1 Corinthians 7

1 Now concerning the things of which ye wrote to me. It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

Now concerning the things about which you wrote to me: it is good for a man not to touch 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 sexual immoralities, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.

3 Let the husband render the goodwill owed to the wife, and likewise also the wife to the husband.

Let the husband give his wife the affection owed her, and likewise also the wife her husband.

4 The wife has not the right of her private body, but the husband, and likewise also the husband has not the right of his private body, but the wife.

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

5 Do not defraud each other except from agreement for a time, so that ye may have time for fasting and prayer. And come together again for the same thing, so that Satan not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

Do not 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 does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

6 But I say this from concession not from commandment.

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

7 For I wish all men to be even as myself. However each man has his own gift from God, one in this way, and another after that.

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.

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

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 have no self-control they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn.

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

10 And to those who are married, I do not command but the Lord. The wife is not to separate from her husband.

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

11 But even if she separates, she shall remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to leave 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 But to the rest I say, not the Lord. If any brother has an unbelieving wife, and this woman consents to dwell with him, he should not leave her.

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 whichever woman has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to dwell with her, she should not leave him.

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

14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified by the husband, then otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy.

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.

15 But if the unbeliever separates, he shall separate. The brother or the sister has not been bound in such things. And God has called us to peace.

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.

16 For how do thou know, O wife, whether thou will save thy husband? Or how will thou know, O husband, whether thou will save 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 Except, as God has distributed to each man, as the Lord has called each, so let him walk. And so I command in all the congregations.

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.

18 Was any man called circumcised? He should not become uncircumcised. Was any man called in uncircumcision? He should not be circumcised.

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

19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, instead, the keeping of God's commandments.

Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is keeping God’s commandments.

20 Each man, in the situation in which he was called, in this he should remain.

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

21 Were thou called being a bondman? It should not concern thee. However if also thou are able to become free, take advantage of it instead.

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

22 For he who was called in the Lord a bondman is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise also he who was called a free man is a bondman of Christ.

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.

23 Ye were bought with a price, become not bondmen of men.

You were bought with a price. Do not become bondservants of men.

24 Brothers, each man, in what he was called, should remain in this before God.

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

25 Now concerning the virgins I have no commandment of the Lord, but I give an opinion, as having obtained mercy from the Lord to be trustworthy.

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 I suppose therefore this to be good because of the present distress, that it is good for a man to be this way:

Therefore I think that because of the distress that is on us, it’s good for a man to remain as he is.

27 Are thou bound to a wife? Do not seek separation. Are thou free from a wife? Do not seek 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 also if thou did marry thou have not sinned, and if the virgin married she has not sinned. Yet such kind will have stress in the flesh, but I spare 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 But this I say, brothers, the time is shortened. It is the remaining, so that also those who have wives may be as not having,

But I say this, brothers: the time is short. From now on, both those who have wives may be as though they had none;

30 and those who weep, as not weeping, and those who rejoice, as not rejoicing, and those who buy, as not possessing,

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 who use this world, as not making full use, for the form of this world passes away.

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

32 But I want you to be without worry. The unmarried man cares for things of the Lord, how he will please the 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 But he who is married cares for things of the world, how he will please his wife.

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

34 And the wife and the virgin are differentiated. The unmarried woman is concerned for the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married is concerned for the things of the world, how she will please her husband.

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.

35 And I say this for your own benefit, not that I may cast restraint upon you, but for what is respectable and assiduous toward the Lord, undistracted.

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.

36 But if any man thinks to behave improperly toward his virgin, if it is past the best time, and so ought to happen, she should do what she wants, she does not sin, they should marry.

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 does not sin. Let them marry.

37 But he who stands firm in his heart, not having necessity, but has power based upon his own will, and has decided this in his heart, to keep his own celibacy, does well.

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.

38 And therefore he who gives in marriage does well, but he who does not give in marriage does better.

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 wife is bound by law as long a time as her husband lives, but also if the husband should sleep, she is free to be married to whom she desires, only in the Lord.

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.

40 But she is more blessed if she remains this way according to my opinion. And I also seem to have 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 Spirit.