1 Corinthians 7

1 Now concerning the things whereof all of you wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

Now as to the matters about which ye wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman;

2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

but on account of the commonness of fornication, let every man have his own wife, and every woman her own husband.

3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

Let the husband render to his wife her due; and so also the wife to her husband.

4 The wife has not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband has not power of his own body, but the wife.

The wife hath not the disposal of her own body, but her husband; and so also the husband hath not the disposal of his own body, but his wife.

5 Defraud all of you not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that all of you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

Defraud not one another, except by agreement for a time, that ye may have a season for prayer; and be together again, that Satan may not tempt you through your incontinence.

6 But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.

But I say this by way of permission, not command.

7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man has his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

I would that all men were as I myself; but every one hath his own gift from God, one man this, and another that.

8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.

I say also to the unmarried and the widows, it is good for them to remain as I am;

9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

but if they cannot control themselves, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn.

10 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:

But to those who are married it is my command, yet not mine, but the Lord's: Let not the wife separate herself from her husband,

11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

and if she have separated herself let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband; and let not the husband put away his wife.

12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother has a wife that believes not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

But to the rest say I, not the Lord: If any brother hath an unbelieving wife, and she be satisfied to dwell with him, let him not put her away;

13 And the woman which has an husband that believes not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

and if a wife hath an unbelieving husband, and he be satisfied to dwell with her, let her not put her husband away.

14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

For the unbelieving husband hath been made holy by his wife, and the unbelieving wife hath been made holy by the brother; otherwise were your children unclean, but, as it is, they are holy.

15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God has called us to peace.

But if the unbelieving separateth himself, let him separate himself; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God hath called you to be in peace.

16 For what know you, O wife, whether you shall save your husband? or how know you, O man, whether you shall save your wife?

For how dost thou know, O wife, but that thou mayst save thy husband? or how dost thou know, O husband, but that thou mayst save thy wife?

17 But as God has distributed to every man, as the Lord has called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.

But let every one continue to walk in the lot which the Lord appointed him, in the condition in which God called him. And this direction I give in all the churches.

18 Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.

Was any one called being circumcised, let him not become as if uncircumcised; hath any one been called in uncircumcision, let him not become circumcised.

19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.

Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.

20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.

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

21 Are you called being a servant? care not for it: but if you may be made free, use it rather.

Wast thou called being a slave, care not for it; but even if thou canst be made free, use it rather.

22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.

For he that was called in the Lord, being a slave, is the Lord's freeman. In like manner the freeman, who is called, is Christ's slave.

23 All of you are bought with a price; be not all of you the servants of men.

Ye were bought with a price; become not the slaves of men.

24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

In that state, brethren, in which he was called, let every one remain with God.

25 Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that has obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.

Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment of the Lord; but I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.

26 I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.

I think, then, that it is well, on account of the impending distress, for a man to remain as he is.

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

Art thou bound to a wife, seek not to be loosed from her; art thou loosed from a wife, do not seek for one.

28 But and if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.

But if thou hast married, thou hast committed no sin; and if a virgin hath married, she hath committed no sin. Such, however, will have trouble in the flesh, which I desire to spare you.

29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remains, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;

But this I say, brethren, the time that remaineth is short; that both they that have wives may be as though they had none;

30 And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;

and they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;

31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passes away.

and they that use this world as not abusing it; for the outward condition of this world is passing away;

32 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried cares for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:

and I would have you free from anxious cares. He that is unmarried careth about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord;

33 But he that is married cares for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.

but he that is married careth about the things of the world, how to please his wife.

34 There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: (pneuma) but she that is married cares for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

There is a difference also between a wife and a virgin; the unmarried woman careth about the things of the Lord, to be holy, both in body and in spirit; but she that is married careth about the things of the world, how to please her husband.

35 And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that all of you may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

And this I say for your own profit; not to cast a noose over you, but with a view to what is becoming, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

36 But if any man think that he behaves himself indecent toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sins not: let them marry.

But if any one thinketh that he behaveth improperly in respect to his virgin [[daughter]], if she pass the flower of her age [[without being married]], and if it must be so, let him do what he will, he committeth no sin; let them marry.

37 Nevertheless he that stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own will, and has so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, does well.

But if any one is settled in his purpose, and is under no necessity, but is free to act as he will, and hath determined in his heart to keep his own virgin daughter [[unmarried]], he doeth well.

38 So then he that gives her in marriage does well; but he that gives her not in marriage does better.

So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; and he that doth not give her in marriage doeth better.

39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

The wife is bound to her husband as long as he liveth; but if her husband die, she is free to marry whom she will, only in the Lord.

40 But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit (pneuma) of God.

But she is happier if she remain as she is, in my opinion; and I too think that I have the Spirit of God.