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 as to the matters about which ye wrote, 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 on account of the commonness of fornication, 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 his wife her due; and so also the wife to her 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 the disposal of her own body, but her husband; and so also the husband hath not the disposal of his own body, but his 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 not one another, except by agreement for a time, that ye may have a season for prayer; and be together again, that Satan may not tempt you through your incontinence.

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

But I say this by way of permission, 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 all men were as I myself; but every one hath his own gift from God, one man this, and another 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 also to the unmarried and the widows, it is good 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.

but if they cannot control themselves, 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 those who are married it is my command, yet not mine, but the Lord's: Let not the wife separate herself 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.

and if she have separated herself 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 say I, not the Lord: If any brother hath an unbelieving wife, and she be satisfied 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 a wife hath an unbelieving husband, and he be satisfied to dwell with her, let her not put her husband 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 hath been made holy by his wife, and the unbelieving wife hath been made holy by the brother; otherwise were your children unclean, but, as it is, 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 separateth himself, let him separate himself; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God hath called you to be 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 dost thou know, O wife, but that thou mayst save thy husband? or how dost thou know, O husband, but that thou mayst 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 let every one continue to walk in the lot which the Lord appointed him, in the condition in which God called him. And this direction 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.

Was any one called being circumcised, let him not become as if uncircumcised; hath any one been called in uncircumcision, let him not become 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 one remain in the same calling in which 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.

Wast thou called being a slave, care not for it; but even if thou canst 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 was called in the Lord, being a slave, is the Lord's freeman. In like manner the freeman, who is called, is Christ's slave.

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

Ye were bought with a price; become not the slaves of men.

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

In that state, brethren, in which he was called, let every one remain 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; but 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 think, then, that it is well, on account of the impending distress, 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.

Art thou bound to a wife, seek not to be loosed from her; art thou loosed from a wife, do not seek for one.

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 thou hast married, thou hast committed no sin; and if a virgin hath married, she hath committed no sin. Such, however, will have trouble in the flesh, which I desire 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;

But this I say, brethren, the time that remaineth is short; that both they that have wives may 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 outward condition of this 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;

and I would have you free from anxious cares. He that is unmarried careth 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 careth about the things of the world, how to 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 careth about the things of the Lord, to be holy, both in body and in spirit; but she that is married careth about the things of the world, how to 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 say for your own profit; not to cast a noose over you, but with a view to what is becoming, 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 one thinketh that he behaveth improperly in respect to his virgin [[daughter]], if she pass the flower of her age [[without being married]], and if it must be so, let him do what he will, he committeth no sin; 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.

But if any one is settled in his purpose, and is under no necessity, but is free to act as he will, and hath determined in his heart to keep his own virgin daughter [[unmarried]], he 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; and he that doth not give her 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 to her husband as long as he liveth; but if her husband die, she is free to marry 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 remain as she is, in my opinion; and I too think that I have the Spirit of God.