1 Corinthians 7

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

1Now, as to the things in your letter to me: It is good for a man to have nothing to do with a woman.

1And concerning the things of which ye wrote to me: good <FI>it is<Fi> for a man not to touch a woman,

2But for fear of fornication, let every man have his own wife: and let every woman have her own husband.

2But because of the desires of the flesh, let every man have his wife, and every woman her husband.

2and because of the whoredom let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her proper husband;

3Let the husband render the debt to his wife: and the wife also in like manner to the husband.

3Let the husband give to the wife what is right; and let the wife do the same to the husband.

3to the wife let the husband the due benevolence render, and in like manner also the wife to the husband;

4The wife hath not power of her own body: but the husband. And in like manner the husband also hath not power of his own body: but the wife.

4The wife has not power over her body, but the husband; and in the same way the husband has not power over his body, but the wife.

4the 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.

5Defraud not one another, except, perhaps, by consent, for a time, that you may give yourselves to prayer: and return together again, lest Satan tempt you for your incontinency.

5Do not keep back from one another what is right, but only for a short time, and by agreement, so that you may give yourselves to prayer, and come together again; so that Satan may not get the better of you through your loss of self-control.

5Defraud 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;

6But I speak this by indulgence, not by commandment.

6But this I say as my opinion, and not as an order of the Lord.

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

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

7It is my desire that all men might be even as I am. But every man has the power of his special way of life given him by God, one in this way and one in that.

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

8But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they so continue, even as I.

8But I say to the unmarried and to the widows, It is good for them to be even as I am.

8And I say to the unmarried and to the widows: it is good for them if they may remain even as I <FI>am<Fi> ;

9But if they do not contain themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to be burnt.

9But if they have not self-control let them get married; for married life is better than the burning of desire.

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

10But to them that are married, not I, but the Lord, commandeth that the wife depart not from her husband.

10But to the married I give orders, though not I but the Lord, that the wife may not go away from her husband

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

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

11(Or if she goes away from him, let her keep unmarried, or be united to her husband again); and that the husband may not go away from his wife.

11but 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.

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

12But to the rest I say, and not the Lord; If a brother has a wife who is not a Christian, and it is her desire to go on living with him, let him not go away from her.

12And 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;

13And if any woman hath a husband that believeth not and he consent to dwell with her: let her not put away her husband.

13And if a woman has a husband who is not a Christian, and it is his desire to go on living with her, let her not go away from her husband.

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

14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the believing wife: and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the believing husband. Otherwise your children should be unclean: but now they are holy.

14For the husband who has not faith is made holy through his Christian wife, and the wife who is not a Christian is made holy through the brother: if not, your children would be unholy, but now are they holy.

14for 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.

15But if the unbeliever depart, let him depart. For a brother or sister is not under servitude in such cases. But God hath called us in peace.

15But if the one who is not a Christian has a desire to go away, let it be so: the brother or the sister in such a position is not forced to do one thing or the other: but it is God's pleasure that we may be at peace with one another.

15And, if the unbelieving doth separate himself--let him separate himself: the brother or the sister is not under servitude in such <FI>cases<Fi> , and in peace hath God called us;

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

16For how may you be certain, O wife, that you will not be the cause of salvation to your husband? or you, O husband, that you may not do the same for your wife?

16for 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?

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

17Only, as the Lord has given to a man, and as is the purpose of God for him, so let him go on living. And these are my orders for all the churches.

17if 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:

18Is any man called, being circumcised? Let him not procure uncircumcision. Is any man called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised.

18If any man who is a Christian has had circumcision, let him keep so; and if any man who is a Christian has not had circumcision, let him make no change.

18being circumcised--was any one called? let him not become uncircumcised; in uncircumcision was any one called? let him not be circumcised;

19Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing: but the observance of the commandments of God.

19Circumcision is nothing, and its opposite is nothing, but only doing the orders of God is of value.

19the circumcision is nothing, and the uncircumcision is nothing--but a keeping of the commands of God.

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

20Let every man keep the position in which he has been placed by God.

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

21Wast thou called, being a bondman? Care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.

21If you were a servant when you became a Christian, let it not be a grief to you; but if you have a chance to become free, make use of it.

21a servant--wast thou called? be not anxious; but if also thou art able to become free--use <FI>it<Fi> rather;

22For he that is called in the Lord, being a bondman, is the freeman of the Lord. Likewise he that is called, being free, is the bondman of Christ.

22For he who was a servant when he became a Christian is the Lord's free man; and he who was free when he became a Christian is the Lord's servant.

