1 Corinthians 7

1 Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good to abstain from sexual relations.

1 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

2 But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.

2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.

3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

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

4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

5 Do not deprive each other, except by mutual consent and for a time, so you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again, so that Satan will not tempt you through your lack of self-control.

5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

6 I say this as a concession, not as a command.

6 But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.

7 I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.

7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

8 Now to the unmarried and widows I say this: It is good for them to remain unmarried, as I am.

8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.

9 But if they cannot control themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.

10 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:

11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.

11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

12 To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If a brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.

12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

13 And if a woman has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.

13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his believing wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.

14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let him go. The believing brother or sister is not bound in such cases. God has called you to live in peace.

15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.

16 How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

17 Regardless, each one should lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is what I prescribe in all the churches.

17 But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.

18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man still uncircumcised when called? He should not be circumcised.

18 Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.

19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commandments is what counts.

19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.

20 Each one should remain in the situation he was in when he was called.

20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.

21 Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let it concern you—but if you can gain your freedom, take the opportunity.

21 Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.

22 For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman. Conversely, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave.

22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant.

23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.

23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

24 Brothers, each one should remain in the situation he was in when God called him.

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

25 Now about virgins, I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.

25 Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.

26 Because of the present crisis, I think it is good for a man to remain as he is.

26 I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.

27 Are you committed to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you free of commitment? Do not look for a wife.

27 Art thou bound unto 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 a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.

28 But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.

29 What I am saying, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none;

29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;

30 those who weep, as if they did not; those who are joyful, as if they were not; those who make a purchase, as if they had nothing;

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

31 and those who use the things of this world, as if not dependent on them. For this world in its present form is passing away.

31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

32 I want you to be free from concern. The unmarried man is concerned about the work of the Lord, how he can please the Lord.

32 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:

33 But the married man is concerned about the affairs of this world, how he can please his wife,

33 But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.

34 and his interests are divided. The unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the work of the Lord, how she can be holy in both body and spirit. But the married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world, how she can please her husband.

34 There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

35 I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but in order to promote proper decorum and undivided devotion to the Lord.

35 And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

36 However, if someone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward his betrothed, and if she is beyond her youth and they ought to marry, let him do as he wishes; he is not sinning; they should get married.

36 But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.

37 But the man who is firmly established in his heart and under no constraint, with control over his will and resolve in his heart not to marry the virgin, he will do well.

37 Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.

38 So then, he who marries the virgin does well, but he who does not marry her does even better.

38 So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.

39 A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, as long as he belongs to the Lord.

39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

40 In my judgment, however, she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

40 But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.