1 Corinthians 7

1 Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good to abstain from sexual relations.

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

2 But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.

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

3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.

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

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

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.

5 Do not deprive each other, except by mutual consent and for a time, so you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again, so that Satan will not tempt you through your lack of self-control.

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.

6 I say this as a concession, not as a command.

But this I say by permission, not by commandment:

7 I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.

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.

8 Now to the unmarried and widows I say this: It is good for them to remain unmarried, as I am.

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

9 But if they cannot control themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

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

10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.

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

11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.

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

12 To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If a brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.

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.

13 And if a woman has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.

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.

14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his believing wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.

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.

15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let him go. The believing brother or sister is not bound in such cases. God has called you to live in peace.

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.

16 How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

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?

17 Regardless, each one should lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is what I prescribe in all the churches.

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.

18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man still uncircumcised when called? He should not be circumcised.

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,

19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commandments is what counts.

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

20 Each one should remain in the situation he was in when he was called.

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

21 Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let it concern you—but if you can gain your freedom, take the opportunity.

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

22 For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman. Conversely, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave.

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.

23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.

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

24 Brothers, each one should remain in the situation he was in when God called him.

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

25 Now about virgins, I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.

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.

26 Because of the present crisis, I think it is good for a man to remain as he is.

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

27 Are you committed to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you free of commitment? Do not look for a wife.

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

28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.

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.

29 What I am saying, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none;

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;

30 those who weep, as if they did not; those who are joyful, as if they were not; those who make a purchase, as if they had nothing;

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:

31 and those who use the things of this world, as if not dependent on them. For this world in its present form is passing away.

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

32 I want you to be free from concern. The unmarried man is concerned about the work of the Lord, how he can please the Lord.

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:

33 But the married man is concerned about the affairs of this world, how he can please his wife,

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

34 and his interests are divided. The unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the work of the Lord, how she can be holy in both body and spirit. But the married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world, how she can please her husband.

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.

35 I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but in order to promote proper decorum and undivided devotion to the Lord.

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.

36 However, if someone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward his betrothed, and if she is beyond her youth and they ought to marry, let him do as he wishes; he is not sinning; they should get married.

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.

37 But the man who is firmly established in his heart and under no constraint, with control over his will and resolve in his heart not to marry the virgin, he will do well.

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.

38 So then, he who marries the virgin does well, but he who does not marry her does even better.

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

39 A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, as long as he belongs to the Lord.

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.

40 In my judgment, however, she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

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