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 things about which 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 because of the fornications, let each man have his own wife, and let each 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 to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also 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 does; similarly also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

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 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 these things to you as a concession and not as a command.

Now 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.

(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 To the unmarried and to widows I say that it is good for them if they remain unmarried, 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 exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better for them to marry than to burn with passion.

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

10 Now to the married I give this command—not I, but the Lord—the wife should not separate 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 (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 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 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.

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

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 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 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 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 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 do you know, woman, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, man, whether you will save your 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 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.

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

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

Let each one remain 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.

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

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

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 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 Therefore, I think that because of the disaster that is coming, it is good 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 Are you married to a wife? Do not seek a divorce. If you are unmarried, do not seek a wife.

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 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.

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, brothers: The time is short. From now on, let those who have wives live 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 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 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 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 this world as though not abusing it; because this world's mode 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.

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 the married man is concerned 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 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.

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 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 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 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.

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

So then, he who gives in marriage does well, but he who does not give in marriage does 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 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 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 she is more blessed if she remains as she is, according to my judgment—and I think I also have God's Spirit.