1 Corinthians 7

1 Now as to the matters about which ye wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman;

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

2 but on account of the commonness of fornication, let every man have his own wife, and every woman her own husband.

But because of the fornications, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.

3 Let the husband render to his wife her due; and so also the wife to her husband.

Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband.

4 The wife hath not the disposal of her own body, but her husband; and so also the husband hath not the disposal of his own body, but his wife.

The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; similarly also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

5 Defraud not one another, except by agreement for a time, that ye may have a season for prayer; and be together again, that Satan may not tempt you through your incontinence.

Do not deprive one another except by mutual consent for a season, so that you may devote yourselves to fasting and to prayer, and come together again so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

6 But I say this by way of permission, not command.

Now I say this as a concession, not as a command

7 I would that all men were as I myself; but every one hath his own gift from God, one man this, and another that.

(though I wish that all men were even as I myself; but each has his own gift from God, one like this and one like that).

8 I say also to the unmarried and the widows, it is good for them to remain as I am;

Yes I say to the unmarried and the widows: it is good for them if they should remain even as I;

9 but if they cannot control themselves, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn.

but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry; since it is better to marry than to burn.

10 But to those who are married it is my command, yet not mine, but the Lord's: Let not the wife separate herself from her husband,

Now to the married I command (not I but the Lord): a wife is not to be separated from her husband

11 and if she have separated herself let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband; and let not the husband put away his wife.

(but if she does separate herself, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband), and a husband is not to divorce his wife.

12 But to the rest say I, not the Lord: If any brother hath an unbelieving wife, and she be satisfied to dwell with him, let him not put her away;

But to the rest I (not the Lord) say: if any brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her.

13 and if a wife hath an unbelieving husband, and he be satisfied to dwell with her, let her not put her husband away.

And a woman who has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him.

14 For the unbelieving husband hath been made holy by his wife, and the unbelieving wife hath been made holy by the brother; otherwise were your children unclean, but, as it is, they are holy.

For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are consecrated.

15 But if the unbelieving separateth himself, let him separate himself; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God hath called you to be in peace.

But if the unbeliever separates, let him separate—in such cases the brother or the sister is not enslaved, but God has called us to peace.

16 For how dost thou know, O wife, but that thou mayst save thy husband? or how dost thou know, O husband, but that thou mayst save thy wife?

For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

17 But let every one continue to walk in the lot which the Lord appointed him, in the condition in which God called him. And this direction I give in all the churches.

Otherwise, as God has distributed to each, as the Lord has called each one, so let him live (this is what I command in all the congregations).

18 Was any one called being circumcised, let him not become as if uncircumcised; hath any one been called in uncircumcision, let him not become circumcised.

Was anyone already circumcised when called? Let him not reverse it. Was anyone uncircumcised when called? 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, compared to keeping God's commandments.

20 Let every one remain in the same calling in which he was called.

Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called.

21 Wast thou called being a slave, care not for it; but even if thou canst be made free, use it rather.

Were you called while a slave? Do not let it bother you, but if you can really become free, do so.

22 For he that was called in the Lord, being a slave, is the Lord's freeman. In like manner the freeman, who is called, is Christ's slave.

For the one in the Lord who was called while a slave is the Lord's freedman. Similarly, the one who was called while free is Christ's slave.

23 Ye were bought with a price; become not the slaves of men.

You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.

24 In that state, brethren, in which he was called, let every one remain with God.

Brothers, let each one remain with God in the social condition in which he was called.

25 Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment of the Lord; but I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.

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

26 I think, then, that it is well, on account of the impending distress, for a man to remain as he is.

I consider therefore that this is good because of the current distress—that it is good for a man to remain as he is:

27 Art thou bound to a wife, seek not to be loosed from her; art thou loosed from a wife, do not seek for one.

Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek release. Have you been released from a wife? Do not seek a wife.

28 But if thou hast married, thou hast committed no sin; and if a virgin hath married, she hath committed no sin. Such, however, will have trouble in the flesh, which I desire to spare you.

However, should you marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin should marry, she has not sinned. Still, such will have trouble in the flesh, and I want to spare you.

29 But this I say, brethren, the time that remaineth is short; that both they that have wives may be as though they had none;

Now I say this, brothers, the time has been shortened, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none,

30 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;

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

31 and they that use this world as not abusing it; for the outward condition of this world is passing away;

and those who use this world as though not abusing it; because this world's mode is passing away.

32 and I would have you free from anxious cares. He that is unmarried careth about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord;

Now I want you to be without anxiety. He who is unmarried cares about the things of the Lord: how he will please the Lord.

33 but he that is married careth about the things of the world, how to please his wife.

While he who is married cares about the things of the world: how he will please his wife.

34 There is a difference also between a wife and a virgin; the unmarried woman careth about the things of the Lord, to be holy, both in body and in spirit; but she that is married careth about the things of the world, how to please her husband.

The wife and the virgin are also different. She who is unmarried cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit; while she who is married cares about the things of the world: how she will please her husband.

35 And this I say for your own profit; not to cast a noose over you, but with a view to what is becoming, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

I am saying this for your own profit, not to put a leash on you, but for what is appropriate, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.

36 But if any one thinketh that he behaveth improperly in respect to his virgin [[daughter]], if she pass the flower of her age [[without being married]], and if it must be so, let him do what he will, he committeth no sin; let them marry.

Now if anyone thinks he is behaving inappropriately toward his virgin, if she is past her prime and thus it should be, let him do what he desires; he does not sin; let them marry.

37 But if any one is settled in his purpose, and is under no necessity, but is free to act as he will, and hath determined in his heart to keep his own virgin daughter [[unmarried]], he doeth well.

But he who stands steadfast in his heart, not having necessity, but has control over his own will, and has determined in his heart to preserve his own virginity, does well.

38 So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; and he that doth not give her in marriage doeth better.

So then, he who gives in marriage does well, but he who does not give in marriage does better.

39 The wife is bound to her husband as long as he liveth; but if her husband die, she is free to marry whom she will, only in the Lord.

A woman is bound by law for as long as her husband lives, but if the man should die, she is free to be married to whom she wishes—only in the Lord.

40 But she is happier if she remain as she is, in my opinion; and I too think that I have the Spirit of God.

But she is more blessed if she remains as she is, according to my judgment—and I think I also have God's Spirit.