1 Corinthians 7

1 And concerning the things of which ye wrote to me, it is praiseworthy for a man not to approach a woman.

Now concerning the things about which you wrote: it is good for a man not to touch a woman.

2 But, on account of whoredom, let each have his own wife and let a woman have her own husband.

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

3 And let the man render to his wife the kindness which is due; and so also the woman to her husband.

Let the husband fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband.

4 The woman is not the sovereign over her body, but her husband: so also the man is not the sovereign over his body, but the wife.

The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife.

5 Therefore, deprive not one another, except when ye both consent, at the time ye devote yourselves to fasting and prayer; and return again to the same disposition, that Satan tempt you not because of the concupiscence of your body.

Do not deprive one another, unless it is by consent for a season, that you may give yourselves to prayer, and may be together again, that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

6 But this I say, as to weak persons, not of positive precept.

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

7 For I would that all men might be like me in purity. But every man is endowed with his gift of God; one thus, and another so.

Yet I wish that all people were like me. However each one has his own gift from God, one of this kind, and another of that kind.

8 And I say to them who have no wives, and to widows, that it is advantageous to them to remain as I am.

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

9 But if they cannot endure it, let them marry: for it is more profitable to take a wife, than to burn with concupiscence.

But if they do not have self-control, let them marry. For it's better to marry than to burn.

10 And on them who have wives, I enjoin, -not I, but my Lord, -that the woman separate not from her husband.

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

11 And if she separate, let her remain without a husband, or be reconciled to her husband; and let not the man put away his wife.

(but if she departs, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband not leave his wife.

12 And to the rest, say I, - I, not my Lord, -that if there be a brother, who hath a wife that believeth not, and she is disposed to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

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.

13 And that woman, who hath a husband that believeth not, and he is disposed to dwell with her let her not forsake her husband.

The woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he is content to live with her, let her not leave her husband.

14 For the husband who believeth not, is sanctified by the wife that believeth; and the wife who believeth not, is sanctified by the husband that believeth: otherwise their children would be impure; but now are they pure.

For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the brother. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.

15 But if the unbeliever separateth, let him separate: A brother or sister is not in bondage in such cases: it is to peace, God hath called us.

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 you to peace.

16 For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou wilt procure life to thy husband? Or, thou husband, knowest thou, whether thou wilt procure life to thy 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 Every one, however, as the Lord hath distributed to him, and every one as God hath called him, so let him walk. And also thus I enjoin upon all the churches.

Only, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, so let him walk. So I command in all the congregations.

18 Is a circumcised person called, let him not revert to uncircumcision: and if one uncircumcised be called, let him not become circumcised.

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

19 For circumcision is nothing, neither is uncircumcision; but the keeping of God's commands.

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

20 Let every one continue in the vocation, in which he was called.

Let each person stay in that calling in which he was called.

21 If thou wert called, being a servant; let it not trouble thee. But if thou canst be made free, choose it rather than to serve.

Were you called being a slave? Do not let that bother you, but if you get an opportunity to become free, use it.

22 For he that is called by our Lord, being a servant, is God's freedman: likewise, he that is called, being a free man, is the Messiah's servant.

For he who was called in the Lord being a slave is the Lord's free person. Likewise he who was called being free is Messiah's slave.

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

You were bought with a price. Do not become slaves of people.

24 Let every one, my Brethren, continue with God, in whatever state he was called.

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

25 And concerning virginity, I have no precept from God; but I give counsels as a man who hath obtained mercy from God to be a believer.

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.

26 And I think this is suitable, on account of the necessity of the times; it is advantageous for a man to remain as he is.

I think that it is good therefore, because of the distress that is on us, that it is good for a person to remain as he is.

27 Art thou bound to a wife? Seek not a release. Art thou free from a wife? Seek not a wife.

Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be freed. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife.

28 But if thou takest a wife, thou sinnest not. And if a maiden is given to a husband, she sinneth not. But they who are such, will have trouble in the body: but I am forbearing to you.

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.

29 And this I say, my Brethren, that the time to come is short; so that they who have wives, should be as if they had none;

But I say this, brothers: the time is short, that from now on, those who have wives should be as though they had none;

30 and they who weep, as if they wept not; and they who rejoice, as if they rejoiced not; and they who buy, as if they acquired not;

and those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not possess;

31 and those occupied with this world, not going beyond the just using: for the fashion of this world is passing away.

and those who use the world, as not using it to the fullest. For the form of this world is passing away.

32 And therefore I wish you to be without solicitude. For he who hath not a wife, considereth the thing of his Lord, how he may please his Lord.

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;

33 And he who hath a wife, is anxious about the world, how he may please his wife.

but he who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife,

34 There is a difference also between a wife and a maiden. She who is without a husband, thinketh of things pertaining to her Lord, that she may be holy in her body and in her spirit. But she who hath a husband, thinketh of things pertaining to the world, how she may please her husband.

and is divided. And the woman that is unmarried, or a virgin, is concerned about the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But the one that is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

35 And this I say for your advantage; I am not laying a snare for you; but that ye may be faithful towards your Lord, in a suitable manner, while not minding worldly things.

This I say for your own profit; not that I may ensnare you, but for that which is appropriate, and that you may attend to the Lord without distraction.

36 But if any one thinketh that there is reproach, on account of his maiden daughter, because she hath passed her time, and he hath not presented her to a husband, and it be fitting that he present her; let him do what he desireth, he sinneth not; let her be married.

But if anyone 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 does not sin. Let them marry.

37 But he who hath firmly determined in his own mind, and nothing compelleth him, and he can act his own pleasure, and he so judgeth in his heart, that he keep his maiden daughter, he doeth commendably.

But he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own heart, to keep his own virgin, does well.

38 And therefore, he who presenteth his maiden daughter, doeth commendably; and he who presenteth not his maiden daughter, doeth very commendably.

So then both he who gives his own virgin in marriage does well, and he who does not give her in marriage does better.

39 A woman, while her husband liveth, is bound by the law; but if her husband sleepeth in death, she is free to marry whom she pleaseth, yet only in the Lord.

A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives; but if the husband is dead, she is free to be married to whomever she desires, only in the Lord.

40 But she is happier, in my opinion, if she remain so: and I think also, that I have the Spirit of God.

But she is happier if she stays as she is, in my judgment, and I think that I also have God's Ruach.