1 Corinthians 7

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

Now concerning the matters 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 cases of fornication, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband.

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

The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise 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. Likewise 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 time, so that you may devote yourselves to fasting and prayer and then 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.

For I wish that all people were as I am. But each has his own gift from God, one person in this manner and another in that manner.

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

Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them if they remain even 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 exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

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 give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not 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 does separate, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and a husband must 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.

Now to the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she consents to dwell with him, he must 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 a woman has an unbelieving husband and he consents to dwell with her, she must 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 through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, 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 spouse separates, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not enslaved in such cases. 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 yoʋ know, O wife, whether yoʋ will save yoʋr husband? Or how do yoʋ know, O husband, whether yoʋ will save yoʋr 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.

Nevertheless, each person should live the life that God has assigned to him and to which the Lord has called him. This is the rule I lay down 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.

Was any man already circumcised when he was called? He should not remove the marks of circumcision. Was any man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not become circumcised.

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

Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is keeping the commandments of God.

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

Each person should remain in the 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 yoʋ a slave when yoʋ were called? Do not be concerned about it, but if yoʋ are able to become free, make the most of the opportunity.

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 who was called in the Lord as a slave is the Lord's freedman. In the same way, he who was called as a free man is Christ's slave.

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

You were bought with 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, each person should remain with God in the 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 concerning virgins, I do not have a command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who has been shown mercy by 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 think it is good then, on account of the present distress, 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 yoʋ pledged to marry a woman? Do not seek to be released. Are yoʋ free from such a commitment? 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 even if yoʋ do marry, yoʋ have not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will have tribulation in the flesh, and I am trying 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;

But I say this, brothers: The time is short. From now on those who have wives should live 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 they were not weeping, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they did not possess,

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 they were not making full use of it. For the form 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 want you to be free from concern. The unmarried man is concerned about the affairs 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,

But the married man is concerned about the affairs 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.

There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman is concerned about the affairs of the Lord, how she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But the married woman is concerned about the affairs 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 say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote proper behavior and devotion to 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 any man thinks that he is acting improperly toward his virgin daughter by not letting her marry, if she is past the bloom of her youth and it seems necessary to do so, he should do what he wants. He is not sinning by letting her get 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 the man who stands firm in his heart, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and has determined in his heart to keep his virgin daughter from marrying, 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 her in marriage does well, but he who does not give her 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 wife is bound by the law to her husband for as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to anyone 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.

Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.