1 Corinthians 7

1 Now concerning the things about which you wrote: it is good for a man not to touch a woman.

NOW with regard to those things concerning which ye have written unto me, it were good for a man not to touch a woman.

2 But, because of sexual immoralities, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.

But because of the whoredoms, let every man have his own wife, and every wife her own husband.

3 Let the husband fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her 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. Likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife.

The wife hath not power over her own body, but the husband: in like manner also the husband has not power over his own body, but the wife.

5 Do not deprive one another, unless it is by consent for a season, that you may give yourselves to prayer, and may be together again, that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

Defraud not one another, except it may be by consent occasionally, that ye may have more leisure for fasting and prayer; and come together again, lest Satan tempt you through your incontinence.

6 But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment.

But in this I speak my opinion only, not authoritatively.

7 Yet I wish that all people were like me. However each one has his own gift from God, one of this kind, and another of that kind.

For I would that all men were even as myself: but every man hath his peculiar gift from God, one of this sort, and another of that.

8 But I say to the unmarried and to widows, it is good for them if they remain even as I am.

I say then to the unmarried and the widows, that it is becoming them if they abide as I am.

9 But if they do not have self-control, let them marry. For it's 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.

10 But to the married I command—not I, but the Lord—that the wife not leave her husband

But to the married not I command, but the Lord, That the wife be not separated from the husband:

11 (but if she departs, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband not leave his wife.

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

12 But to the rest I—not the Lord—say, if any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she is content to live with him, let him not leave her.

But to the others I speak, not the Lord, If any brother hath a wife unbelieving, yet she chuseth to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

13 The woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he is content to live with her, let her not leave her husband.

And the wife which hath a husband not a believer, and he chuses to dwell with her, let her not put him away.

14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the brother. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.

For the husband that believeth not is sanctified by the wife, and the wife who believeth not is sanctified by the husband: else indeed your children were unclean, but now are they holy.

15 Yet if the unbeliever departs, let there be separation. The brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called you to peace.

But if the unbelieving person depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in these cases, but God hath called us unto 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 how knowest thou, O wife, but thou shalt save thy husband? and how knowest thou, O husband, but thou shalt save thy wife?

17 Only, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, so let him walk. So I command in all the churches.

Nevertheless as God has bestowed the gift on every man as the Lord hath called every man, so let him walk, and so I give command in all the churches.

18 Was anyone called having been circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised.

Is any man called being circumcised? let him not affect uncircumcision. Is any man called in uncircumcision? let him not be 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 observance of the commandments of God.

20 Let each person stay in that calling in which he was called.

Let every one abide in the calling in which he is called.

21 Were you called being a slave? Do not let that bother you, but if you get an opportunity to become free, use it.

Art thou called being a slave? let it give thee no concern; but if thou canst also obtain thy freedom, rather make use of it.

22 For he who was called in the Lord being a slave is the Lord's free person. Likewise he who was called being free is Christ's slave.

For he that is called in the Lord, being a slave, is the Lord’s freed man: in like manner also, he that is called, being a free man, is the servant of Christ.

23 You were bought with a price. Do not become slaves of people.

Have you been redeemed with a price? become not the slaves of men.

24 Brothers, let each one, in whatever condition he was called, stay in that condition with God.

Let every one, brethren, in the vocation wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

25 Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who has obtained mercy from the Lord to be trustworthy.

Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment of the Lord; but I offer my opinion, as having obtained mercy from the Lord to be faithful.

26 I think that it is good therefore, because of the distress that is on us, that it is good for a person to remain as he is.

I think then that this is becoming, considering our present straits, that it is proper for a man to be thus.

27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be freed. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife.

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

28 But if you marry, you have not sinned. If a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have oppression in the flesh, and I want to spare you.

But if thou shouldst marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned; though such will have tribulation in the flesh; but I spare you.

29 But I say this, brothers: the time is short, that from now on, those who have wives should be as though they had none;

Now this I say, brethren, that the time is short. The conclusion is, that even they who have wives, should be as though they had not;

30 and those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not possess;

and they who weep as though they wept not; and they who rejoice as though they rejoiced not; and they that purchase as though they possessed not;

31 and those who use the world, as not using it to the fullest. For the form of this world is passing away.

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

32 But I desire to have you to be free from cares. He who is unmarried is concerned for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord;

But I would have you to be free from anxiety. He who is unmarried is anxious for the things of the Lord, how he shall please the Lord:

33 but he who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife,

but he who is married is anxious about the things of the world, how he shall please his wife.

34 and is divided. And the woman that is unmarried, or a virgin, is concerned about the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But the one that is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

A wife and a virgin hath different pursuits: the unmarried woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but the married woman is anxious about the things of the world, how she shall please her husband.

35 This I say for your own profit; not that I may ensnare you, but for that which is appropriate, and that you may attend to the Lord without distraction.

Now I say this for your own advantage, and not that I should lay a snare in your way, but as what is seemly, and that you may wait on the Lord without distraction.

36 But if anyone thinks that he is behaving inappropriately toward his virgin, if she is past the flower of her age, and if need so requires, let him do what he desires. He does not sin. Let them marry.

But if a person supposes it would be unseemly for a virgin of his if she should pass the flower of her age in celibacy, and that duty directs it should be so, let him do as he is inclined, he doth not sin: let such marry.

37 But he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own heart, to keep his own virgin, does well.

But he that is stedfast in his heart, not having any necessity, but retaineth power over his own inclination, and hath determined this in his heart that he will preserve his own virgin state, doeth well.

38 So then both he who gives his own virgin in marriage does well, and he who does not give her in marriage does better.

Wherefore though he who giveth in marriage doeth well, yet he who avoids a matrimonial connection, doeth better.

39 A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives; but if the husband is dead, she is free to be married to whomever she desires, 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 free to be married to whomsoever she will, but only in the Lord.

40 But she is happier if she stays as she is, in my judgment, and I think that I also have God's Spirit.

But she is more blessed if she abide as she is, in my opinion: and I think I have the spirit of God.