1 Corinthians 7

1 Now, as to the things in your letter to me: It is good for a man to have nothing to do with a woman.

Now as to the things concerning which ye wrote to me: it were good for a man not to touch a woman.

2 But because of the desires of the flesh, let every man have his wife, and every woman her husband.

Nevertheless to prevent whoredoms, let every one have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

3 Let the husband give to the wife what is right; and let the wife do the same to the husband.

Let the husband render to the wife due benevolence; and in like manner also the wife to the husband.

4 The wife has not power over her body, but the husband; and in the same way the husband has not power over his body, but the wife.

The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband; and in like manner also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

5 Do not keep back from one another what is right, but only for a short time, and by agreement, so that you may give yourselves to prayer, and come together again; so that Satan may not get the better of you through your loss of self-control.

Do not withdraw from one another, unless by consent for a season, that ye may attend to fasting and prayer: and come together again, least Satan tempt you through your incontinency.

6 But this I say as my opinion, and not as an order of the Lord.

But I say this by way of permission, not of command:

7 It is my desire that all men might be even as I am. But every man has the power of his special way of life given him by God, one in this way and one in that.

for I could wish that all men were as I myself am; but every man hath his proper gift from God, one of one kind and another of another?

8 But I say to the unmarried and to the widows, It is good for them to be even as I am.

Now to the unmarried and widows I say, it is good for them to continue so, as I do.

9 But if they have not self-control let them get married; for married life is better than the burning of desire.

But if they have not the gift of continence, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with lust.

10 But to the married I give orders, though not I but the Lord, that the wife may not go away from her husband

But those that are married, not I command, but the Lord, that the wife be not separated from her husband;

11 (Or if she goes away from him, let her keep unmarried, or be united to her husband again); and that the husband may not go away from his wife.

(but if she separate, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband; ) and that the husband put not away his wife.

12 But to the rest I say, and not the Lord; If a brother has a wife who is not a Christian, and it is her desire to go on living with him, let him not go away from her.

But to the rest say I, not the Lord, If any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she like to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

13 And if a woman has a husband who is not a Christian, and it is his desire to go on living with her, let her not go away from her husband.

And if any wife hath an unbelieving husband, and he like to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

14 For the husband who has not faith is made holy through his Christian wife, and the wife who is not a Christian is made holy through the brother: if not, your children would be unholy, but now are they holy.

For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the husband: else were your children unclean; but they are holy.

15 But if the one who is not a Christian has a desire to go away, let it be so: the brother or the sister in such a position is not forced to do one thing or the other: but it is God's pleasure that we may be at peace with one another.

But if the unbeliever depart, let them depart; a brother or a sister is not bound in such cases.

16 For how may you be certain, O wife, that you will not be the cause of salvation to your husband? or you, O husband, that you may not do the same for your wife?

But God hath called us to peace; for how knowest thou, O wife, but thou shalt save thy husband; or how knowest thou, O husband, but thou shalt save thy wife?

17 Only, as the Lord has given to a man, and as is the purpose of God for him, so let him go on living. And these are my orders for all the churches.

However, as God hath distributed to every man, and as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk: and thus I order in all the churches.

18 If any man who is a Christian has had circumcision, let him keep so; and if any man who is a Christian has not had circumcision, let him make no change.

Is any one called that is circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised: is any one called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised: for circumcision is nothing,

19 Circumcision is nothing, and its opposite is nothing, but only doing the orders of God is of value.

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

20 Let every man keep the position in which he has been placed by God.

In the calling in which every one was called, let him continue.

21 If you were a servant when you became a Christian, let it not be a grief to you; but if you have a chance to become free, make use of it.

Wast thou called being a slave, be not anxious about it; but if thou canst be made free, prefer it.

22 For he who was a servant when he became a Christian is the Lord's free man; and he who was free when he became a Christian is the Lord's servant.

For he that is called in the Lord being a slave, is the Lord's freed-man: and he likewise that is called being free is the servant of Christ.

23 It is the Lord who has made payment for you: be not servants of men.

Ye are bought with a price, do not become the slaves of men.

24 My brothers, let every man keep in that condition which is the purpose of God for him.

Brethren, in whatever condition every one was when called, let him abide therein with God.

25 Now about virgins I have no orders from the Lord: but I give my opinion as one to whom the Lord has given mercy to be true to him.

But concerning single persons I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgement as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.

26 In my opinion then, because of the present trouble, it is good for a man to keep as he is.

I think then, that it is---better on account of the present distress, ---that it is better, I say,

27 If you are married to a wife, make no attempt to get free from her: if you are free from a wife, do not take a wife.

for a single man to be so. Art thou bound to a wife indeed? seek not to be loosed: but art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

28 If you get married it is not a sin; and if an unmarried woman gets married it is not a sin. But those who do so will have trouble in the flesh. But I will not be hard on you.

Though, if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned: such however will probably have more trouble in life: but I spare you.

29 But I say this, my brothers, the time is short; and from now it will be wise for those who have wives to be as if they had them not;

But this I say, brethren, that the time is short: it remains therefore, that even those, who have wives, be as though they had none;

30 And for those who are in sorrow, to give no signs of it; and for those who are glad, to give no signs of joy; and for those who are getting property, to be as if they had nothing;

and they, that weep, as if they wept not; and they, that rejoice, as if they rejoiced not; and they, that buy, as if they possessed not;

31 And for those who make use of the world, not to be using it fully; for this world's way of life will quickly come to an end.

and they, that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

32 But it is my desire for you to be free from cares. The unmarried man gives his mind to the things of the Lord, how he may give pleasure to the Lord:

And I would have you without anxiety. Now he, that is unmarried, careth for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; but he,

33 But the married man gives his attention to the things of this world, how he may give pleasure to his wife.

that is married, is in care about the things of the world, and how he may please his wife.

34 And the wife is not the same as the virgin. The virgin gives her mind to the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy in body and in spirit: but the married woman takes thought for the things of the world, how she may give pleasure to her husband.

There is a difference also between a wife and a virgin: she, that is unmarried, careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but she, that is married, is in care about the things of the world, and how she may please her husband.

35 Now I say this for your profit; not to make things hard for you, but because of what is right, and so that you may be able to give all your attention to the things of the Lord.

And this I say for your own benefit, not that I may cast a snare upon you, but in order to recommend that which is fit and becoming before the Lord without distraction.

36 But if, in any man's opinion, he is not doing what is right for his virgin, if she is past her best years, and there is need for it, let him do what seems right to him; it is no sin; let them be married.

But if any one think that he acts unbecomingly towards his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and that it ought to be so, let him do what he will; he doth not sin: let them marry.

37 But the man who is strong in mind and purpose, who is not forced but has control over his desires, does well if he comes to the decision to keep her a virgin.

But he, that is stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath determined in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doth well.

38 So then, he who gets married to his virgin does well, and he who keeps her unmarried does better.

So that he, who giveth her in marriage, doth well; but he, that giveth her not in marriage, doth better.

39 It is right for a wife to be with her husband as long as he is living; but when her husband is dead, she is free to be married to another; but only to a Christian.

The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth: but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will, only in the Lord:

40 But it will be better for her to keep as she is, in my opinion: and it seems to me that I have the Spirit of God.

but she is happier, in my opinion, if she continue as she is: and I think I have the Spirit of God.