1 Corinthians 7

1 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: [It is] good for a man not to touch a woman.

And concerning the things of which ye wrote to me, it is praiseworthy for a man not to approach 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 whoredom, let each have his own wife and let a woman have her own husband.

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

And let the man render to his wife the kindness which is due; and so also the woman to her husband.

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

The woman is not the sovereign over her body, but her husband: so also the man is not the sovereign over his body, but the wife.

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

Therefore, deprive not one another, except when ye both consent, at the time ye devote yourselves to fasting and prayer; and return again to the same disposition, that Satan tempt you not because of the concupiscence of your body.

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

But this I say, as to weak persons, not of positive precept.

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

For I would that all men might be like me in purity. But every man is endowed with his gift of God; one thus, and another so.

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

And I say to them who have no wives, and to widows, that it is advantageous to 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 endure it, let them marry: for it is more profitable to take a wife, than to burn with concupiscence.

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

And on them who have wives, I enjoin, -not I, but my Lord, -that the woman separate not 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 separate, let her remain without a husband, or be reconciled to her husband; and let not the man put away his wife.

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

And to the rest, say I, - I, not my Lord, -that if there be a brother, who hath a wife that believeth not, and she is disposed to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

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

And that woman, who hath a husband that believeth not, and he is disposed to dwell with her let her not forsake her husband.

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 husband who believeth not, is sanctified by the wife that believeth; and the wife who believeth not, is sanctified by the husband that believeth: otherwise their children would be impure; but now are they pure.

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

But if the unbeliever separateth, let him separate: A brother or sister is not in bondage in such cases: it is to peace, God hath called us.

16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save [thy] husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save [thy] wife?

For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou wilt procure life to thy husband? Or, thou husband, knowest thou, whether thou wilt procure life to thy wife?

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

Every one, however, as the Lord hath distributed to him, and every one as God hath called him, so let him walk. And also thus I enjoin upon 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.

Is a circumcised person called, let him not revert to uncircumcision: and if one uncircumcised be called, let him not become circumcised.

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

For circumcision is nothing, neither is uncircumcision; but the keeping of God's commands.

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

Let every one continue in the vocation, in which he was called.

21 Art thou called [being] a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use [it] rather.

If thou wert called, being a servant; let it not trouble thee. But if thou canst be made free, choose it rather than to serve.

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 is called by our Lord, being a servant, is God's freedman: likewise, he that is called, being a free man, is the Messiah's servant.

23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

Ye are bought with a price; become not the servants of men.

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

Let every one, my Brethren, continue with God, in whatever state he was called.

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

And concerning virginity, I have no precept from God; but I give counsels as a man who hath obtained mercy from God to be a believer.

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

And I think this is suitable, on account of the necessity of the times; it is advantageous for a man to remain as he is.

27 Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

Art thou bound to a wife? Seek not a release. Art thou free from a wife? Seek not a wife.

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

But if thou takest a wife, thou sinnest not. And if a maiden is given to a husband, she sinneth not. But they who are such, will have trouble in the body: but I am forbearing to you.

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

And this I say, my Brethren, that the time to come is short; so that they who have wives, should be as if 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 who weep, as if they wept not; and they who rejoice, as if they rejoiced not; and they who buy, as if they acquired not;

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

and those occupied with this world, not going beyond the just using: for the fashion of this world is passing away.

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

And therefore I wish you to be without solicitude. For he who hath not a wife, considereth the thing of his Lord, how he may please his Lord.

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

And he who hath a wife, is anxious about the world, how he may please his wife.

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

There is a difference also between a wife and a maiden. She who is without a husband, thinketh of things pertaining to her Lord, that she may be holy in her body and in her spirit. But she who hath a husband, thinketh of things pertaining to the world, how she may 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 ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

And this I say for your advantage; I am not laying a snare for you; but that ye may be faithful towards your Lord, in a suitable manner, while not minding worldly things.

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

But if any one thinketh that there is reproach, on account of his maiden daughter, because she hath passed her time, and he hath not presented her to a husband, and it be fitting that he present her; let him do what he desireth, he sinneth not; let her be married.

37 Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.

But he who hath firmly determined in his own mind, and nothing compelleth him, and he can act his own pleasure, and he so judgeth in his heart, that he keep his maiden daughter, he doeth commendably.

38 So then he that giveth [her] in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth [her] not in marriage doeth better.

And therefore, he who presenteth his maiden daughter, doeth commendably; and he who presenteth not his maiden daughter, doeth very commendably.

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

A woman, while her husband liveth, is bound by the law; but if her husband sleepeth in death, she is free to marry whom she pleaseth, yet 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 of God.

But she is happier, in my opinion, if she remain so: and I think also, that I have the Spirit of God.