1 Corinthians 7

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

But concerning the things of which ye have written [to me]: [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 on account of fornications, let each have his own wife, and 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 her due to the wife, and in like manner the wife to 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 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.

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 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.

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

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

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.

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.

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 the widows, It is good for them that they remain 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 control over themselves, 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 to the married I enjoin, not I, but the Lord, Let not wife be separated from 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 if also she shall have been separated, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband; ) and let not husband leave 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 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.

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 a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents 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; since [otherwise] indeed your children are unclean, but now they are 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.

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.

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 what knowest thou, O wife, if thou shalt save thy husband? or what knowest thou, O husband, if 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.

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.

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

Has any one been called circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised: has any one 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 keeping God's commandments.

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

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

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

Hast thou been called [being] a bondman, let it not concern thee; but and 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 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.

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

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

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

Let each, wherein he is called, brethren, 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.

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.

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 then that this is good, on account of the present necessity, that [it is] good for a man to remain so 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 to a wife? seek not to be loosed; art thou free from a wife? do not seek 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 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.

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 straitened. For the rest, that they who have wives, be as not having [any]:

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 they that weep, as not weeping; and they that rejoice, as not rejoicing; and they that buy, as not possessing;

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

and they that use the world, as not disposing of it as their own; for the fashion of this world passes.

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 wish you to be without care. The unmarried cares for the things of the Lord, how he shall 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 has married cares for the things of the world, how he shall 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

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

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

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 so remain, according to my judgment; but I think that I also have God's Spirit.