1 Corinthians 7
1 Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good to abstain from sexual relations.
Nowe concerning the thinges whereof ye wrote vnto mee, It were good for a man not to touche a woman.
2 But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.
Neuertheles, to auoide fornication, let euery man haue his wife, and let euery woman haue her owne husband.
3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.
Let the husband giue vnto the wife due beneuolence, and likewise also the wife vnto 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 hath not the power of her owne bodie, but ye husband: and likewise also the husband hath not ye power of 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.
Defraude not one another, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may giue your selues to fasting and praier, and againe come together that Satan tempt you not for your incontinecie.
6 I say this as a concession, not as a command.
But I speake this by permission, not by commandement.
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 woulde that all men were euen as I my selfe am: but euery man hath his proper gift of God, one after this maner, and another after that.
8 Now to the unmarried and widows I say this: It is good for them to remain unmarried, as I am.
Therefore I say vnto the vnmaried, and vnto the widowes, It is good for them if they abide euen as I doe.
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 abstaine, let them marrie: for it is better to marrie then to burne.
10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.
And vnto ye maried I comand, not I, but ye Lord, Let not ye wife depart 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 and if shee depart, let her remaine vnmaried, or be reconciled vnto 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 ye remnant I speake, and not ye Lord, If any brother haue a wife, ye beleeueth not, if she be content to dwell with him, let him not forsake her.
13 And if a woman has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.
And the woman which hath an husband that beleeueth not, if he be content to dwell with her, let her not forsake 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 vnbeleeuing husband is sanctified to the wife, and the vnbeleeuing wife is sanctified to the husband, els were your children vncleane: but nowe are they holie.
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 vnbeleeuing depart, let him depart: a brother or a sister is not in subiection in such things: but God hath called vs 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 what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt saue thine husband? Or what knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt saue thy 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 hath distributed to euery man, as the Lord hath called euery one, so let him walke: and so ordaine I, in all 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.
Is any man called being circumcised? let him not gather his vncircumcision: is any called vncircumcised? let him not be circumcised.
19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commandments is what counts.
Circumcision is nothing, and vncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandements of God.
20 Each one should remain in the situation he was in when he was called.
Let euery man abide in the same vocation wherein 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.
Art thou called being a seruant? care not for it: but if yet thou maiest be free, vse it rather.
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 called in the Lord, being. a seruant, is the Lords freeman: likewise also he that is called being free, is Christes seruant.
23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.
Yee are bought with a price: be not the seruants of men.
24 Brothers, each one should remain in the situation he was in when God called him.
Brethren, let euery man, wherein hee was called, therein abide 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.
Nowe concerning virgines, I haue no commandement of the Lord: but I giue mine aduise, as one that hath obtained mercie of the Lord to be faithfull.
26 Because of the present crisis, I think it is good for a man to remain as he is.
I suppose then this to bee good for the present necessitie: I meane that it is good for a man so to be.
27 Are you committed to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you free of commitment? Do not look for a wife.
Art thou bounde vnto a wife? seeke not to be loosed: art thou loosed from a wife? seeke 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 thou takest a wife, thou sinnest not: and if a virgine marrie, shee sinneth not: neuerthelesse, such shall haue trouble 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;
And this I say, brethren, because the time is short, hereafter that both they which haue wiues, 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 they that weepe, as though they wept not: and they that reioyce, as though they reioyced not: and they that bye, 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 they that vse this worlde, as though they vsed it not: for the fashion of this worlde goeth 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.
And I would haue you without care. The vnmaried careth for the things of the Lord, howe 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 hee that is maried, careth for 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 difference also betweene a virgine and a wife: the vnmaried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy, both in body and in spirite: but shee that is maried, careth for the things of the worlde, howe shee 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.
And this I speake for your owne commoditie, not to tangle you in a snare, but that yee follow that, which is honest, and that yee may cleaue fast vnto the Lord without separation.
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 thinke that it is vncomely for his virgine, if shee passe the flower of her age, and neede so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them be maried.
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.
Neuerthelesse, hee that standeth firme in his heart, that hee hath no neede, but hath power ouer his owne will, and hath so decreed in his heart, that hee will keepe his virgine, hee doeth well.
38 So then, he who marries the virgin does well, but he who does not marry her does even better.
So then hee that giueth her to mariage, doeth well, but he that giueth her not to mariage, doeth 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 bounde by the Lawe, as long as her husband liueth: but if her husband bee dead, shee is at libertie to marie with whome she will, onely 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 shee is more blessed, if she so abide, in my iudgement: and I thinke that I haue also the Spirite of God.
