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 as to the things concerning which ye wrote to me: it were 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;

Nevertheless to prevent whoredoms, let every one have his own wife, and let every woman 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;

Let the husband render to the wife due benevolence; and in like manner also the wife to the 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.

The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband; and in like manner also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

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 withdraw from one another, unless by consent for a season, that ye may attend to fasting and prayer: and come together again, least Satan tempt you through your incontinency.

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

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

for I could wish that all men were as I myself am; but every man hath his proper gift from God, one of one kind and another of another?

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

Now to the unmarried and widows I say, it is good for them to continue so, as I do.

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

But if they have not the gift of continence, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with lust.

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

But those that are married, not I command, but the Lord, that the wife be not separated 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 separate, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband; ) and that the husband put not away 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 say I, not the Lord, If any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she like to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

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

And if any wife hath an unbelieving husband, and he like to dwell with her, let her not leave 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 sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the husband: else were your children unclean; but they are holy.

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 unbeliever depart, let them depart; a brother or a sister is not bound in such cases.

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?

But God hath called us to peace; for how knowest thou, O wife, but thou shalt save thy husband; or how knowest thou, O husband, but thou shalt save thy 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:

However, as God hath distributed to every man, and as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk: and thus I order 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;

Is any one called that is circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised: is any one called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised: for circumcision is nothing,

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

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

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

In the calling in which every one was called, let him continue.

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

Wast thou called being a slave, be not anxious about it; but if thou canst be made free, prefer 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 he that is called in the Lord being a slave, is the Lord's freed-man: and he likewise that is called being free is the servant of Christ.

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

Ye are bought with a price, do not become the slaves of men.

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

Brethren, in whatever condition every one was when called, let him abide therein with God.

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.

But concerning single persons I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgement as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.

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:

I think then, that it is---better on account of the present distress, ---that it is better, I say,

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.

for a single man to be so. Art thou bound to a wife indeed? seek not to be loosed: but art thou loosed from a wife? seek not 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.

Though, if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned: such however will probably have more trouble in life: but I spare you.

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, brethren, that the time is short: it remains therefore, that even those, who have wives, be as though they had none;

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

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

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

and they, that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

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;

And I would have you without anxiety. Now he, that is unmarried, careth for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; but he,

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

that is married, is in care about the things of the world, and how he may 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.

There is a difference also between a wife and a virgin: she, that is unmarried, careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but she, that is married, is in care about the things of the world, and how she may 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,

And this I say for your own benefit, not that I may cast a snare upon you, but in order to recommend that which is fit and becoming before the Lord without 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 any one think that he acts unbecomingly towards his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and that it ought to be so, let him do what he will; he doth not sin: let them 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 he, that is stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath determined in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doth well.

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

So that he, who giveth her in marriage, doth well; but he, that giveth her not in marriage, doth 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;

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:

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

but she is happier, in my opinion, if she continue as she is: and I think I have the Spirit of God.