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 question in your letter. It is well for a man to have no intercourse with a woman,

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 immorality let each man have his own wife; and let each women 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 give his wife her due, and likewise the wife her husband. The wife is not mistress of her own person,

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.

but her husband is; and in the same way the husband is not master of his own person, but his wife is.

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 refuse one another, unless it is only temporary and by mutual consent, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again, lest through your lack of self-control Satan begin to tempt you to sin.

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

But what I have just said is by way of concession, not 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 would that every one lived as I do; but each man has his own special gift from God, one this, another that.

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

But to the unmarried, and the widows, I say that it is well for them to remain as I am.

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

If, however, they are not exercising self-control, by all means let them marry; for marriage is better than the fever of passion.

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

But to those already married my commandment is - and not mine, but the Lord’s - that a wife is not to leave 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.

(or if she has already left him let her either remain as she is, or be reconciled to him), and also that a husband is not to 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.

To the rest it is I who am speaking, not the Lord. If any brother has a wife who is not a believer, if he is willing to live with her, let him not 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 whose husband is not a believer, if he is willing to live with her, let her not separate from 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 consecrated through union with his believing wife; and the unbelieving wife, through union with her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unholy, but now they are consecrated to God.

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 partner be determined to leave, separation let it be. In such cases the believing husband or wife is not under bondage. But it is into peace that God has 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 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.

Only whatever be the lot in life to which God has assigned each one - and whatever the condition in which he was living when God called him- -in that let him continue. Such is the rule I give 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.

So, was any man called, being circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was any man called when he was uncircumcised? 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. Keeping God’s commands in everything.

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

Whatever be the condition of life in which he was called, in that let him continue.

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 called in slavery? Let not that trouble you; but if you can become free make use of 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 the slave who has been called in the Lord is the Lord’s freedman; and in the same way, the free man who is called is Christ’s slave.

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

You have been brought with a price; do not become slaves to men.

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

Where each man stood when he was called, there, brothers, let him stay, close to 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.

I have no command from the Lord to give you concerning unmarried women; but I give you my opinion, and it is that of a man who, through the Lord’s mercy, is deserving of your confidence.

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 think then, that in view of the time of suffering now imminent, it is best 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 bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from the marriage bond? Do not seek 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.

Yet if you do not marry, you have not done wrong; and if a girl marries, she has not done wrong. Such people, however, will have trouble in worldy affairs, and I wish to 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]:

Indeed, brothers, the time that remains to us has been shortened; so let those who have wives 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;

let those who weep be as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess,

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 world as though using it sparingly. For the present phase of the 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;

So I want you to be free from all anxieties. An unmarried man is anxious about the Lord’s business, 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 a married man is anxious about worldly affairs, how he may please his wife, and he is divided in his mind.

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.

Again, the woman who is widow, or the maid, is anxious about the Lord’s business, how she may be pure in body and in mind; but the married woman is anxious about worldly affairs, 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.

It is in your own interest that I say this; not that I may entangle you in a snare, but that I may help you to serve the Lord with fitting and undistracted service.

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.

If, however, a father feels that he is not treating his virgin daughter in a seemly manner, in leaving her unmarried beyond the flower of her age, and so the matter is urgent, let him do what she desires; he commits no sin. Let the marriage take place.

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.

On the other hand, he who is firm in his purpose and is under no compulsion, but is free to carry out his own wishes, and who has determined to keep his daughter unmarried, does well.

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

So he that gives his daughter in marriage is doing right, and he who keeps her unmarried will be doing right, and he who keeps her unmarried will be doing 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 during his lifetime; but if her husband dies, she is free to marry whomever she will, provided it be 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, in my judgment, if she remains as she is; and I think that I, too, have the Spirit of God.