1 Corinthians 7

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

And concerning the things of which you wrote 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.

and because of the whoredom let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her proper husband;

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

to the wife let the husband render the due benevolence, and in like manner also 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 does not have authority over her own body, but the husband; and in like manner also, the husband does not have 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.

Do not defraud one another, except by consent for a time, that you may be free for fasting and prayer, and again may come together, that Satan may not tempt you because of your self-indulgence;

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

and this I say by way of concurrence—not of command,

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.

for I wish all men to be even as I myself [am]; but each has his own gift of God, one indeed thus and one thus.

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

And I say to the unmarried and to the widows: it is good for them if they may remain even as I [am];

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

and if they do not have continence—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.

and to the married I announce—not I, but the LORD—do not let a wife separate from a 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, and if she may separate, let her remain unmarried, or let her be reconciled to the husband, and do not let a husband send a wife away.

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.

And to the rest I speak—not the LORD—if any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she is pleased to dwell with him, do not let him send her away;

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 is pleased to dwell with her, do not let her send him away;

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 has been sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified in the husband; otherwise 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.

And if the unbelieving separates himself—let him separate himself: the brother or the sister is not under servitude in such [cases], and in peace has God called us;

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, have you known, O wife, whether you will save the husband? Or what, have you known, O husband, whether you will save the 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.

If not, as God distributed to each, as the LORD has called each—so let him walk; and thus I direct 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.

being circumcised—was anyone called? Do not let him become uncircumcised; in uncircumcision was anyone called? Do not let him be circumcised;

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

the circumcision is nothing, and the uncircumcision is nothing—but a keeping of the commands of God.

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

Each in the calling in which he was called—in this let him remain;

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

a servant—were you called? Do not be anxious; but if also you are able to 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 who [is] in the LORD—having been called a servant—is the LORD’s freedman: in like manner also he the freeman, having been called, is servant of Christ:

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

you were bought with a price, do not become servants of men;

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

each, in that in which he was called, brothers, in this let him remain 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.

And concerning the virgins, I do not have a command of the LORD; and I give judgment as having obtained kindness from 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 suppose, therefore, this to be good because of the present necessity, that [it is] good for a man that the matter be thus:

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

Have you been bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed; have you been loosed 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, and if you may marry, you did not sin; and if the virgin may marry, she did not sin; and such will have tribulation in the flesh: and 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:

And this I say, brothers, the time from now on is having been shortened—that both those having wives may be as not having;

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 weeping, as not weeping; and those rejoicing, as not rejoicing; and those buying, 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 those using this world, as not using [it] up; for the [present] form of this world 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.

And I wish you to be without anxiety; the unmarried is anxious for the things of the LORD, how he will please the LORD;

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

and the married is anxious for the things of the world, how he will please the 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.

The wife and the virgin have been distinguished: the unmarried is anxious for the things of the LORD, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit, and the married is anxious for the things of the world, how she will please the 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 noose on you, but for the seemliness and devotedness to the LORD, undistractedly,

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.

and if anyone thinks [it] to be unseemly to his virgin, if she may be beyond the bloom of age, and it ought to be so, what he wills let him do; he does not sin—let him 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.

And he does well who has stood steadfast in the heart—not having necessity—and has authority over his own will, and he has determined this in his heart—to keep his own virgin;

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

so that both he who is giving in marriage does well, and he who is not giving in marriage 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 has been bound by law [for] as long [a] time as her husband may live, and if her husband may sleep, 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.

and she is happier if she may so remain—according to my judgment; and I think I also have the Spirit of God.