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 things about which you wrote: it is good for a man not to touch 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 of sexual immoralities, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman 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 fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband.

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.

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

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 deprive one another, unless it is by consent for a season, that you may give yourselves to prayer, and may be together again, that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

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

But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment.

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.

Yet I wish that all people were like me. However each one has his own gift from God, one of this kind, and another of that kind.

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

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

But if they do not have self-control, let them marry. For it's better to marry than to burn.

10 and to the married I announce — not I, but the Lord — let not a wife separate from a husband:

But to the married I command—not I, but the Lord—that the wife not 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.

(but if she departs, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband not leave 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;

But to the rest I—not the Lord—say, if any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she is content to live with him, let him not leave her.

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

The woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he is content to live with her, let her not leave her husband.

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 sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the brother. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.

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;

Yet if the unbeliever departs, let there be separation. The brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called you to peace.

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, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, so let him walk. So I command 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;

Was anyone called having been circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? 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, but the keeping of the commandments of God.

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

Let each person stay in that calling in which he was called.

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

Were you called being a slave? Do not let that bother you, but if you get an opportunity to become free, use it.

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 he who was called in the Lord being a slave is the Lord's free person. Likewise he who was called being free is Christ's slave.

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

You were bought with a price. Do not become slaves of people.

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

Brothers, let each one, in whatever condition he was called, stay in that condition with 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:

Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who has obtained mercy from the Lord to be trustworthy.

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 that it is good therefore, because of the distress that is on us, that it is good for a person 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 freed. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek 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.

But if you marry, you have not sinned. If a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have oppression in the flesh, and I want 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;

But I say this, brothers: the time is short, that from now on, those who have wives should be as though they had none;

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

and those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and 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 not using it to the fullest. For the form of this 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;

But I desire to have you to be free from cares. He who is unmarried is concerned for the things of the Lord, 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 he who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife,

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.

and is divided. And the woman that is unmarried, or a virgin, is concerned about the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But the one that is married is concerned about the things of the world, 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,

This I say for your own profit; not that I may ensnare you, but for that which is appropriate, and that you may attend to the Lord without distraction.

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.

But if anyone thinks that he is behaving inappropriately toward his virgin, if she is past the flower of her age, and if need so requires, let him do what he desires. He does not sin. Let them marry.

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;

But he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own heart, to keep his own virgin, 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 then both he who gives his own virgin in marriage does well, and he who does not give her in marriage does 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 as long as he lives; but if the husband is dead, she is free to be married to whomever she desires, only 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 if she stays as she is, in my judgment, and I think that I also have God's Spirit.