1 Corinthians 7

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

Now about what you wrote to me: “It's good not to marry.”

2 Nevertheless, [to avoid] fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

However, because of the temptation to sexual immorality, it is better that each man have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.

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

The husband should meet his wife's sexual needs, and the wife her husband's.

4 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.

The wife's body doesn't just belong to her, but her husband; and similarly the husband's body doesn't just belong to him but his wife.

5 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.

So don't deprive each other, except by mutual consent for a while— for example because you want to spend time in prayer. Afterwards be together again so that Satan won't tempt you to sin because of your lack of self-control.

6 But I speak this by permission, [and] not of commandment.

I'm telling you this not as a command, but as a concession.

7 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.

However, I wish that everyone was like me, but each person has their own gift from God—one has this gift, one has another.

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

To those who are not yet married, or who are widowed, I would say it is better if they remain like me.

9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

But if they lack self-control, then they should get married—for it is better to marry than burn with desire.

10 And unto the married I command, [yet] not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from [her] husband:

These are my instructions to those who are married—in fact not from me but the Lord: The wife should not leave her husband

11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to [her] husband: and let not the husband put away [his] wife.

(or if she does, she should not re-marry, or she should return to her husband); and the husband should not leave his wife.

12 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.

Now, to the rest of you, (and this is me speaking, not the Lord), I would say, “If a Christian man has a non-Christian wife and she is willing to stay with him, he should not leave her.

13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

And if a Christian woman has a non-Christian husband, and he is willing to stay with her, she should not leave her husband.”

14 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.

For a husband who is not a Christian, the marriage relationship is made holy by the Christian wife, and for a wife who is not a Christian, the marriage relationship is made holy by the Christian husband. Otherwise it would mean your children were impure, but now they are holy.

15 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.

However, if the non-Christian spouse leaves, let them leave. In such cases the Christian man or woman is not slavishly bound, for God has called us to live in peace.

16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save [thy] husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save [thy] wife?

Wives, who knows? You may save your husband! Husbands, who knows? You may save your wife!

17 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.

Apart from such cases, each of you should remain in the situation that the Lord has placed you, and continue to live the life to which God has called you. That's my instruction to all the churches.

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

Were you circumcised when you were converted? Don't become uncircumcised. Were you uncircumcised when you were converted? Don't become circumcised.

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

Circumcision doesn't mean anything, and uncircumcision doesn't mean anything. Keeping the commandments of God is what really matters.

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

Everyone should remain in the position they were in when they were called.

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

If you were a slave when you were called, don't worry—though if you have an opportunity to become free, take it.

22 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.

If you were a slave when the Lord called you, you are now free, working for the Lord. In the same way if you were called when you were free, you are now Christ's slave!

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

A price has been paid for you, so don't become a slave to anyone.

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

Brothers and sisters, remain in the position you were in when you were called, living with God.

25 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.

Now about “people who are not married,” I don't have a specific instruction from the Lord, so let me give you my opinion as someone who by the Lord's mercy is considered trustworthy.

26 I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, [I say], that [it is] good for a man so to be.

Because of the present difficult situation we are in I think it is best to just stay as you are.

27 Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

Are you already married? Don't try to get divorced. Are you unmarried? Don't look to get married.

28 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.

If you do get married, you haven't sinned. If an unmarried woman gets married, she hasn't sinned. But you will have many troubles in this current world and I would want to spare you these.

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

I'm telling you, brothers and sisters, that time is short, and from now on for those who are married it may seem as if they are not married,

30 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;

and those who weep as if they did not weep, and those that celebrated as if they had not celebrated, and those that bought as if they did not own,

31 And they that use this world, as not abusing [it]: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

and those who are engaged with the world as if it is not fulfilling—for the present world order is passing away.

32 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:

I would prefer you to be free from such worries. A man who is not married pays attention to what is important to the Lord, and how he can please the Lord.

33 But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please [his] wife.

But a man who is married pays attention to what is important in this world, and how he can please his wife.

34 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.

As a result his loyalties are divided. Similarly an unmarried woman or girl pays attention to what is important to the Lord, so she may live a life dedicated both in body and spirit. But a married woman pays attention to what is important in this world, and how she can please her husband.

35 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.

I'm telling you this for your benefit. I'm not trying to put a noose around your neck, but to show you the right thing to do so you can serve the Lord without being distracted.

36 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.

But if a man thinks he's behaving improperly with the woman he's engaged to, and if he thinks he will give in to his strong sexual desire, and if he thinks he ought to get married, he is not sinning by getting married.

37 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.

But if a man stays true to his principles, and there is no obligation to marry, and has the power to keep his feelings under control and stay engaged to her, he does well not to marry.

38 So then he that giveth [her] in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth [her] not in marriage doeth better.

So the man who marries the woman he's engaged to does well, while the one who does not get married does better.

39 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.

A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry whoever she wants in the Lord.

40 But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

But in my opinion she would be happier if she didn't re-marry—and I think I too have the Spirit of God when I say this.