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 concerning the things whereof all of you wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

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

Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

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

Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the 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 has not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband has not power of 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.

Defraud all of you not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that all of you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

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

But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.

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.

For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man has his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

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

I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.

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 contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

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

And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart 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 and if she depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away 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.

But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother has a wife that believes not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

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

And the woman which has an husband that believes not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave 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 by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they 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 unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God has called us to 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?

For what know you, O wife, whether you shall save your husband? or how know you, O man, whether you shall 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.

But as God has distributed to every man, as the Lord has called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all 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.

Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.

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

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

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

Let every man abide in the same calling wherein 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.

Are you called being a servant? care not for it: but if you may be made free, use it rather.

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 that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.

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

All of you are bought with a price; be not all of you the servants of men.

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

Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

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 concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that has obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.

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.

I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.

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 bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? seek not 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 and if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.

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

But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remains, that both they that have wives be as though 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;

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

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

And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passes 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;

But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried cares for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:

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

But he that is married cares for the things that are of the world, how he may 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.

There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: (pneuma) but she that is married cares for the things of the world, how she may 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.

And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that all of you may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

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.

But if any man think that he behaves himself indecent toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sins not: let them marry.

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.

Nevertheless he that stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own will, and has so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, does well.

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

So then he that gives her in marriage does well; but he that gives her not in marriage does 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.

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

But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit (pneuma) of God.