1 Corinthians 7

1 Now concerning the question in your letter. It is well for a man to have no intercourse with a woman,

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

2 but because there is so much immorality let each man have his own wife; and let each women have her own husband.

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

3 Let the husband give his wife her due, and likewise the wife her husband. The wife is not mistress of her own person,

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

4 but her husband is; and in the same way the husband is not master of his own person, but his wife is.

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.

5 Do not refuse one another, unless it is only temporary and by mutual consent, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again, lest through your lack of self-control Satan begin to tempt you to sin.

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.

6 But what I have just said is by way of concession, not command.

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

7 I would that every one lived as I do; but each man has his own special gift from God, one this, another that.

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.

8 But to the unmarried, and the widows, I say that it is well for them to remain as I am.

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

9 If, however, they are not exercising self-control, by all means let them marry; for marriage is better than the fever of passion.

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

10 But to those already married my commandment is - and not mine, but the Lord’s - that a wife is not to leave her husband;

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

11 (or if she has already left him let her either remain as she is, or be reconciled to him), and also that a husband is not to put away his wife.

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

12 To the rest it is I who am speaking, not the Lord. If any brother has a wife who is not a believer, if he is willing to live with her, let him not send her away.

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.

13 And a woman whose husband is not a believer, if he is willing to live with her, let her not separate from him.

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

14 For the unbelieving husband is consecrated through union with his believing wife; and the unbelieving wife, through union with her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unholy, but now they are consecrated to God.

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.

15 But if the unbelieving partner be determined to leave, separation let it be. In such cases the believing husband or wife is not under bondage. But it is into peace that God has called us.

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.

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

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

17 Only whatever be the lot in life to which God has assigned each one - and whatever the condition in which he was living when God called him- -in that let him continue. Such is the rule I give in all the churches.

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.

18 So, was any man called, being circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was any man called when he was uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised.

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

19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands in everything.

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

20 Whatever be the condition of life in which he was called, in that let him continue.

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

21 Were you called in slavery? Let not that trouble you; but if you can become free make use of the opportunity.

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

22 For the slave who has been called in the Lord is the Lord’s freedman; and in the same way, the free man who is called is Christ’s slave.

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.

23 You have been brought with a price; do not become slaves to men.

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

24 Where each man stood when he was called, there, brothers, let him stay, close to God.

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

25 I have no command from the Lord to give you concerning unmarried women; but I give you my opinion, and it is that of a man who, through the Lord’s mercy, is deserving of your confidence.

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.

26 I think then, that in view of the time of suffering now imminent, it is best for a man to remain as he is.

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

27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from the marriage bond? Do not seek for a wife.

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

28 Yet if you do not marry, you have not done wrong; and if a girl marries, she has not done wrong. Such people, however, will have trouble in worldy affairs, and I wish to spare you.

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.

29 Indeed, brothers, the time that remains to us has been shortened; so let those who have wives live as if they had none,

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

30 let those who weep be as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess,

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 those who use the world as though using it sparingly. For the present phase of the world is passing away.

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

32 So I want you to be free from all anxieties. An unmarried man is anxious about the Lord’s business, how he may please the Lord;

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:

33 but a married man is anxious about worldly affairs, how he may please his wife, and he is divided in his mind.

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

34 Again, the woman who is widow, or the maid, is anxious about the Lord’s business, how she may be pure in body and in mind; but the married woman is anxious about worldly affairs, how she may please her husband.

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.

35 It is in your own interest that I say this; not that I may entangle you in a snare, but that I may help you to serve the Lord with fitting and undistracted service.

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.

36 If, however, a father feels that he is not treating his virgin daughter in a seemly manner, in leaving her unmarried beyond the flower of her age, and so the matter is urgent, let him do what she desires; he commits no sin. Let the marriage take place.

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.

37 On the other hand, he who is firm in his purpose and is under no compulsion, but is free to carry out his own wishes, and who has determined to keep his daughter unmarried, does well.

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.

38 So he that gives his daughter in marriage is doing right, and he who keeps her unmarried will be doing right, and he who keeps her unmarried will be doing better.

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

39 A wife is bound to her husband during his lifetime; but if her husband dies, she is free to marry whomever she will, provided it be 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 But she is happier, in my judgment, if she remains as she is; and I think that I, too, have the Spirit of God.

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