1 Corinthians 7

1 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

Now, as to the things in your letter to me: It is good for a man to have nothing to do with a woman.

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

But because of the desires of the flesh, let every man have his wife, and every woman her husband.

3 Let the husband render unto the wife her due: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

Let the husband give to the wife what is right; and let the wife do the same to the husband.

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.

The wife has not power over her body, but the husband; and in the same way the husband has not power over his body, but the wife.

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 keep back from one another what is right, but only for a short time, and by agreement, so that you may give yourselves to prayer, and come together again; so that Satan may not get the better of you through your loss of self-control.

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

But this I say as my opinion, and not as an order of the Lord.

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.

It is my desire that all men might be even as I am. But every man has the power of his special way of life given him by God, one in this way and one in that.

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

But I say to the unmarried and to the widows, It is good for them to be even as I am.

9 But if they have not continency, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

But if they have not self-control let them get married; for married life is better than the burning of desire.

10 But unto the married I give charge, [yea] not I, but the Lord, That the wife depart not from her husband

But to the married I give orders, though not I but the Lord, that the wife may not go away from her husband

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

(Or if she goes away from him, let her keep unmarried, or be united to her husband again); and that the husband may not go away from 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.

But to the rest I say, and not the Lord; If a brother has a wife who is not a Christian, and it is her desire to go on living with him, let him not go away from her.

13 And the woman that hath an unbelieving husband, and he is content to dwell with her, let her not leave her husband.

And if a woman has a husband who is not a Christian, and it is his desire to go on living with her, let her not go away from her husband.

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 the husband who has not faith is made holy through his Christian wife, and the wife who is not a Christian is made holy through the brother: if not, your children would be unholy, but now are they holy.

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.

But if the one who is not a Christian has a desire to go away, let it be so: the brother or the sister in such a position is not forced to do one thing or the other: but it is God's pleasure that we may be at peace with one another.

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 how may you be certain, O wife, that you will not be the cause of salvation to your husband? or you, O husband, that you may not do the same for 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, as the Lord has given to a man, and as is the purpose of God for him, so let him go on living. And these are my orders for all the churches.

18 Was any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Hath any been called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.

If any man who is a Christian has had circumcision, let him keep so; and if any man who is a Christian has not had circumcision, let him make no change.

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

Circumcision is nothing, and its opposite is nothing, but only doing the orders of God is of value.

20 Let each man abide in that calling wherein he was called.

Let every man keep the position in which he has been placed by God.

21 Wast thou called being a bondservant? care not for it: nay, even if thou canst become free, use [it] rather.

If you were a servant when you became a Christian, let it not be a grief to you; but if you have a chance to become free, make use of it.

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 he who was a servant when he became a Christian is the Lord's free man; and he who was free when he became a Christian is the Lord's servant.

23 Ye were bought with a price; become not bondservants of men.

It is the Lord who has made payment for you: be not servants of men.

24 Brethren, let each man, wherein he was called, therein abide with God.

My brothers, let every man keep in that condition which is the purpose of God for him.

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 trustworthy.

Now about virgins I have no orders from the Lord: but I give my opinion as one to whom the Lord has given mercy to be true to him.

26 I think therefore that this is good by reason of the distress that is upon us, [namely], that it is good for a man to be as he is.

In my opinion then, because of the present trouble, it is good for a man to keep 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.

If you are married to a wife, make no attempt to get free from her: if you are free from a wife, do not take a wife.

28 But shouldest 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.

If you get married it is not a sin; and if an unmarried woman gets married it is not a sin. But those who do so will have trouble in the flesh. But I will not be hard on 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;

But I say this, my brothers, the time is short; and from now it will be wise for those who have wives to be as if they had them not;

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;

And for those who are in sorrow, to give no signs of it; and for those who are glad, to give no signs of joy; and for those who are getting property, to be as if they had nothing;

31 and those that use the world, as not using it to the full: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

And for those who make use of the world, not to be using it fully; for this world's way of life will quickly come to an end.

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:

But it is my desire for you to be free from cares. The unmarried man gives his mind to the things of the Lord, how he may give pleasure to the Lord:

33 but he that is married is careful for the things of the world, how he may please his wife,

But the married man gives his attention to the things of this world, how he may give pleasure to his wife.

34 and is divided. [So] also the woman that is unmarried and the virgin 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.

And the wife is not the same as the virgin. The virgin gives her mind to the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy in body and in spirit: but the married woman takes thought for the things of the world, how she may give pleasure to 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.

Now I say this for your profit; not to make things hard for you, but because of what is right, and so that you may be able to give all your attention to the things of the Lord.

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.

But if, in any man's opinion, he is not doing what is right for his virgin, if she is past her best years, and there is need for it, let him do what seems right to him; it is no sin; let them be married.

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 the man who is strong in mind and purpose, who is not forced but has control over his desires, does well if he comes to the decision to keep her a virgin.

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 then, he who gets married to his virgin does well, and he who keeps her unmarried does 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.

It is right for a wife to be with her husband as long as he is living; but when her husband is dead, she is free to be married to another; but only to 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 it will be better for her to keep as she is, in my opinion: and it seems to me that I have the Spirit of God.