1 Corinthians 7

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

Now concerning the things about 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, because of fornication, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.

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

A husband should fulfill his obligation to his wife, and a wife should also act similarly toward her 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.

It is not the wife, but the husband, who has power over her body. But, similarly also, it is not the husband, but the wife, who has power over his body.

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.

So, do not fail in your obligations to one another, except perhaps by consent, for a limited time, so that you may empty yourselves for prayer. And then, return together again, lest Satan tempt you by means of your abstinence.

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

But I am saying this, neither as an indulgence, nor as a 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 would prefer it if you were all like myself. But each person has his proper gift from God: one in this way, yet another in that way.

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 widows: It is good for them, if they would remain as they are, just as I also am.

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

But if they cannot restrain themselves, they should marry. For it is better to marry, than to be burned.

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

But to those who have been joined in matrimony, it is not I who commands you, but the Lord: a wife is not to separate from 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 has separated from him, she must remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband should not divorce 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.

Concerning the rest, I am speaking, not the Lord. If any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her.

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 an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce her husband.

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 has been sanctified through the believing wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through the believing husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean, whereas instead 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 unbeliever departs, let him depart. For a brother or sister cannot be made subject to servitude in this way. For God has called us to 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?

And how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will 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.

However, let each one walk just as the Lord has distributed to him, each one just as God has called him. And thus do I teach 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 circumcised man been called? Let him not cover his circumcision. Has any uncircumcised man been called? 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; there is only the observance of the commandments of God.

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

Let each and every one remain in the same calling to which he was 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.

Are you a servant who has been called? Do not be concerned about it. But if you ever have the ability to be free, make use of it.

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 any servant who has been called in the Lord is free in the Lord. Similarly, any free person who has been called is a servant in Christ.

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

You have been bought with a price. Do not be willing to become the servants of men.

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

Brothers, let each one, in whatever state he was called, remain in that state 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.

Now, concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord. But I give counsel, as one who has obtained the mercy of the Lord, so as to be faithful.

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

Therefore, I consider this to be good, because of the present necessity: that it is good for a man to be such as I am.

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? Do not seek to be freed. Are you free of a wife? Do not seek 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 take a wife, you have not sinned. And if a virgin has married, she has not sinned. Even so, such as these will have the tribulation of the flesh. But I would spare you from this.

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;

And so, this is what I say, brothers: The time is short. What remains of it is such that: those who have wives should be as if they had none;

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 were not weeping; and those who rejoice, as if they were not rejoicing; and those who buy, as if they possessed nothing;

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 the things of this world, as if they were not using them. For the figure of this world is passing 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 prefer you to be without worry. Whoever is without a wife is worried about the things of the Lord, as to how he may please God.

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

But whoever is with a wife is worried about the things of the world, as to how he may please his wife. And so, he is divided.

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.

And the unmarried woman and the virgin think about the things that are of the Lord, so that she may be holy in body and in spirit. But she who is married thinks about the things that are of the world, as to 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.

Furthermore, I am saying this for your own benefit, not in order to cast a snare over you, but toward whatever is honest and whatever may provide you with the ability to be without hindrance, so as to worship the Lord.

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 considers himself to seem dishonorable, concerning a virgin who is of adult age, and so it ought to be, he may do as he wills. If he marries her, he does not sin.

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 if he has decided firmly in his heart, and he does not have any obligation, but only the power of his free will, and if he has judged this in his heart, to let her remain a virgin, he does well.

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

And so, he who joins with his virgin in matrimony does well, and he who does not join with her 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.

A woman is bound under the law for as long as her husband lives. But if her husband has died, she is free. She may marry whomever she wishes, but 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 will be more blessed, if she remains in this state, in accord with my counsel. And I think that I, too, have the Spirit of God.