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;

And concerning the things of which you wrote to 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.

and because of the whoredom let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her proper husband;

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

to the wife let the husband render the due benevolence, and in like manner also the wife to 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 does not have authority over her own body, but the husband; and in like manner also, 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 defraud one another, except by consent for a time, that you may be free for fasting and prayer, and again may come together, that Satan may not tempt you because of your self-indulgence;

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

and this I say by way of concurrence—not of 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.

for I wish all men to be even as I myself [am]; but each has his own gift of God, one indeed thus and one thus.

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

And I say to the unmarried and to the widows: it is good for them if they may remain even as I [am];

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

and if they do not have continence—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 to the married I announce—not I, but the LORD—do not let a wife separate from a 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 may separate, let her remain unmarried, or let her be reconciled to the husband, and do not let a husband send a wife away.

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.

And to the rest I speak—not the LORD—if any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she is pleased to dwell with him, do not let him send 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 a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he is pleased to dwell with her, do not let her send him away;

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 has been sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified in the husband; otherwise your children are 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.

And if the unbelieving separates himself—let him separate himself: the brother or the sister is not under servitude in such [cases], and in peace has God called us;

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, have you known, O wife, whether you will save the husband? Or what, have you known, O husband, whether you will save the 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.

If not, as God distributed to each, as the LORD has called each—so let him walk; and thus I direct in all the assemblies:

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

being circumcised—was anyone called? Do not let him become uncircumcised; in uncircumcision was anyone called? Do not let him be circumcised;

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

the circumcision is nothing, and the uncircumcision is nothing—but a keeping of the commands of God.

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

Each in the calling in which he was called—in this let him remain;

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

a servant—were you called? Do not be anxious; but if also you are able to become 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 who [is] in the LORD—having been called a servant—is the LORD’s freedman: in like manner also he the freeman, having been called, is servant of Christ:

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

you were bought with a price, do not become servants of men;

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

each, in that in which he was called, brothers, in this let him remain 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.

And concerning the virgins, I do not have a command of the LORD; and I give judgment as having obtained kindness from 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, this to be good because of the present necessity, that [it is] good for a man that the matter be thus:

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

Have you been bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed; have you been loosed from a wife? Do not seek 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 may marry, you did not sin; and if the virgin may marry, she did not sin; and such will have tribulation in the flesh: and 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]:

And this I say, brothers, the time from now on is having been shortened—that both those having wives may be as not having;

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

and those weeping, as not weeping; and those rejoicing, as not rejoicing; and those buying, as not possessing;

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

and those using this world, as not using [it] up; for the [present] form of this world 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;

And I wish you to be without anxiety; the unmarried is anxious for the things of the LORD, how he will please the LORD;

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

and the married is anxious for the things of the world, how he will please the 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.

The wife and the virgin have been distinguished: the unmarried is anxious for the things of the LORD, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit, and the married is anxious for the things of the world, how she will please the 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 say for your own profit: not that I may cast a noose on you, but for the seemliness and devotedness to the LORD, undistractedly,

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.

and if anyone thinks [it] to be unseemly to his virgin, if she may be beyond the bloom of age, and it ought to be so, what he wills let him do; he does not sin—let him 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.

And he does well who has stood steadfast in the heart—not having necessity—and has authority over his own will, and he has determined this in his heart—to keep his own virgin;

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

so that both he who is giving in marriage does well, and he who is not giving 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.

A wife has been bound by law [for] as long [a] time as her husband may live, and if her husband may sleep, she is free 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.

and she is happier if she may so remain—according to my judgment; and I think I also have the Spirit of God.