1 Corinthians 7

1 Now concerning the issues you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to touch a woman.”

Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good to abstain from sexual relations.

2 But because of temptations for many immoral acts, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband.

But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.

3 The husband should give to the wife her sexual rights, and likewise the wife to her husband.

The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.

4 It is not the wife who has authority over her own body, it is the husband. Likewise, the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

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

5 Do not deprive each other, except by mutual agreement and for a specific period of time. Do this so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then you should come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

Do not deprive each other, except by mutual consent and for a time, so you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again, so that Satan will not tempt you through your lack of self-control.

6 But I say these things to you as a concession and not as a command.

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

7 I wish that everyone were as I am. But each one has his own gift from God. One has this kind of gift, and another that kind.

I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.

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

Now to the unmarried and widows I say this: It is good for them to remain unmarried, as I am.

9 But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better for them to marry than to burn with passion.

But if they cannot control themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

10 Now to the married I give this command—not I, but the Lord—the wife should not separate from her husband

To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.

11 (but if she does separate from her husband, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.

But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.

12 But to the rest I say—I, not the Lord—that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and if she is content to live with him, he should not divorce her.

To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If a brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.

13 If a woman has an unbelieving husband, and if he is content to live with her, she should not divorce him.

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

14 For the unbelieving husband is set apart because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is set apart because of the brother. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but actually they are set apart.

For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his believing wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.

15 But if the unbelieving partner departs, let him go. In such cases, the brother or sister is not bound to their vows. God has called us to live in peace.

But if the unbeliever leaves, let him go. The believing brother or sister is not bound in such cases. God has called you to live in peace.

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

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

17 Only let each one live the life the Lord has assigned him, each as God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.

Regardless, each one should lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is what I prescribe in all the churches.

18 Was anyone circumcised when he was called to believe? He should not try to appear uncircumcised. Was anyone uncircumcised when he was called to faith? He should not be circumcised.

Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man still uncircumcised when called? He should not be circumcised.

19 For it is neither circumcision nor uncircumcision that matters. What matters is obeying the commandments of God.

Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commandments is what counts.

20 Each one should remain in the calling he was in when God called him to believe.

Each one should remain in the situation he was in when he was called.

21 Were you a slave when God called you? Do not be concerned about it. But if you can become free, take advantage of it.

Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let it concern you—but if you can gain your freedom, take the opportunity.

22 For someone who is called by the Lord as a slave is the Lord's freeman. Likewise, the one who was free when he was called to believe is Christ's slave.

For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman. Conversely, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave.

23 You have been bought with a price, so do not become slaves of men.

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

24 Brothers, in whatever life each of us was in when we were called to believe, let us remain like that.

Brothers, each one should remain in the situation he was in when God called him.

25 Now concerning those who never married, I have no commandment from the Lord. But I give my opinion as one who, by the Lord's mercy, is trustworthy.

Now about virgins, I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.

26 Therefore, I think that because of the disaster that is coming, it is good for a man to remain as he is.

Because of the present crisis, I think it is good for a man to remain as he is.

27 Are you married to a wife? Do not seek a divorce. If you are unmarried, do not seek a wife.

Are you committed to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you free of commitment? Do not look for a wife.

28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if an unmarried woman marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will have many kinds of worldly trouble, and I want to spare you from this.

But if you do marry, you have not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.

29 But this I say, brothers: The time is short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none.

What I am saying, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none;

30 Those who weep should act as though they were not weeping, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they did not possess anything,

those who weep, as if they did not; those who are joyful, as if they were not; those who make a purchase, as if they had nothing;

31 and those who use the world should not act as though they are using it to the full. For the world in its present form is coming to an end.

and those who use the things of this world, as if not dependent on them. For this world in its present form is passing away.

32 I would like you to be free from worries. The unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord, how to please him.

I want you to be free from concern. The unmarried man is concerned about the work of the Lord, how he can please the Lord.

33 But the married man is concerned about the things of the world, how to please his wife—

But the married man is concerned about the affairs of this world, how he can please his wife,

34 he is divided. The unmarried woman or the virgin is concerned about the things of the Lord, how to be set apart in body and in spirit. But the married woman is concerned about the things of the world, how to please her husband.

and his interests are divided. The unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the work of the Lord, how she can be holy in both body and spirit. But the married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world, how she can please her husband.

35 I say this for your own benefit, and not to put any constraint on you. I say this for what is right, so that you may be devoted to the Lord without any distraction.

I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but in order to promote proper decorum and undivided devotion to the Lord.

36 But if anyone thinks that he is not treating his fiancée with respect—if she is beyond the age of marriage and it must be so—he should do what he wants. He is not sinning. They should marry.

However, if someone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward his betrothed, and if she is beyond her youth and they ought to marry, let him do as he wishes; he is not sinning; they should get married.

37 But if he is standing firm in his heart, if he is not under pressure but can control his own will, and if he has decided in his own heart to do this, to keep his own fiancée a virgin, he will do well.

But the man who is firmly established in his heart and under no constraint, with control over his will and resolve in his heart not to marry the virgin, he will do well.

38 So the one who marries his fiancée does well, and the one who chooses not to marry will do even better.

So then, he who marries the virgin does well, but he who does not marry her does even better.

39 A woman is bound to her husband for as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry whomever she wishes to marry, but only in the Lord.

A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, as long as he belongs to the Lord.

40 Yet in my judgment she would be happier if she lives as she is. And I think that I also have the Spirit of God.

In my judgment, however, she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.