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 question in your letter. It is well for a man to have no intercourse with 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 there is so much immorality let each man have his own wife; and let each women 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 give his wife her due, and likewise the wife her husband. The wife is not mistress of her own person,

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.

but her husband is; and in the same way the husband is not master of his own person, but his wife is.

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 refuse one another, unless it is only temporary and by mutual consent, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again, lest through your lack of self-control Satan begin to tempt you to sin.

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

But what I have just said is by way of concession, not 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 would that every one lived as I do; but each man has his own special gift from God, one this, another that.

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

But to the unmarried, and the widows, I say that it is well for them to remain 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.

If, however, they are not exercising self-control, by all means let them marry; for marriage is better than the fever of passion.

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

But to those already married my commandment is - and not mine, but the Lord’s - that a wife is not to leave 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.

(or if she has already left him let her either remain as she is, or be reconciled to him), and also that a husband is not to 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.

To the rest it is I who am speaking, not the Lord. If any brother has a wife who is not a believer, if he is willing to live with her, let him not send 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 a woman whose husband is not a believer, if he is willing to live with her, let her not separate from 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 consecrated through union with his believing wife; and the unbelieving wife, through union with her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unholy, but now they are consecrated to God.

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 unbelieving partner be determined to leave, separation let it be. In such cases the believing husband or wife is not under bondage. But it is into peace that God has called us.

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.

Only whatever be the lot in life to which God has assigned each one - and whatever the condition in which he was living when God called him- -in that let him continue. Such is the rule I give 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.

So, was any man called, being circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was any man called when he was uncircumcised? 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. Keeping God’s commands in everything.

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

Whatever be the condition of life in which he was called, in that let him continue.

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 in slavery? Let not that trouble you; but if you can become free make use of 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 the slave who has been called in the Lord is the Lord’s freedman; and in the same way, the free man who is called is Christ’s slave.

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

You have been brought with a price; do not become slaves to men.

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

Where each man stood when he was called, there, brothers, let him stay, close to 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.

I have no command from the Lord to give you concerning unmarried women; but I give you my opinion, and it is that of a man who, through the Lord’s mercy, is deserving of your confidence.

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 then, that in view of the time of suffering now imminent, it is best 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 to be free. Are you free from the marriage bond? Do not seek 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.

Yet if you do not marry, you have not done wrong; and if a girl marries, she has not done wrong. Such people, however, will have trouble in worldy affairs, and I wish 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.

Indeed, brothers, the time that remains to us has been shortened; so let those who have wives 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,

let those who weep be as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess,

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 world as though using it sparingly. For the present phase of the world 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.

So I want you to be free from all anxieties. An unmarried man is anxious about the Lord’s business, how he may please the Lord;

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

but a married man is anxious about worldly affairs, how he may please his wife, and he is divided in his mind.

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.

Again, the woman who is widow, or the maid, is anxious about the Lord’s business, how she may be pure in body and in mind; but the married woman is anxious about worldly affairs, 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.

It is in your own interest that I say this; not that I may entangle you in a snare, but that I may help you to serve the Lord with fitting and undistracted service.

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.

If, however, a father feels that he is not treating his virgin daughter in a seemly manner, in leaving her unmarried beyond the flower of her age, and so the matter is urgent, let him do what she desires; he commits no sin. Let the marriage take place.

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.

On the other hand, he who is firm in his purpose and is under no compulsion, but is free to carry out his own wishes, and who has determined to keep his daughter unmarried, 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 he that gives his daughter in marriage is doing right, and he who keeps her unmarried will be doing right, and he who keeps her unmarried will be doing 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 during his lifetime; but if her husband dies, she is free to marry whomever she will, provided it be 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 happier, in my judgment, if she remains as she is; and I think that I, too, have the Spirit of God.