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 of which you wrote me: It is good for a man not to marry a woman.

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

Nevertheless, on account of uncleanness, let every man have a wife of his own, and let every 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 fulfill his obligations to his wife: 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 has not the command of her own person, but the husband: and in like manner, also, the husband has not the command of his own person, 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.

Deprive not one another, unless, perhaps, by consent, for a time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; and do you come again together, that Satan may not tempt you through your incontinency.

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

But this which follows I speak as an advice, and not as an injunction,

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.

that I wish all men to be as I myself am. However, each has a proper gift from God; one, indeed, 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.

I say, to the unmarried men, and to the widows, it is good for them if they can remain even as I do.

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

Yet, if they can not live continently, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to be in pain.

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

Now, those who have married I charge, (yet not I, but the Lord; ) let not a wife depart 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 if she even depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband; and a husband must not put away 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 the rest I command, not the Lord; if any brother have an infidel wife, who herself is well pleased to dwell with him, let him not put 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 infidel husband, who himself is well pleased to dwell with her, let her not put 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 infidel husband is sanctified by the wife, and the infidel wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise, certainly, your children were unclean; whereas, indeed, 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 infidel depart, let him depart: the brother or the sister is not in bondage with such; but God has called us to 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 do you know, O wife! whether you shall save your husband? And how do you know, O husband! whether you shall 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.

But as God has distributed to every one, and as the Lord has called every one, so let him walk; and so, in all the congregations, I ordain.

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

Has any circumcised one been called? Let him not be 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 the keeping of the commandments of God.

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

Let every one remain in the same calling in which he was called.

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

Were you called, being a bondman? Be not careful to be made free. Yet, if you can be made free, prefer 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.

For a bondman, who is called by the Lord, is the Lord's freedman. In like manner, also, a freedman who is called, is Christ's bondman.

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

You were bought with a price: become not the slaves of men.

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

Brethren, in what state each one was called, in that 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.

Now, concerning virgins, I have not a commandment of the Lord: but, I give my judgment, as having obtained 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 declare this, then, to be good, on account of the present distress; namely, that it is good for a man who is unmarried, to continue so.

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

Are you bound to a wife? seek not to be loosed. Are you 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.

And yet, if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she has not sinned: nevertheless, affliction in the flesh such shall have; 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:

Now, this I say, brethren, the time being short, it remains that both they who have wives, should be as not having wives;

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 who weep, as not weeping; and they who rejoice, as not rejoicing; and they who 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 who use this world, as not abusing it: for the form of this world passes by.

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

Besides, I would have you without anxious care. The unmarried man anxiously 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 who is married, anxiously 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 the like difference between the wife and the virgin. The unmarried woman anxiously cares for the things of the Lord; that she may be holy, both in body and spirit: but she who is married, anxiously 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.

Now, this I say, for your own benefit; not with a view to lay a snare for you, but for that which is becoming, and best adapted to a steady, uninterrupted adherence to the Lord.

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 thinks he acts improperly toward his virgin, if she be above age, unmarried, and so needs to be married; let him do what she inclines, he does not sin: let such 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; not having necessity, and has power concerning his own will; and has determined this in his own heart, to keep his virgin, does well.

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

So, then, even he who gives her in marriage, does well; but he who gives her not 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 is bound, as long as her husband lives; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she pleases; 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 continue as she is. This is my opinion; and I think I have the Spirit of God.