1 Corinthians 7

1 And concerning the things of which ye wrote to me: good [it is] 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 and because of the whoredom let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her proper husband;

but because there is so much immorality let each man have his own wife; and let each women have her own husband.

3 to the wife let the husband the due benevolence render, and in like manner also the wife to the 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 the wife over her own body hath not authority, but the husband; and, in like manner also, the husband over his own body hath not authority, but the wife.

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

5 Defraud not one another, except by consent for a time, that ye may be free for fasting and prayer, and again may come together, that the Adversary may not tempt you because of your incontinence;

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 and this I say by way of concurrence — not of command,

But what I have just said is by way of concession, not command.

7 for I wish all men to be even as I myself [am]; but each his own gift hath of God, one indeed thus, and one thus.

I would that every one lived as I do; but each man has his own special gift from God, one this, another that.

8 And I say to the unmarried and to the widows: it is good for them if they may remain even as I [am];

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

9 and if they have not continence — let them marry, for it is better to marry than to burn;

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

10 and to the married I announce — not I, but the Lord — let not a wife separate from a 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 and if she may separate, let her remain unmarried, or to the husband let her be reconciled, and let not a husband send away a 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 And to the rest I speak — not the Lord — if any brother hath a wife unbelieving, and she is pleased to dwell with him, let him not send her away;

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 and a woman who hath a husband unbelieving, and he is pleased to dwell with her, let her not send him away;

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 hath been sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife hath been sanctified in the husband; otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy.

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 And, if the unbelieving doth separate himself — let him separate himself: the brother or the sister is not under servitude in such [cases], and in peace hath God called us;

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 what, hast thou known, O wife, whether the husband thou shalt save? or what, hast thou known, O husband, whether the wife thou shalt save?

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 if not, as God did distribute to each, as the Lord hath called each — so let him walk; and thus in all the assemblies do I direct:

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 being circumcised — was any one called? let him not become uncircumcised; in uncircumcision was any one called? let him 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 the circumcision is nothing, and the uncircumcision is nothing — but a keeping of the commands of God.

Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands in everything.

20 Each in the calling in which he was called — in this let him remain;

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

21 a servant — wast thou called? be not anxious; but if also thou art able to become free — use [it] rather;

Were you called in slavery? Let not that trouble you; but if you can become free make use of the opportunity.

22 for he who [is] in the Lord — having been called a servant — is the Lord's freedman: in like manner also he the freeman, having been called, is servant of Christ:

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 with a price ye were bought, become not servants of men;

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

24 each, in that in which he was called, brethren, in this let him remain with God.

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

25 And concerning the virgins, a command of the Lord I have not; and I give judgment as having obtained kindness from the Lord to be faithful:

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 I suppose, therefore, this to be good because of the present necessity, that [it is] good for a man that the matter be thus: —

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 Hast thou been bound to a wife? seek not to be loosed; hast thou been loosed from a wife? seek not 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 and if thou mayest marry, thou didst not sin; and if the virgin may marry, she did not sin; and such shall have tribulation in the flesh: and I spare you.

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 And this I say, brethren, the time henceforth is having been shortened — that both those having wives may be as not having;

Indeed, brothers, the time that remains to us has been shortened; so let those who have wives live as if they had none,

30 and those weeping, as not weeping; and those rejoicing, as not rejoicing; and those buying, as not possessing;

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 using this world, as not using [it] up; for passing away is the fashion of this world.

and those who use the world as though using it sparingly. For the present phase of the world is passing away.

32 And I wish you to be without anxiety; the unmarried is anxious for the things of the Lord, how he shall please the Lord;

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 and the married is anxious for the things of the world, how he shall please the wife.

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

34 The wife and the virgin have been distinguished: the unmarried is anxious for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit, and the married is anxious for the things of the world, how she shall please the 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 And this for your own profit I say: not that I may cast a noose upon you, but for the seemliness and devotedness to the Lord, undistractedly,

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 and if any one doth think [it] to be unseemly to his virgin, if she may be beyond the bloom of age, and it ought so to be, what he willeth let him do; he doth not sin — let him 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 And he who hath stood stedfast in the heart — not having necessity — and hath authority over his own will, and this he hath determined in his heart — to keep his own virgin — doth 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 that both he who is giving in marriage doth well, and he who is not giving in marriage doth 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 wife hath been bound by law as long time as her husband may live, and if her husband may sleep, she is free to be married to whom she will — 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 and she is happier if she may so remain — according to my judgment; and I think 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.