1 Corinthians 7

1 Now concerning the thing whereof you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

NOW with regard to those things concerning which ye have written unto me, it were good for a man not to touch a woman.

2 But for fear of fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

But because of the whoredoms, let every man have his own wife, and every wife her own husband.

3 Let the husband render the debt to his wife, and the wife also in like manner to the husband.

Let the husband render to the wife due benevolence, and in like manner also the wife to the husband.

4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband. And in like manner the husband also hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

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

5 Defraud not one another, except, perhaps, by consent, for a time, that you may give yourselves to prayer; and return together again, lest Satan tempt you for your incontinency.

Defraud not one another, except it may be by consent occasionally, that ye may have more leisure for fasting and prayer; and come together again, lest Satan tempt you through your incontinence.

6 But I speak this by indulgence, not by commandment.

But in this I speak my opinion only, not authoritatively.

7 For I would that all men were even as myself: but every one hath his proper gift from God; one after this manner, and another after that.

For I would that all men were even as myself: but every man hath his peculiar gift from God, one of this sort, and another of that.

8 But I say to the unmarried, and to the widows: It is good for them if they so continue, even as I.

I say then to the unmarried and the widows, that it is becoming them if they abide as I am.

9 But if they do not contain themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to be burnt.

But if they have not the gift of continence, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

10 But to them that are married, not I but the Lord commandeth, that the wife depart not from her husband.

But to the married not I command, but the Lord, That the wife be not separated from the husband:

11 And if she depart, that she remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband. And let not the husband put away his wife.

and even if she should be separated, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

12 For to the rest I speak, not the Lord. If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she consent to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

But to the others I speak, not the Lord, If any brother hath a wife unbelieving, yet she chuseth to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

13 And if any woman hath a husband that believeth not, and he consent to dwell with her, let her not put away her husband.

And the wife which hath a husband not a believer, and he chuses to dwell with her, let her not put him away.

14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the believing wife; and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the believing husband: otherwise your children should be unclean; but now they are holy.

For the husband that believeth not is sanctified by the wife, and the wife who believeth not is sanctified by the husband: else indeed your children were unclean, but now are they holy.

15 But if the unbeliever depart, let him depart. For a brother or sister is not under servitude in such cases. But God hath called us in peace.

But if the unbelieving person depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in these cases, but God hath called us unto peace.

16 For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? Or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

For how knowest thou, O wife, but thou shalt save thy husband? and how knowest thou, O husband, but thou shalt save thy wife?

17 But as the Lord hath distributed to every one, as God hath called every one, so let him walk: and so in all churches I teach.

Nevertheless as God has bestowed the gift on every man as the Lord hath called every man, so let him walk, and so I give command in all the churches.

18 Is any man called, being circumcised? let him not procure uncircumcision. Is any man called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.

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

19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing: but the observance of the commandments of God.

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

20 Let every man abide in the same calling in which he was called.

Let every one abide in the calling in which he is called.

21 Wast thou called, being a bondman? care not for it; but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.

Art thou called being a slave? let it give thee no concern; but if thou canst also obtain thy freedom, rather make use of it.

22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a bondman, is the freeman of the Lord. Likewise he that is called, being free, is the bondman of Christ.

For he that is called in the Lord, being a slave, is the Lord’s freed man: in like manner also, he that is called, being a free man, is the servant of Christ.

23 You are bought with a price; be not made the bondslaves of men.

Have you been redeemed with a price? become not the slaves of men.

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

Let every one, brethren, in the vocation wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

25 Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment of the Lord; but I give counsel, as having obtained mercy of the Lord, to be faithful.

Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment of the Lord; but I offer my opinion, as having obtained mercy from the Lord to be faithful.

26 I think therefore that this is good for the present necessity, that it is good for a man so to be.

I think then that this is becoming, considering our present straits, that it is proper for a man to be thus.

27 Art thou bound to a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

Art thou bound to a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

28 But if thou take a wife, thou hast not sinned. And if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned: nevertheless, such shall have tribulation of the flesh. But I spare you.

But if thou shouldst marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned; though such will have tribulation in the flesh; but I spare you.

29 This therefore I say, brethren; the time is short; it remaineth, that they also who have wives, be as if they had none;

Now this I say, brethren, that the time is short. The conclusion is, that even they who have wives, should be as though they had not;

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

and they who weep as though they wept not; and they who rejoice as though they rejoiced not; and they that purchase as though they possessed not;

31 And they that use this world, as if they used it not: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

and they who use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

32 But I would have you to be without solicitude. He that is without a wife, is solicitous for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please God.

But I would have you to be free from anxiety. He who is unmarried is anxious for the things of the Lord, how he shall please the Lord:

33 But he that is with a wife, is solicitous for the things of the world, how he may please his wife: and he is divided.

but he who is married is anxious about the things of the world, how he shall please his wife.

34 And the unmarried woman and the virgin thinketh on the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she that is married thinketh on the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

A wife and a virgin hath different pursuits: the unmarried woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but the married woman is anxious about the things of the world, how she shall please her husband.

35 And this I speak for your profit: not to cast a snare upon you; but for that which is decent, and which may give you power to attend upon the Lord, without impediment.

Now I say this for your own advantage, and not that I should lay a snare in your way, but as what is seemly, and that you may wait on the Lord without distraction.

36 But if any man think that he seemeth dishonoured, with regard to his virgin, for that she is above the age, and it must so be: let him do what he will; he sinneth not, if she marry.

But if a person supposes it would be unseemly for a virgin of his if she should pass the flower of her age in celibacy, and that duty directs it should be so, let him do as he is inclined, he doth not sin: let such marry.

37 For he that hath determined being steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but having power of his own will; and hath judged this in his heart, to keep his virgin, doth well.

But he that is stedfast in his heart, not having any necessity, but retaineth power over his own inclination, and hath determined this in his heart that he will preserve his own virgin state, doeth well.

38 Therefore, both he that giveth his virgin in marriage, doth well; and he that giveth her not, doth better.

Wherefore though he who giveth in marriage doeth well, yet he who avoids a matrimonial connection, doeth better.

39 A woman is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband die, she is at liberty: let her marry to whom she will; only in the Lord.

The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth: but if her husband be dead, she is free to be married to whomsoever she will, but only in the Lord.

40 But more blessed shall she be, if she so remain, according to my counsel; and I think that I also have the spirit of God.

But she is more blessed if she abide as she is, in my opinion: and I think I have the spirit of God.