1 Corinthians 7

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

Now as to the things concerning which ye wrote to 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.

Nevertheless to prevent whoredoms, let every one 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 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 of her own body, but the husband; and in like manner 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.

Do not withdraw from one another, unless by consent for a season, that ye may attend to fasting and prayer: and come together again, least Satan tempt you through your incontinency.

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

But I say this by way of permission, not of command:

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 could wish that all men were as I myself am; but every man hath his proper gift from God, one of one kind and another of another?

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

Now to the unmarried and widows I say, it is good for them to continue so, as I do.

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 with lust.

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

But those that are married, not I command, but the Lord, that the wife be not separated 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 separate, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband; ) and that the husband put not 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 say I, not the Lord, If any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she like 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 if any wife hath an unbelieving husband, and he like 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 in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the husband: else were your children unclean; but 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 depart, let them depart; a brother or a sister is not bound in such cases.

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?

But God hath called us to peace; for how knowest thou, O wife, but thou shalt save thy husband; or 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.

However, as God hath distributed to every man, and as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk: and thus I order 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 one called that is circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised: is any one called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised: for circumcision is nothing,

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

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

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

In the calling in which every one was called, let him continue.

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

Wast thou called being a slave, be not anxious about it; but if thou canst be made free, prefer 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: and he likewise that is called being free is the servant of Christ.

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

Ye are bought with a price, do not become the slaves of men.

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

Brethren, in whatever condition every one was when called, let him abide therein 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.

But concerning single persons I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgement as one that hath 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 think then, that it is---better on account of the present distress, ---that it is better, I say,

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

for a single man to be so. Art thou bound to a wife indeed? seek not to be loosed: but 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.

Though, if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned: such however will probably have more trouble in life: 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, that the time is short: it remains therefore, that even those, who 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 if they wept not; and they, that rejoice, as if they rejoiced not; and they, that buy, as if 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;

And I would have you without anxiety. Now he, that is unmarried, careth for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; but he,

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

that is married, is in care about the things of the world, and 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: she, that is unmarried, careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but she, that is married, is in care about the things of the world, and 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 say for your own benefit, not that I may cast a snare upon you, but in order to recommend that which is fit and becoming before 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 one think that he acts unbecomingly towards his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and that it ought to be so, let him do what he will; he doth not sin: 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.

But he, that is stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath determined in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doth 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 that he, who giveth her in marriage, doth well; but he, that giveth her not in marriage, doth 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 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, in my opinion, if she continue as she is: and I think I have the Spirit of God.