1 Corinthians 7

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

Now concerning the issues you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to touch a woman.”

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

But because of temptations for many immoral acts, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband.

3 to the wife let the husband render the due benevolence, and in like manner also the wife to the husband;

The husband should give to the wife her sexual rights, and likewise the wife to her husband.

4 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.

It is not the wife who has authority over her own body, it is the husband. Likewise, the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

5 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;

Do not deprive each other, except by mutual agreement and for a specific period of time. Do this so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then you should come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

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

But I say these things to you as a concession and not as a command.

7 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.

I wish that everyone were as I am. But each one has his own gift from God. One has this kind of gift, and another that kind.

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

To the unmarried and to widows I say that it is good for them if they remain unmarried, as I am.

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

But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better for them to marry than to burn with passion.

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

Now to the married I give this command—not I, but the Lord—the wife should not separate from her husband

11 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.

(but if she does separate from her husband, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.

12 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;

But to the rest I say—I, not the Lord—that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and if she is content to live with him, he should not divorce her.

13 and a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he is pleased to dwell with her, do not let her send him away;

If a woman has an unbelieving husband, and if he is content to live with her, she should not divorce him.

14 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.

For the unbelieving husband is set apart because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is set apart because of the brother. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but actually they are set apart.

15 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;

But if the unbelieving partner departs, let him go. In such cases, the brother or sister is not bound to their vows. God has called us to live in peace.

16 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?

For how do you know, woman, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, man, whether you will save your wife?

17 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:

Only let each one live the life the Lord has assigned him, each as God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.

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

Was anyone circumcised when he was called to believe? He should not try to appear uncircumcised. Was anyone uncircumcised when he was called to faith? He should not be circumcised.

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

For it is neither circumcision nor uncircumcision that matters. What matters is obeying the commandments of God.

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

Each one should remain in the calling he was in when God called him to believe.

21 a servant—were you called? Do not be anxious; but if also you are able to become free—use [it] rather;

Were you a slave when God called you? Do not be concerned about it. But if you can become free, take advantage of it.

22 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:

For someone who is called by the Lord as a slave is the Lord's freeman. Likewise, the one who was free when he was called to believe is Christ's slave.

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

You have been bought with a price, so do not become slaves of men.

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

Brothers, in whatever life each of us was in when we were called to believe, let us remain like that.

25 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.

Now concerning those who never married, I have no commandment from the Lord. But I give my opinion as one who, by the Lord's mercy, is trustworthy.

26 I suppose, therefore, this to be good because of the present necessity, that [it is] good for a man that the matter be thus:

Therefore, I think that because of the disaster that is coming, it is good for a man to remain as he is.

27 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.

Are you married to a wife? Do not seek a divorce. If you are unmarried, do not seek a wife.

28 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.

But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if an unmarried woman marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will have many kinds of worldly trouble, and I want to spare you from this.

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

But this I say, brothers: The time is short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none.

30 and those weeping, as not weeping; and those rejoicing, as not rejoicing; and those buying, as not possessing;

Those who weep should act as though they were not weeping, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they did not possess anything,

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

and those who use the world should not act as though they are using it to the full. For the world in its present form is coming to an end.

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

I would like you to be free from worries. The unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord, how to please him.

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

But the married man is concerned about the things of the world, how to please his wife—

34 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.

he is divided. The unmarried woman or the virgin is concerned about the things of the Lord, how to be set apart in body and in spirit. But the married woman is concerned about the things of the world, how to please her husband.

35 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,

I say this for your own benefit, and not to put any constraint on you. I say this for what is right, so that you may be devoted to the Lord without any distraction.

36 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.

But if anyone thinks that he is not treating his fiancée with respect—if she is beyond the age of marriage and it must be so—he should do what he wants. He is not sinning. They should marry.

37 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;

But if he is standing firm in his heart, if he is not under pressure but can control his own will, and if he has decided in his own heart to do this, to keep his own fiancée a virgin, he will do well.

38 so that both he who is giving in marriage does well, and he who is not giving in marriage does better.

So the one who marries his fiancée does well, and the one who chooses not to marry will do even better.

39 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;

A woman is bound to her husband for as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry whomever she wishes to marry, but only in the Lord.

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

Yet in my judgment she would be happier if she lives as she is. And I think that I also have the Spirit of God.