1 Corinthians 7

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

Now concerning the thing whereof you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

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 for fear of fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

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

Let the husband render the debt to his wife, and the wife also in like manner to the 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 hath not power of her own body, but the husband. And in like manner the husband also hath not power of 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.

Defraud not one another, except, perhaps, by consent, for a time, that you may give yourselves to prayer; and return together again, lest Satan tempt you for your incontinency.

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

But I speak this by indulgence, not by commandment.

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.

For I would that all men were even as myself: but every one hath his proper gift from God; one after this manner, and another after that.

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

But I say to the unmarried, and to the widows: It is good for them if they so continue, even as I.

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 do not contain themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to be burnt.

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

But to them that are married, not I but the Lord commandeth, that the wife depart not 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.

And if she depart, that she remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband. And let not the husband put away 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.

For to the rest I speak, not the Lord. If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she consent to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

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

And if any woman hath a husband that believeth not, and he consent to dwell with her, let her not put away her husband.

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 by the believing wife; and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the believing husband: otherwise your children should 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 depart, let him depart. For a brother or sister is not under servitude in such cases. But God hath called us 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?

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 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.

But as the Lord hath distributed to every one, as God hath called every one, so let him walk: and so in all churches I teach.

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.

Is any man called, being circumcised? let him not procure uncircumcision. Is any man called in uncircumcision? let him 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: but the observance of the commandments of God.

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

Let every man abide in the same calling in which 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.

Wast thou called, being a bondman? care not for it; but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.

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 that is called in the Lord, being a bondman, is the freeman of the Lord. Likewise he that is called, being free, is the bondman of Christ.

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

You are bought with a price; be not made the bondslaves of men.

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

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

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 concerning virgins, I have no commandment of the Lord; but I give counsel, as having obtained mercy of the Lord, to be faithful.

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

I think therefore that this is good for the present necessity, that it is good for a man so to be.

27 Are you married to a wife? Do not seek a divorce. If you are unmarried, 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 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 thou take a wife, thou hast not sinned. And if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned: nevertheless, such shall have tribulation of the flesh. But I spare you.

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

This therefore I say, brethren; the time is short; it remaineth, that they also who have wives, be 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,

And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as if they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;

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 they that use this world, as if they used it not: for the fashion of this world passeth 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.

But I would have you to be without solicitude. He that is without a wife, is solicitous for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please God.

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

But he that is with a wife, is solicitous for the things of the world, how he may please his wife: and he is divided.

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 the unmarried woman and the virgin thinketh on the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she that is married thinketh on the things of the world, how she may 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.

And this I speak for your profit: not to cast a snare upon you; but for that which is decent, and which may give you power to attend upon the Lord, without impediment.

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.

But if any man think that he seemeth dishonoured, with regard to his virgin, for that she is above the age, and it must so be: let him do what he will; he sinneth not, if she marry.

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.

For he that hath determined being steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but having power of his own will; and hath judged this in his heart, to keep his virgin, doth well.

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

Therefore, both he that giveth his virgin in marriage, doth well; and he that giveth her not, doth 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 woman is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband die, she is at liberty: let her marry to whom she will; only in 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.

But more blessed shall she be, if she so remain, according to my counsel; and I think that I also have the spirit of God.