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 about what you wrote to me: “It's good not to marry.”

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

However, because of the temptation to sexual immorality, it is better that each man have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.

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

The husband should meet his wife's sexual needs, and the wife her husband's.

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's body doesn't just belong to her, but her husband; and similarly the husband's body doesn't just belong to him but his 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.

So don't deprive each other, except by mutual consent for a while— for example because you want to spend time in prayer. Afterwards be together again so that Satan won't tempt you to sin because of your lack of self-control.

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

I'm telling you this not as a command, but as a concession.

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.

However, I wish that everyone was like me, but each person has their own gift from God—one has this gift, one has another.

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

To those who are not yet married, or who are widowed, I would say it is better if they remain like me.

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

But if they lack self-control, then they should get married—for it is better to marry than burn with desire.

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

These are my instructions to those who are married—in fact not from me but the Lord: The wife should not leave 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.

(or if she does, she should not re-marry, or she should return to her husband); and the husband should not leave 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.

Now, to the rest of you, (and this is me speaking, not the Lord), I would say, “If a Christian man has a non-Christian wife and she is willing to stay with him, he should 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 if a Christian woman has a non-Christian husband, and he is willing to stay with her, she should 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 a husband who is not a Christian, the marriage relationship is made holy by the Christian wife, and for a wife who is not a Christian, the marriage relationship is made holy by the Christian husband. Otherwise it would mean your children were impure, 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.

However, if the non-Christian spouse leaves, let them leave. In such cases the Christian man or woman is not slavishly bound, for God has called us to live 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?

Wives, who knows? You may save your husband! Husbands, who knows? You may save your 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.

Apart from such cases, each of you should remain in the situation that the Lord has placed you, and continue to live the life to which God has called you. That's my instruction to 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.

Were you circumcised when you were converted? Don't become uncircumcised. Were you uncircumcised when you were converted? Don't become circumcised.

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

Circumcision doesn't mean anything, and uncircumcision doesn't mean anything. Keeping the commandments of God is what really matters.

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

Everyone should remain in the position they were in when they were called.

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

If you were a slave when you were called, don't worry—though if you have an opportunity to become free, take it.

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.

If you were a slave when the Lord called you, you are now free, working for the Lord. In the same way if you were called when you were free, you are now Christ's slave!

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

A price has been paid for you, so don't become a slave to anyone.

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

Brothers and sisters, remain in the position you were in when you were called, living 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 about “people who are not married,” I don't have a specific instruction from the Lord, so let me give you my opinion as someone who by the Lord's mercy is considered 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.

Because of the present difficult situation we are in I think it is best to just stay as you are.

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

Are you already married? Don't try to get divorced. Are you unmarried? Don't look to get married.

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.

If you do get married, you haven't sinned. If an unmarried woman gets married, she hasn't sinned. But you will have many troubles in this current world and I would want to spare you these.

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

I'm telling you, brothers and sisters, that time is short, and from now on for those who are married it may seem as if they are not married,

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 who weep as if they did not weep, and those that celebrated as if they had not celebrated, and those that bought as if they did not own,

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

and those who are engaged with the world as if it is not fulfilling—for the present world order is passing away.

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

I would prefer you to be free from such worries. A man who is not married pays attention to what is important to the Lord, and how he can please the Lord.

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

But a man who is married pays attention to what is important in this world, and how he can 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.

As a result his loyalties are divided. Similarly an unmarried woman or girl pays attention to what is important to the Lord, so she may live a life dedicated both in body and spirit. But a married woman pays attention to what is important in this world, and how she can 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.

I'm telling you this for your benefit. I'm not trying to put a noose around your neck, but to show you the right thing to do so you can serve the Lord without being distracted.

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 a man thinks he's behaving improperly with the woman he's engaged to, and if he thinks he will give in to his strong sexual desire, and if he thinks he ought to get married, he is not sinning by getting married.

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 if a man stays true to his principles, and there is no obligation to marry, and has the power to keep his feelings under control and stay engaged to her, he does well not to marry.

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

So the man who marries the woman he's engaged to does well, while the one who does not get married 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 to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry whoever she wants 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 in my opinion she would be happier if she didn't re-marry—and I think I too have the Spirit of God when I say this.