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 concerning the things about which you wrote: it is 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 sexual immoralities, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have 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 fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her 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 does not have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise also the husband does not have authority 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.

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

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

But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment.

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.

Yet I wish that all people were like me. However each one 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 if they so continue, 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 do not contain themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to be burnt.

But if they do not have self-control, let them marry. For it's 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 I command—not I, but the Lord—that the wife not leave her 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.

(but if she departs, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband not leave 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 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 if any woman hath a husband that believeth not, and he consent to dwell with her, let her not put away 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 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 unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the brother. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are 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.

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 you to 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 do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your 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.

Only, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, so let him walk. So I 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.

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 the observance of the commandments of God.

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

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

Let each person stay in that calling in which he was called.

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

Were you called being a slave? Do not let that bother you, but if you get an opportunity to become free, use 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 who was called in the Lord being a slave is the Lord's free person. Likewise he who was called being free is Christ's slave.

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

You were bought with a price. Do not become slaves of people.

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

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

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

I think that it is good therefore, because of the distress that is on us, that it is good for a person to remain as he is.

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

Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be freed. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek 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 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 This therefore I say, brethren; the time is short; it remaineth, that they also who have wives, be as if they had none;

But I say this, brothers: the time is short, that from now on, those who have wives should be as though they had none;

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 those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not possess;

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

and those who use the world, as not using it to the fullest. For the form of this world is passing 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 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 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 concerned about the things of the world, how he may 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.

and is divided. And the woman that is unmarried, or a virgin, is concerned about the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But the one that is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may 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.

This I say for your own profit; 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 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 anyone thinks that he is behaving inappropriately toward his virgin, if she is past the flower of her age, and if need so requires, let him do what he desires. He does not sin. Let them 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 who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own heart, to keep his own virgin, does well.

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

So then both he who gives his own virgin in marriage does well, and he who does not give her in marriage does 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.

A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives; but if the husband is dead, she is free to be married to whomever she desires, 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 happier if she stays as she is, in my judgment, and I think that I also have God's Spirit.