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 the fornications, 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.

Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to 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.

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

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.

Do not deprive one another except by mutual consent for a season, so that you may devote yourselves to fasting and to prayer, and come together again so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

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

Now I say this as a concession, not as a command

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.

(though I wish that all men were even as I myself; but each has his own gift from God, one like this and one like that).

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

Yes I say to the unmarried and the widows: it is good for them if they should remain even as I;

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 exercise self-control, let them marry; since 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.

Now to the married I command (not I but the Lord): a wife is not to be separated 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 does separate herself, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband), and a husband is not to 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.

But to the rest I (not the Lord) say: if any brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, let him 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 a woman who has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him.

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; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are consecrated.

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 separates, let him separate—in such cases the brother or the sister is not enslaved, but 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?

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 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.

Otherwise, as God has distributed to each, as the Lord has called each one, so let him live (this is what I command in all the congregations).

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.

Was anyone already circumcised when called? Let him not reverse it. Was anyone uncircumcised when 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, compared to keeping God's commandments.

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

Let each one remain in the same calling in 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.

Were you called while a slave? Do not let it bother you, but if you can really become free, do so.

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 the one in the Lord who was called while a slave is the Lord's freedman. Similarly, the one who was called while free is Christ's slave.

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

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

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

Brothers, let each one remain with God in the social condition in which he was called.

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 about the virgins I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who has obtained mercy from the Lord to be trustworthy.

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

I consider therefore that this is good because of the current distress—that it is good for a man to remain 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? Do not seek release. Have you been released from 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.

However, should you marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin should marry, she has not sinned. Still, such will have trouble in the flesh, and I want to 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 I say this, brothers, the time has been shortened, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though 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 not weeping, and those who rejoice as though not rejoicing, and those who buy as though not possessing,

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 though not abusing it; because this world's mode 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.

Now I want you to be without anxiety. He who is unmarried cares about the things of the Lord: how he will please the Lord.

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

While he who is married cares about the things of the world: how he will 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.

The wife and the virgin are also different. She who is unmarried cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit; while she who is married cares about the things of the world: how she will 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 am saying this for your own profit, not to put a leash on you, but for what is appropriate, and that you may serve 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.

Now if anyone thinks he is behaving inappropriately toward his virgin, if she is past her prime and thus it should be, let him do what he desires; he does not sin; let them 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 who stands steadfast in his heart, not having necessity, but has control over his own will, and has determined in his heart to preserve his own virginity, does well.

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

So then, he who gives in marriage does well, but he who does not give 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.

A woman is bound by law for as long as her husband lives, but if the man should die, she is free to be married to whom she wishes—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 more blessed if she remains as she is, according to my judgment—and I think I also have God's Spirit.