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.

Nevertheless, to avoid immorality, 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 her 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 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 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 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 may not tempt you for your lack of self-control.

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

But I speak this by permission, and not as a 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 as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift from 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 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 cannot control themselves, 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 if she shall 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 I speak, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she is 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 who hath an husband that believeth not, and if he is 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 departeth, 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 how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether 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.

But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so I ordain 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 become 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 remain in the same calling in which 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.

Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest 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.

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

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

Brethren, let every man, in the state in which he is called, continue in it 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 hath 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 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.

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 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 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, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, 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 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 without care. He that is unmarried careth 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 careth 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 a 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 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 upon you, but for that which is seemly, and that ye may attend upon 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 thinketh that he behaveth himself unseemly toward his virgin, if she hath passed the flower of her age, and need so requireth, let him do what he will, he sinneth 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 standeth steadfast 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 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 giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage 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 is 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 remain, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.