1 Corinthians 7

1 Nowe concerning the thinges whereof ye wrote vnto mee, It were good for a man not to touche a woman.

Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

2 Neuertheles, to auoide fornication, let euery man haue his wife, and let euery woman haue her owne husband.

But, because of fornications, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.

3 Let the husband giue vnto the wife due beneuolence, and likewise also the wife vnto the husband.

Let the husband render unto the wife her due: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

4 The wife hath not the power of her owne bodie, but ye husband: and likewise also the husband hath not ye power of his own body, but the wife.

The wife hath not power over her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power over his own body, but the wife.

5 Defraude not one another, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may giue your selues to fasting and praier, and againe come together that Satan tempt you not for your incontinecie.

Defraud ye not one the other, except it be by consent for a season, that ye may give yourselves unto prayer, and may be together again, that Satan tempt you not because of your incontinency.

6 But I speake this by permission, not by commandement.

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

7 For I woulde that all men were euen as I my selfe am: but euery man hath his proper gift of God, one after this maner, and another after that.

Yet I would that all men were even as I myself. Howbeit each man hath his own gift from God, one after this manner, and another after that.

8 Therefore I say vnto the vnmaried, and vnto the widowes, It is good for them if they abide euen as I doe.

But I say to the unmarried and to widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.

9 But if they cannot abstaine, let them marrie: for it is better to marrie then to burne.

But if they have not continency, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

10 And vnto ye maried I comand, not I, but ye Lord, Let not ye wife depart from her husband.

But unto the married I give charge, [yea] not I, but the Lord, That the wife depart not from her husband

11 But and if shee depart, let her remaine vnmaried, or be reconciled vnto her husband, and let not the husband put away his wife.

(but should she depart, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband); and that the husband leave not his wife.

12 But to ye remnant I speake, and not ye Lord, If any brother haue a wife, ye beleeueth not, if she be content to dwell with him, let him not forsake her.

But to the rest say I, not the Lord: If any brother hath an unbelieving wife, and she is content to dwell with him, let him not leave her.

13 And the woman which hath an husband that beleeueth not, if he be content to dwell with her, let her not forsake him.

And the woman that hath an unbelieving husband, and he is content to dwell with her, let her not leave her husband.

14 For the vnbeleeuing husband is sanctified to the wife, and the vnbeleeuing wife is sanctified to the husband, els were your children vncleane: but nowe are they holie.

For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the brother: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

15 But if the vnbeleeuing depart, let him depart: a brother or a sister is not in subiection in such things: but God hath called vs in peace.

Yet if the unbelieving departeth, let him depart: the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such [cases]: but God hath called us in peace.

16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt saue thine husband? Or what knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt saue thy wife?

For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O husband, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

17 But as God hath distributed to euery man, as the Lord hath called euery one, so let him walke: and so ordaine I, in all Churches.

Only, as the Lord hath distributed to each man, as God hath called each, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all the churches.

18 Is any man called being circumcised? let him not gather his vncircumcision: is any called vncircumcised? let him not be circumcised.

Was any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Hath any been called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.

19 Circumcision is nothing, and vncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandements of God.

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

20 Let euery man abide in the same vocation wherein he was called.

Let each man abide in that calling wherein he was called.

21 Art thou called being a seruant? care not for it: but if yet thou maiest be free, vse it rather.

Wast thou called being a bondservant? care not for it: nay, even if thou canst become free, use [it] rather.

22 For he that is called in the Lord, being. a seruant, is the Lords freeman: likewise also he that is called being free, is Christes seruant.

For he that was called in the Lord being a bondservant, is the Lord’s freedman: likewise he that was called being free, is Christ’s bondservant.

23 Yee are bought with a price: be not the seruants of men.

Ye were bought with a price; become not bondservants of men.

24 Brethren, let euery man, wherein hee was called, therein abide with God.

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

25 Nowe concerning virgines, I haue no commandement of the Lord: but I giue mine aduise, as one that hath obtained mercie of the Lord to be faithfull.

Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: but I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be trustworthy.

26 I suppose then this to bee good for the present necessitie: I meane that it is good for a man so to be.

I think therefore that this is good by reason of the distress that is upon us, [namely], that it is good for a man to be as he is.

27 Art thou bounde vnto a wife? seeke not to be loosed: art thou loosed from a wife? seeke not a wife.

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

28 But if thou takest a wife, thou sinnest not: and if a virgine marrie, shee sinneth not: neuerthelesse, such shall haue trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.

But shouldest thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Yet such shall have tribulation in the flesh: and I would spare you.

29 And this I say, brethren, because the time is short, hereafter that both they which haue wiues, be as though they had none:

But this I say, brethren, the time is shortened, that henceforth both those that have wives may be as though they had none;

30 And they that weepe, as though they wept not: and they that reioyce, as though they reioyced not: and they that bye, as though they possessed not:

and those that weep, as though they wept not; and those that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and those that buy, as though they possessed not;

31 And they that vse this worlde, as though they vsed it not: for the fashion of this worlde goeth away.

and those that use the world, as not using it to the full: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

32 And I would haue you without care. The vnmaried careth for the things of the Lord, howe he may please the Lord.

But I would have you to be free from cares. He that is unmarried is careful for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord:

33 But hee that is maried, careth for the things of the world, how he may please his wife.

but he that is married is careful for the things of the world, how he may please his wife,

34 There is difference also betweene a virgine and a wife: the vnmaried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy, both in body and in spirite: but shee that is maried, careth for the things of the worlde, howe shee may please her husband.

and is divided. [So] also the woman that is unmarried and the virgin is careful for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married is careful for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

35 And this I speake for your owne commoditie, not to tangle you in a snare, but that yee follow that, which is honest, and that yee may cleaue fast vnto the Lord without separation.

And this I say for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is seemly, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

36 But if any man thinke that it is vncomely for his virgine, if shee passe the flower of her age, and neede so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them be maried.

But if any man thinketh that he behaveth himself unseemly toward his virgin [daughter], if she be past the flower of her age, and if need so requireth, let him do what he will; he sinneth not; let them marry.

37 Neuerthelesse, hee that standeth firme in his heart, that hee hath no neede, but hath power ouer his owne will, and hath so decreed in his heart, that hee will keepe his virgine, hee doeth well.

But he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power as touching his own will, and hath determined this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin [daughter], shall do well.

38 So then hee that giueth her to mariage, doeth well, but he that giueth her not to mariage, doeth better.

So then both he that giveth his own virgin [daughter] in marriage doeth well; and he that giveth her not in marriage shall do better.

39 The wife is bounde by the Lawe, as long as her husband liueth: but if her husband bee dead, shee is at libertie to marie with whome she will, onely in the Lord.

A wife is bound for so long time as her husband liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is free to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

40 But shee is more blessed, if she so abide, in my iudgement: and I thinke that I haue also the Spirite of God.

But she is happier if she abide as she is, after my judgment: and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.