1 Corinthians 7

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

And concerning the things of which ye wrote to me, it is praiseworthy for a man not to approach 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, on account of whoredom, let each have his own wife and let a woman have her own husband.

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

And let the man render to his wife the kindness which is due; and so also the woman 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 woman is not the sovereign over her body, but her husband: so also the man is not the sovereign over his 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.

Therefore, deprive not one another, except when ye both consent, at the time ye devote yourselves to fasting and prayer; and return again to the same disposition, that Satan tempt you not because of the concupiscence of your body.

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

But this I say, as to weak persons, not of positive precept.

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 that all men might be like me in purity. But every man is endowed with his gift of God; one thus, and another so.

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

And I say to them who have no wives, and to widows, that it is advantageous to them to remain as I 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 endure it, let them marry: for it is more profitable to take a wife, than to burn with concupiscence.

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

And on them who have wives, I enjoin, -not I, but my Lord, -that the woman separate not 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.

And if she separate, let her remain without a husband, or be reconciled to her husband; and let not the man 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.

And to the rest, say I, - I, not my Lord, -that if there be a brother, who hath a wife that believeth not, and she is disposed 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 that woman, who hath a husband that believeth not, and he is disposed to dwell with her let her not forsake 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 husband who believeth not, is sanctified by the wife that believeth; and the wife who believeth not, is sanctified by the husband that believeth: otherwise their children would be impure; but now are they pure.

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 separateth, let him separate: A brother or sister is not in bondage in such cases: it is to peace, God hath called us.

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 knowest thou, O wife, whether thou wilt procure life to thy husband? Or, thou husband, knowest thou, whether thou wilt procure life to 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.

Every one, however, as the Lord hath distributed to him, and every one as God hath called him, so let him walk. And also thus I enjoin upon 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.

Is a circumcised person called, let him not revert to uncircumcision: and if one uncircumcised be called, let him not become circumcised.

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

For circumcision is nothing, neither is uncircumcision; but the keeping of God's commands.

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

Let every one continue in the vocation, 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.

If thou wert called, being a servant; let it not trouble thee. But if thou canst be made free, choose it rather than to serve.

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 by our Lord, being a servant, is God's freedman: likewise, he that is called, being a free man, is the Messiah's servant.

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

Ye are 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.

Let every one, my Brethren, continue with God, in whatever state 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.

And concerning virginity, I have no precept from God; but I give counsels as a man who hath obtained mercy from God to be a believer.

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

And I think this is suitable, on account of the necessity of the times; it is advantageous 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.

Art thou bound to a wife? Seek not a release. Art thou free 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 thou takest a wife, thou sinnest not. And if a maiden is given to a husband, she sinneth not. But they who are such, will have trouble in the body: but I am forbearing to 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, my Brethren, that the time to come is short; so that they 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 they who weep, as if they wept not; and they who rejoice, as if they rejoiced not; and they who buy, as if they acquired 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 occupied with this world, not going beyond the just using: for the fashion 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.

And therefore I wish you to be without solicitude. For he who hath not a wife, considereth the thing of his Lord, how he may please his Lord.

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

And he who hath a wife, is anxious about 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 maiden. She who is without a husband, thinketh of things pertaining to her Lord, that she may be holy in her body and in her spirit. But she who hath a husband, thinketh of things pertaining to 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.

And this I say for your advantage; I am not laying a snare for you; but that ye may be faithful towards your Lord, in a suitable manner, while not minding worldly things.

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 one thinketh that there is reproach, on account of his maiden daughter, because she hath passed her time, and he hath not presented her to a husband, and it be fitting that he present her; let him do what he desireth, he sinneth not; let her be married.

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 hath firmly determined in his own mind, and nothing compelleth him, and he can act his own pleasure, and he so judgeth in his heart, that he keep his maiden daughter, he doeth commendably.

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

And therefore, he who presenteth his maiden daughter, doeth commendably; and he who presenteth not his maiden daughter, doeth very commendably.

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, while her husband liveth, is bound by the law; but if her husband sleepeth in death, she is free to marry whom she pleaseth, yet 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 opinion, if she remain so: and I think also, that I have the Spirit of God.