not to 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.

To the rest it is I who am speaking, not the Lord. If any brother has a wife who is not a believer, if he is willing to live with her, let him not send 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 a woman whose husband is not a believer, if he is willing 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 husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.

For the unbelieving husband is consecrated through union with his believing wife; and the unbelieving wife, through union with her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unholy, but now they are consecrated to God.

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 partner be determined to leave, separation let it be. In such cases the believing husband or wife is not under bondage. But it is into peace that God has called us.

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, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will 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.

Only whatever be the lot in life to which God has assigned each one - and whatever the condition in which he was living when God called him- -in that let him continue. Such is the rule I give 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.

So, was any man called, being circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was any man called when he was uncircumcised? 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. Keeping God’s commands in everything.

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

Whatever be the condition of life in which he was called, in that let him continue.

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 called in slavery? Let not that trouble you; but if you can become free make use of the opportunity.

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 the slave who has been called in the Lord is the Lord’s freedman; and in the same way, the free man who is called is Christ’s slave.

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

You have been brought with a price; do not become slaves to men.

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

Where each man stood when he was called, there, brothers, let him stay, close to 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.

I have no command from the Lord to give you concerning unmarried women; but I give you my opinion, and it is that of a man who, through the Lord’s mercy, is deserving of your confidence.

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 in view of the time of suffering now imminent, it is best for a man to remain 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? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from the marriage bond? Do not seek for 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.

Yet if you do not marry, you have not done wrong; and if a girl marries, she has not done wrong. Such people, however, will have trouble in worldy affairs, and I wish to 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;

Indeed, brothers, the time that remains to us has been shortened; so let those who have wives live as if 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;

let those who weep be 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 who use the world, as not using it to the fullest. For the mode of this world passes away.

and those who use the world as though using it sparingly. For the present phase of the world is passing 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;

So I want you to be free from all anxieties. An unmarried man is anxious about the Lord’s business, 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 a married man is anxious about worldly affairs, how he may please his wife, and he is divided in his mind.

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.

Again, the woman who is widow, or the maid, is anxious about the Lord’s business, how she may be pure in body and in mind; but the married woman is anxious about worldly affairs, 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.

It is in your own interest that I say this; not that I may entangle you in a snare, but that I may help you to serve the Lord with fitting and undistracted service.

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.

If, however, a father feels that he is not treating his virgin daughter in a seemly manner, in leaving her unmarried beyond the flower of her age, and so the matter is urgent, let him do what she desires; he commits no sin. Let the marriage take place.

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.

On the other hand, he who is firm in his purpose and is under no compulsion, but is free to carry out his own wishes, and who has determined to keep his daughter unmarried, 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 he that gives his daughter in marriage is doing right, and he who keeps her unmarried will be doing right, and he who keeps her unmarried will be doing 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.

A wife is bound to her husband during his lifetime; but if her husband dies, she is free to marry whomever she will, provided it be 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, too, have the Spirit of God.