1 Corinthians 7

1 Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me, it is good for a man not to touch a woman.

Now concerning the thing whereof you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

2 But, to avoid lewd practices, let every man have his own wife, and every woman her own husband.

But for fear of fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

3 Let the husband render to the wife that which is due, and likewise, also, the wife to the husband.

Let the husband render the debt to his wife, and the wife also in like manner to the husband.

4 The wife has not power over her own body, but the husband; likewise, also, the husband has not power over his own body, but the wife.

The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband. And in like manner the husband also hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

5 Debar not one another, unless by agreement for a time, that you may have leisure for prayer; and come together again, lest Satan tempt you through your incontinence.

Defraud not one another, except, perhaps, by consent, for a time, that you may give yourselves to prayer; and return together again, lest Satan tempt you for your incontinency.

6 But this I say by permission, not by commandment:

But I speak this by indulgence, not by commandment.

7 for I could wish that all men were even as I am myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this way, another in that.

For I would that all men were even as myself: but every one hath his proper gift from God; one after this manner, and another after that.

8 But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It would be good for them, if they remain as I myself.

But I say to the unmarried, and to the widows: It is good for them if they so continue, even as I.

9 But if they can not be continent, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn.

But if they do not contain themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to be burnt.

10 But to the married I give commandment, not I, but the Lord: Let not the wife leave her husband:

But to them that are married, not I but the Lord commandeth, that the wife depart not from her husband.

11 but if she leave him, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and, let not the husband put away his wife.

And if she depart, that she remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband. And let not the husband put away his wife.

12 But to the rest, I, and not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife that believes not, and she is well pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

For to the rest I speak, not the Lord. If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she consent to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

13 And if any woman has a husband that believes not, and he is well pleased to dwell with her, let her not put him away.

And if any woman hath a husband that believeth not, and he consent to dwell with her, let her not put away her husband.

14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; for if not, then are your children unclean; but now they are holy.

For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the believing wife; and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the believing husband: otherwise your children should be unclean; but now they are holy.

15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart; the brother or sister is not bound in such cases. But God has called us to live in peace.

But if the unbeliever depart, let him depart. For a brother or sister is not under servitude in such cases. But God hath called us in peace.

16 For how do you know, O wife, but that you may save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, but that you may save your wife?

For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? Or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

17 But as God has assigned a place to every one, as the Lord has called every one, so let him continue to live: and so do I command in all the churches.

But as the Lord hath distributed to every one, as God hath called every one, so let him walk: and so in all churches I teach.

18 Has any one been called that had been circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the mark of circumcision. Has any one been called that had not been circumcised? Let him not be circumcised,

Is any man called, being circumcised? let him not procure uncircumcision. Is any man called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.

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

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

20 Let every one remain in that condition in which he was, when called.

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

21 Were you a servant when you were called? Care not for it. But if you can become free, rather enjoy your freedom.

Wast thou called, being a bondman? care not for it; but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.

22 For he that is in the Lord, having been called when a servant, is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise, also, the freeman who has been called, is Christ’s servant.

For he that is called in the Lord, being a bondman, is the freeman of the Lord. Likewise he that is called, being free, is the bondman of Christ.

23 You have been bought with a price; become not the servants of men.

You are bought with a price; be not made the bondslaves of men.

24 Brethren, let every one, in whatever condition he is called, abide in this with God.

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

25 But with respect to virgins, I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment as one that is enabled, by the mercy of the Lord, to be faithful.

Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment of the Lord; but I give counsel, as having obtained mercy of the Lord, to be faithful.

26 I think, then, that this is good for the present affliction―that it is good for a man to be as he is.

I think therefore that this is good for the present necessity, that it is good for a man so to be.

27 Are you bound to a wife? Seek not a separation. Are you loosed from a wife? Seek not a wife.

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

28 But if you should marry, you would not sin. And if a virgin should marry, she would not sin. But such will have affliction in the flesh. But I spare you.

But if thou take a wife, thou hast not sinned. And if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned: nevertheless, such shall have tribulation of the flesh. But I spare you.

29 Now, this I say, brethren, the time is fraught with trials. It remains that those who have wives be as though they had them not;

This therefore I say, brethren; the time is short; it remaineth, that they also who have wives, be as if they had none;

30 and those who weep, as though they wept not; and those who rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and those who buy, as though they possessed not:

And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as if they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;

31 and those who use this world, as not abusing it; for the outward show of this world passes away.

And they that use this world, as if they used it not: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

32 But I would have you to be without anxiety. The unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord:

But I would have you to be without solicitude. He that is without a wife, is solicitous for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please God.

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

But he that is with a wife, is solicitous for the things of the world, how he may please his wife: and he is divided.

34 There is a difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy in body and in spirit; but she that is married, is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

And the unmarried woman and the virgin thinketh on the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she that is married thinketh on the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

35 I speak this for your own profit; not that I would entangle you, but that you may decorously and devotedly wait upon the Lord, without distraction.

And this I speak for your profit: not to cast a snare upon you; but for that which is decent, and which may give you power to attend upon the Lord, without impediment.

36 But if any man thinks he would treat his virgin daughter amiss, should she pass the bloom of life, and it is necessary that it should be so, let him do as he pleases, he does not sin; let them ( the suitor and the daughter ) marry.

But if any man think that he seemeth dishonoured, with regard to his virgin, for that she is above the age, and it must so be: let him do what he will; he sinneth not, if she marry.

37 But he that stands firm in his purpose, having no necessity to give his daughter in marriage, but has liberty with respect to his own will, and has thus decided in his own heart, that he will keep his daughter a virgin, does well.

For he that hath determined being steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but having power of his own will; and hath judged this in his heart, to keep his virgin, doth well.

38 So then, even he that gives her in marriage, does well; but he that gives her not in marriage, does better.

Therefore, both he that giveth his virgin in marriage, doth well; and he that giveth her not, doth better.

39 The wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband die, she is free to be married to whom she will, only in the Lord.

A woman is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband die, she is at liberty: let her marry to whom she will; only in the Lord.

40 But she is happier, in my judgment, if she remains as she is; and I think that I have, also, the Spirit of God.

But more blessed shall she be, if she so remain, according to my counsel; and I think that I also have the spirit of God.