1 Corinthians 7

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

Now concerning the things whereof you wrote to me: It is 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.

Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have 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 likewise 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 has not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband has not power of 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 you not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

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

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

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 I myself. But every man has his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after 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 therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.

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

But if they cannot contain, 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

And to the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her 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.

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 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 rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother has a wife that believes not, and she be pleased 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 woman which has an husband that believes not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

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 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 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 depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God has 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 know you, O wife, whether you shall save your husband? or how know you, O man, whether you shall save your 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.

But as God has distributed to every man, as the Lord has called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all 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 become uncircumcised. Is any 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 keeping of the commandments of God.

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

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

Are you called being a servant? care not for it: but if you may be made free, use it rather.

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 servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant.

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

You are bought with a price; be not you the servants of men.

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

Brothers, let every man, 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: yet I give my judgment, as one that has obtained mercy of 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 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 freed. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife.

Are you bound to a wife? seek not to be loosed. Are you 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 and if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble 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;

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

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 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 not using it to the fullest. For the form of this world is passing away.

And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passes 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 without carefulness. He that is unmarried cares for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may 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 that is married cares for the things that are of the world, how he may 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.

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

And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare on you, but for that which is comely, and that you may attend 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 any man think that he behaves himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sins not: let them 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.

Nevertheless he that stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own will, and has so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, does 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.

So then he that gives her in marriage does well; but he that gives her not in marriage does 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 lives; 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 if she stays as she is, in my judgment, and I think that I also have God's Spirit.

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