22for he who <FI>is<Fi> 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:

23You are bought with a price: be not made the bondslaves of men.

23It is the Lord who has made payment for you: be not servants of men.

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

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

24My brothers, let every man keep in that condition which is the purpose of God for him.

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

25Now, concerning virgins, I have no commandment of the Lord: but I give counsel, as having obtained mercy of the Lord, to be faithful.

25Now about virgins I have no orders from the Lord: but I give my opinion as one to whom the Lord has given mercy to be true to him.

25And 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:

26I think therefore that this is good for the present necessity: that it is good for a man so to be.

26In my opinion then, because of the present trouble, it is good for a man to keep as he is.

26I suppose, therefore, this to be good because of the present necessity, that <FI>it is<Fi> good for a man that the matter be thus: --

27Art thou bound to a wife? Seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? Seek not a wife.

27If you are married to a wife, make no attempt to get free from her: if you are free from a wife, do not take a wife.

27Hast thou been bound to a wife? seek not to be loosed; hast thou been loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

28But if thou take a wife, thou hast not sinned. And if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned: nevertheless, such shall have tribulation of the flesh. But I spare you.

28If you get married it is not a sin; and if an unmarried woman gets married it is not a sin. But those who do so will have trouble in the flesh. But I will not be hard on you.

28But 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.

29This therefore I say, brethren: The time is short. It remaineth, that they also who have wives be as if they had none:

29But I say this, my brothers, the time is short; and from now it will be wise for those who have wives to be as if they had them not;

29And this I say, brethren, the time henceforth is having been shortened--that both those having wives may be as not having;

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

30And for those who are in sorrow, to give no signs of it; and for those who are glad, to give no signs of joy; and for those who are getting property, to be as if they had nothing;

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

31And they that use this world, as if they used it not. For the fashion of this world passeth away.

31And for those who make use of the world, not to be using it fully; for this world's way of life will quickly come to an end.

31and those using this world, as not using <FI>it<Fi> up; for passing away is the fashion of this world.

32But I would have you to be without solicitude. He that is without a wife is solicitous for the things that belong to the Lord: how he may please God.

32But it is my desire for you to be free from cares. The unmarried man gives his mind to the things of the Lord, how he may give pleasure to the Lord:

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

33But he that is with a wife is solicitous for the things of the world: how he may please his wife. And he is divided.

33But the married man gives his attention to the things of this world, how he may give pleasure to his wife.

33and the married is anxious for the things of the world, how he shall please the wife.

34And the unmarried woman and the virgin thinketh on the things of the Lord: that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she that is married thinketh on the things of the world: how she may please her husband.

34And the wife is not the same as the virgin. The virgin gives her mind to the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy in body and in spirit: but the married woman takes thought for the things of the world, how she may give pleasure to her husband.

34The 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.

35And this I speak for your profit, not to cast a snare upon you, but for that which is decent and which may give you power to attend upon the Lord, without impediment.

35Now I say this for your profit; not to make things hard for you, but because of what is right, and so that you may be able to give all your attention to the things of the Lord.

35And 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,

36But if any man think that he seemeth dishonoured with regard to his virgin, for that she is above the age, and it must so be: let him do what he will. He sinneth not if she marry.

36But if, in any man's opinion, he is not doing what is right for his virgin, if she is past her best years, and there is need for it, let him do what seems right to him; it is no sin; let them be married.

36and if any one doth think <FI>it<Fi> 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.

37For he that hath determined, being steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but having power of his own will: and hath judged this in his heart, to keep his virgin, doth well.

37But the man who is strong in mind and purpose, who is not forced but has control over his desires, does well if he comes to the decision to keep her a virgin.

37And 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;

38Therefore both he that giveth his virgin in marriage doth well: and he that giveth her not doth better.

38So then, he who gets married to his virgin does well, and he who keeps her unmarried does better.

38so that both he who is giving in marriage doth well, and he who is not giving in marriage doth better.

39A woman is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth: but if her husband die, she is at liberty. Let her marry to whom she will: only in the Lord.

39It is right for a wife to be with her husband as long as he is living; but when her husband is dead, she is free to be married to another; but only to a Christian.

39A 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;

40But more blessed shall she be, if she so remain, according to my counsel. And I think that I also have the spirit of God.

40But it will be better for her to keep as she is, in my opinion: and it seems to me that I have the Spirit of God.

40and she is happier if she may so remain--according to my judgment; and I think I also have the Spirit of God.