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 of which ye 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.

But because of fornications, let each man have his own wife, and let each 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 the goodwill owed to the wife, 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 the right of her private body, but the husband, and likewise also the husband has not the right of his private 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.

Do not defraud each other except from agreement for a time, so that ye may have time for fasting and prayer. And come together again for the same thing, so that Satan not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

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

But I say this from concession not from 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 wish all men to be even as myself. However each man has his own gift from God, one in this way, 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.

But I say to the unmarried and to the widows, it is good for them if they remain 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 have no self-control they should 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 those who are married, I do not command but the Lord. The wife is not to separate 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 even if she separates, she shall remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to leave 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 I say, not the Lord. If any brother has an unbelieving wife, and this woman consents to dwell with him, he should not leave her.

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

And whichever woman has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to dwell with her, she should 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 has been sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified by the husband, then otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are 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 unbeliever separates, he shall separate. The brother or the sister has not been bound in such things. And 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 how do thou know, O wife, whether thou will save thy husband? Or how will thou know, O husband, whether thou will 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.

Except, as God has distributed to each man, as the Lord has called each, so let him walk. And so I command in all the congregations.

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

Was any man called circumcised? He should not become uncircumcised. Was any man called in uncircumcision? He should 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, instead, the keeping of God's commandments.

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

Each man, in the situation in which he was called, in this he should remain.

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

Were thou called being a bondman? It should not concern thee. However if also thou are able to become free, take advantage of it instead.

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 who was called in the Lord a bondman is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise also he who was called a free man is a bondman of Christ.

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

Ye were bought with a price, become not bondmen of men.

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

Brothers, each man, in what he was called, should remain in this before 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 the virgins I have no commandment of the Lord, but I give an opinion, as having obtained mercy from the Lord to be trustworthy.

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 this to be good because of the present distress, that it is good for a man to be this way:

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 thou bound to a wife? Do not seek separation. Are thou free from a wife? Do not seek 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 also if thou did marry thou have not sinned, and if the virgin married she has not sinned. Yet such kind will have stress 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 shortened. It is the remaining, so that also those who have wives may be as not having,

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 those who weep, as not weeping, and those who rejoice, as not rejoicing, and those who buy, as not possessing,

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

and those who use this world, as not making full use, for the form 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 want you to be without worry. The unmarried man cares for things of the Lord, how he will 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 cares for things of the world, how he will 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.

And the wife and the virgin are differentiated. The unmarried woman is concerned for the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married is concerned for the things of the world, how she will 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 I say this for your own benefit, not that I may cast restraint upon you, but for what is respectable and assiduous toward the Lord, undistracted.

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 thinks to behave improperly toward his virgin, if it is past the best time, and so ought to happen, she should do what she wants, she does not sin, they should 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 who stands firm in his heart, not having necessity, but has power based upon his own will, and has decided this in his heart, to keep his own celibacy, 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.

And therefore he who gives in marriage does well, but he who does not give 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.

A wife is bound by law as long a time as her husband lives, but also if the husband should sleep, she is free to be married to whom she desires, 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 remains this way according to my opinion. And I also seem to have Spirit of God.