1 Corinthians 7

1 But concerning the things of which ye have written [to me]: [It is] good for a man not to touch a woman;

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

2 but on account of fornications, let each have his own wife, and each [woman] have her own husband.

But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.

3 Let the husband render her due to the wife, and in like manner the wife to the husband.

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

4 The wife has not authority over her own body, but the husband: in like manner also the husband has not authority over his own body, but the wife.

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.

5 Defraud not one another, unless, it may be, by consent for a time, that ye may devote yourselves to prayer, and again be together, that Satan tempt you not because of your incontinency.

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.

6 But this I say, as consenting [to], not as commanding [it].

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

7 Now I wish all men to be even as myself: but every one has his own gift of God: one man thus, and another thus.

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.

8 But I say to the unmarried and to the widows, It is good for them that they remain even as I.

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

9 But if they have not control over themselves, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn.

But if they cannot control themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

10 But to the married I enjoin, not I, but the Lord, Let not wife be separated from husband;

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

11 (but if also she shall have been separated, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband; ) and let not husband leave wife.

But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.

12 But as to the rest, I say, not the Lord, If any brother have an unbelieving wife, and she consent to dwell with him, let him not leave her.

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.

13 And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to dwell with her, let her not leave [her] husband.

And if a woman has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.

14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the brother; since [otherwise] indeed your children are unclean, but now they are holy.

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.

15 But if the unbeliever go away, let them go away; a brother or a sister is not bound in such [cases], but God has called us in peace.

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.

16 For what knowest thou, O wife, if thou shalt save thy husband? or what knowest thou, O husband, if thou shalt save thy wife?

How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

17 However, as the Lord has divided to each, as God has called each, so let him walk; and thus I ordain in all the assemblies.

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.

18 Has any one been called circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised: has any one been called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.

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.

19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but keeping God's commandments.

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

20 Let each abide in that calling in which he has been called.

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

21 Hast thou been called [being] a bondman, let it not concern thee; but and if thou canst become free, use [it] rather.

Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let it concern you—but if you can gain your freedom, take the opportunity.

22 For the bondman that is called in [the] Lord is the Lord's freedman; in like manner [also] the freeman being called is Christ's bondman.

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.

23 Ye have been bought with a price; do not be the bondmen of men.

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

24 Let each, wherein he is called, brethren, therein abide with God.

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

25 But concerning virgins, I have no commandment of [the] Lord; but I give my opinion, as having received mercy of [the] Lord to be faithful.

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.

26 I think then that this is good, on account of the present necessity, that [it is] good for a man to remain so as he is.

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

27 Art thou bound to a wife? seek not to be loosed; art thou free from a wife? do not seek a wife.

Are you committed to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you free of commitment? Do not look for a wife.

28 But if thou shouldest also marry, thou hast not sinned; and if the virgin marry, they have not sinned: but such shall have tribulation in the flesh; but I spare you.

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.

29 But this I say, brethren, the time is straitened. For the rest, that they who have wives, be as not having [any]:

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;

30 and they that weep, as not weeping; and they that rejoice, as not rejoicing; and they that buy, as not possessing;

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;

31 and they that use the world, as not disposing of it as their own; for the fashion of this world passes.

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.

32 But I wish you to be without care. The unmarried cares for the things of the Lord, how he shall please the Lord;

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.

33 but he that has married cares for the things of the world, how he shall please his wife.

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

34 There is a difference between the wife and the virgin. The unmarried cares for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but she that has married cares for the things of the world, how she shall please her husband.

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.

35 But I say this for your own profit; not that I may set a snare before you, but for what [is] seemly, and waiting on the Lord without distraction.

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.

36 But if any one think that he behaves unseemly to his virginity, if he be beyond the flower of his age, and so it must be, let him do what he will, he does not sin: let them marry.

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.

37 But he who stands firm in his heart, having no need, but has authority over his own will, and has judged this in his heart to keep his own virginity, he does well.

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.

38 So that he that marries himself does well; and he that does not marry does better.

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

39 A wife is bound for whatever time her husband lives; but if the husband be fallen asleep, she is free to be married to whom she will, only in [the] Lord.

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.

40 But she is happier if she so remain, according to my judgment; but I think that I also have God's Spirit.

In my judgment, however, she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.