1 Corinthians 7

1 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

Now, concerning the things whereof ye wrote, it were, good, for a man, not to touch, a woman;

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

But, on account of fornications, let, each man, have, his own wife, and, each woman, have, her own husband:

3 Let the husband render unto the wife her due: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

Unto the wife, let the husband render what is her due, and, in like manner, the wife also, unto the husband, —

4 The wife hath not power over her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power over his own body, but the wife.

The wife, over her own body, hath not authority, but the husband, and, in like manner, the husband also, over his own body, hath not authority, but the wife.

5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be by consent for a season, that ye may give yourselves unto prayer, and may be together again, that Satan tempt you not because of your incontinency.

Be not depriving one another—unless perhaps by consent for a season, that ye may have leisure for prayer, and, again, may be together, —lest Satan be tempting you by reason of your want of self-control.

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

This, however I am saying, by way of concession, not of injunction;

7 Yet I would that all men were even as I myself. Howbeit each man hath his own gift from God, one after this manner, and another after that.

Besides, I desire all men to be, even as myself, —but, each one, hath his, personal, 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 abide even as I.

But I say, to the unmarried, and to the widows, good, were it for them, that they should abide, even as I;

9 But if they have not continency, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

But, if they have not self-control, let them marry, for, better, is it, to marry than to burn.

10 But unto the married I give charge, [yea] not I, but the Lord, That the wife depart not from her husband

To the married, however, I give charge—not, I, but the Lord, —that, a wife, from her husband, do not depart, —

11 (but and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband); and that the husband leave not his wife.

But, if she should even depart, let her remain unmarried, or, to her husband, be reconciled; and let not, a husband, leave, his wife.

12 But to the rest say I, not the Lord: If any brother hath an unbelieving wife, and she is content to dwell with him, let him not leave her.

But, unto the rest, say, I—not the Lord, —if, any brother, hath, a wife that believeth not, and, she, is well pleased to dwell with him, let him not leave her;

13 And the woman which hath an unbelieving husband, and he is content to dwell with her, let her not leave her husband.

And, a woman who hath a husband that believeth not, and, he, is well pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave her husband; —

14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the brother: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

For the husband that believeth not is hallowed in the wife, and the wife that believeth not is hallowed in the brother: else were, your children, impure, but, now, are they, pure.

15 Yet if the unbelieving departeth, let him depart: the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such [cases]: but God hath called us in peace.

But, if, the unbelieving, departeth, let him depart: the brother or the sister hath not come into bondage, in such cases, but, in peace, hath God called us.

16 For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O husband, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

For how knowest thou, O woman, whether, thy husband, thou shalt save? Or how knowest thou, O man, whether, thy wife, thou shalt save?

17 Only, as the Lord hath distributed to each man, as God hath called each, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all the churches.

If not—as the Lord hath distributed—unto each one, as God hath called, each one, so, let him be walking; —and, so, in all the assemblies, I ordain.

18 Was any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Hath any been called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.

After being circumcised, was any called? let him not become uncircumcised; in uncircumcision, hath any been called? let him not be circumcised:

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

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

20 Let each man abide in that calling wherein he was called.

Each one, in the calling wherein he was called, in the same, let him abide:

21 Wast thou called being a bondservant? care not for it: but if thou canst become free, use [it] rather.

A bond-servant, wast thou called? let it not cause thee concern; but, if thou canst even become, free, rather use it.

22 For he that was called in the Lord, being a bondservant, is the Lord’s freedman: likewise he that was called, being free, is Christ’s bondservant.

For, he who in the Lord was called, being a bond-servant, is, a freed-man of the Lord: in like manner, he that was called being, a freeman, is Christ’s bond-servant: —

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

With a price, have ye been bought, —do not become bond-servants of men:

24 Brethren, let each man, wherein he was called, therein abide with God.

Each one, wherein he was called, brethren, in the same, let him abide with God.

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.

But, concerning them who are virgin, injunction of the Lord, have I none; yet, a judgment, do I give, as one who hath obtained mercy from the Lord to be, faithful:

26 I think therefore that this is good by reason of the present distress, [namely], that it is good for a man to be as he is.

I consider this, then, to be, good, in the circumstances, by reason of the existing distress, —that it is, good for a man, so, to be:

27 Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

Hast thou become bound to a wife? do not seek to be loosed; hast thou become loosed from a wife? do not seek a wife.

28 But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Yet such shall have tribulation in the flesh: and I would spare you.

If, however, thou shouldst even marry, thou hast not sinned; and, if one who is virgin should marry, that one hath not sinned; —but, tribulation of the flesh, shall, such, have: —howbeit, I, spare you.

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

But, this, I say—the opportunity is, contracted for what remaineth—in order that, they who have wives, may be, as though they had none,

30 and those that weep, as though they wept not; and those that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and those that buy, as though they possessed not;

And, they who weep, as though they wept not, and, they who rejoice, as though they rejoiced not, and, they who buy, as though they possessed not,

31 and those that use the world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

And, they who use the world, as though they used it not to the full, —for the fashion of this world passeth away;

32 But I would have you to be free from cares. He that is unmarried is careful for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord:

And I desire you to be, without anxiety: —the unmarried man, is anxious for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord;

33 but he that is married is careful for the things of the world, how he may please his wife.

But, he that hath married, is anxious for the things of the world, how may please his wife—

34 And there is a difference also between the wife and the virgin. She that is unmarried is careful for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married is careful for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

And he is divided; and, the unmarried woman, or the virgin, is anxious for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy [both] in her body and in her spirit; but, she that hath married, is anxious for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

35 And this I say 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.

This, however, with a view to your own profit, am I saying, —not that, a snare, upon you, I may cast, but with a view to what is comely, and devoted unto the Lord, without distraction.

36 But if any man thinketh that he behaveth himself unseemly toward his virgin [daughter], if she be past the flower of her age, and if need so requireth, let him do what he will; he sinneth not; let them marry.

If however anyone considereth it behaving unseemly towards his virginity, if he should be beyond the bloom of life, —and, thus, it ought to come about, what he chooseth, let him do, —he sinneth not: let them marry:

37 But he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power as touching his own will, and hath determined this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin [daughter], shall do well.

But, he that standeth in his heart, steadfast, having no necessity, but hath authority concerning his own will, and, this, hath determined in his own heart, —to preserve his own virginity, well shall he do.

38 So then both he that giveth his own virgin [daughter] in marriage doeth well; and he that giveth her not in marriage shall do better.

So that, he that giveth in marriage his own virginity, doeth, well; and, he that giveth it not, shall do, better.

39 A wife is bound for so long time as her husband liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is free to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

A wife, is bound for as long a time as her husband is living; but, if the husband have fallen asleep, she is, free, to be married unto whom she pleaseth, —only, in the Lord;

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

But, happier, is she, if, so, she remain, —in my judgment; for I think, I also, have the Spirit of God.