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 about 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.

But, because of sexual immoralities, let each man have his own wife, and let each 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 give his wife the affection owed her, and likewise also the wife 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 doesn’t have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise also the husband doesn’t have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

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.

Don’t deprive one another, unless it is by consent for a season, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer, and may be together again, that Satan doesn’t tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

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

But this I say by way of concession, 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.

Yet I wish that all men were like me. However, each man has his own gift from God, one of this kind, and another of that kind.

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

But I say to the unmarried and to widows, it is good for them if they 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.

But if they don’t have self-control, let them marry. For it’s 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;

But to the married I command—not I, but the Lord—that the wife not 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.

(but if she departs, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband not leave 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 I—not the Lord—say, if any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she is content to live with him, let him not leave her.

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

The woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he is content to live with her, let her not leave her husband.

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 in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the 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.

Yet if the unbeliever departs, let there be separation. The brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us 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?

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, as the Lord has distributed to each man, as God has called each, so let him walk. So I command 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.

Was anyone called having been circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Has anyone been 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 what matters is keeping God’s commandments.

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

Let each man stay in that calling in which 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 called being a bondservant? Don’t let that bother you, but if you get an opportunity to become free, use it.

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 called in the Lord being a bondservant is the Lord’s free man. Likewise he who was called being free is Christ’s bondservant.

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

You were bought with a price. Don’t become bondservants of men.

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

Brothers, let each man, in whatever condition he was called, stay in that condition 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 from the Lord, but I give my judgement as one who has obtained mercy from the Lord to be 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.

Therefore I think that because of the distress that is on us, it’s 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 bound to a wife? Don’t seek to be freed. Are you free from a wife? Don’t 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 if you marry, you have not sinned. If a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have oppression in the flesh, and I want 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]:

But I say this, brothers: the time is short. From now on, both those who have wives may 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 those who weep, as though they didn’t weep; and those who rejoice, as though they didn’t rejoice; and those who buy, as though they didn’t 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 not using it to the fullest. For the mode 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 desire to have you to be free from cares. He who is unmarried is concerned for the things of 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 who is married is concerned about the things 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 also a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about 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.

This I say for your own benefit, not that I may ensnare you, but for that which is appropriate, and that you may attend to 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 thinks that he is behaving inappropriately towards his virgin, if she is past the flower of her age, and if need so requires, let him do what he desires. He doesn’t sin. 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.

But he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no urgency, but has power over his own will, and has determined in his own heart to keep his own virgin, does well.

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

So then both he who gives his own virgin in marriage does well, and he who doesn’t give her 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 is bound by law for as long as her husband lives; but if the husband is dead, she is free to be married to whomever she desires, 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 stays as she is, in my judgement, and I think that I also have God’s Spirit.