1 Corinthians 7

1 NOW with regard to those things concerning which ye have written unto me, it were good for a man not to touch a woman.

And concerning the things of which you wrote to me: [it is] good for a man not to touch a woman,

2 But because of the whoredoms, let every man have his own wife, and every wife her own 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 render to the wife due benevolence, and in like manner also the wife to 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 power over her own body, but the husband: in like manner also the husband has not power over 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 Defraud not one another, except it may be by consent occasionally, that ye may have more leisure for fasting and prayer; and come together again, lest Satan tempt you through your incontinence.

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 in this I speak my opinion only, not authoritatively.

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

7 For I would that all men were even as myself: but every man hath his peculiar gift from God, one of this sort, and another of 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 I say then to the unmarried and the widows, that it is becoming them if they abide as I am.

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 have not the gift of continence, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

and if they do not have continence—let them marry, for it is better to marry than to burn;

10 But to the married not I command, but the Lord, That the wife be not separated from the husband:

and to the married I announce—not I, but the LORD—do not let a wife separate from a husband:

11 and even if she should be separated, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to 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 the others I speak, not the Lord, If any brother hath a wife unbelieving, yet she chuseth to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

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 wife which hath a husband not a believer, and he chuses to dwell with her, let her not put him away.

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 husband that believeth not is sanctified by the wife, and the wife who believeth not is sanctified by the husband: else indeed your children were unclean, but now are they holy.

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 unbelieving person depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in these cases, but God hath called us unto 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 how knowest thou, O wife, but thou shalt save thy husband? and how knowest thou, O husband, but thou shalt save 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 Nevertheless as God has bestowed the gift on every man as the Lord hath called every man, so let him walk, and so I give command in all the 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 affect uncircumcision. Is any man called in uncircumcision? 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 uncircumcision is nothing, but the observance of the commandments of God.

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

20 Let every one abide in the calling in which he is called.

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

21 Art thou called being a slave? let it give thee no concern; but if thou canst also obtain thy freedom, rather make use of it.

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 slave, is the Lord’s freed man: in like manner also, he that is called, being a free man, is the servant of Christ.

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 Have you been redeemed with a price? become not the slaves of men.

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

24 Let every one, brethren, in the vocation wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

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

25 Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment of the Lord; but I offer my opinion, as having obtained mercy from the Lord to be faithful.

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 think then that this is becoming, considering our present straits, that it is proper for a man to be thus.

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 bound to a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek 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 shouldst marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned; though such will have tribulation 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 Now this I say, brethren, that the time is short. The conclusion is, that even they who have wives, should be as though they had not;

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 who weep as though they wept not; and they who rejoice as though they rejoiced not; and they that purchase 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 who use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

and those using this world, as not using [it] up; for the [present] form of this world is passing away.

32 But I would have you to be free from anxiety. He who is unmarried is anxious for the things of the Lord, how he shall 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 he who is married is anxious about the things of the world, how he shall please his wife.

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

34 A wife and a virgin hath different pursuits: the unmarried woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but the married woman is anxious about the things of the world, how she shall 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 Now I say this for your own advantage, and not that I should lay a snare in your way, but as what is seemly, and that you may wait on the Lord without distraction.

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 a person supposes it would be unseemly for a virgin of his if she should pass the flower of her age in celibacy, and that duty directs it should be so, let him do as he is inclined, he doth not sin: let such marry.

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 But he that is stedfast in his heart, not having any necessity, but retaineth power over his own inclination, and hath determined this in his heart that he will preserve his own virgin state, 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 Wherefore though he who giveth in marriage doeth well, yet he who avoids a matrimonial connection, 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 bound by the law as long as her husband liveth: but if her husband be dead, she is free to be married to whomsoever she will, but only 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 she is more blessed if she abide as she is, in my opinion: and I think I have the spirit 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.