1 Corinthians 7

Paul addresses questions about marriage, teaching that each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband, and that the married should not seek to be loosed. He counsels the unmarried and widows that it is good to remain single as he is, but if they cannot exercise self-control, it is better to marry than to burn.

v	King James Version	Modern English
1	Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.	Now concerning the things you wrote to me: it is good for a man not to touch a woman.
2	Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.	But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.
3	Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.	The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband.
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.	The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise, the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.
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.	Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again, so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
6	But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.	I say this as a concession, not as a command.
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.	I wish that all men were as I am. But each person has his own gift from God — one of one kind and one of another.
8	I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.	To the unmarried and to widows I say: it is good for them to remain unmarried, as I am.
9	But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.	But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. It is better to marry than to burn with passion.
10	And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:	To the married I give this charge — not I, but the Lord — a wife must not separate from her husband.
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.	But if she does separate, she must either remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
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.	To the rest I say — I, not the Lord — if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever and she is willing to live with Him, He must not divorce her.
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.	And if a woman has a husband who is an unbeliever and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.
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.	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 as it is, they are holy.
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.	But if the unbeliever leaves, let them leave. The brother or sister is not bound in such circumstances. God has called us to live in peace.
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?	How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
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.	Each person should live the life the Lord has assigned to Him and to which God has called Him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.
18	Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.	Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not seek to become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised.
19	Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.	Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. What matters is keeping the commandments of God.
20	Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.	Each person should remain in the condition in which he was called.
21	Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.	Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let it trouble you — although if you can gain your freedom, do so.
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.	For the one who was a slave when called in the Lord is the Lord's free man. Likewise, the one who was free when called is Christ's slave.
23	Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.	You were bought with a price; do not become servants of men.
24	Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.	Brothers, each person should remain with God in the condition in which He was called.
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.	Now concerning virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy.
26	I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.	I think that in view of the present distress, it is good for a man to remain as he is.
27	Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.	Are You bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are You free from a wife? Do not seek a wife.
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.	But if You do marry, You have not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare You that.
29	But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;	What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on, those who have wives should live as if they had none;
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;	those who mourn, as if they did not mourn; those who rejoice, as if they did not rejoice; those who buy, as if they did not own anything;
31	And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.	those who make use of the world, as if they did not make full use of it. For the present form of this world is passing away.
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:	I want You to be free from anxiety. The unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord — how He may please the Lord.
33	But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.	But the married man is concerned about worldly things — how He may please his wife—
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.	and His interests are divided. The unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the things of the Lord, to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is concerned about worldly things — how she may please her husband.
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.	I am saying this for Your own benefit, not to put any restriction on You, but to promote what is right and to help You give Your undivided attention to the Lord.
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.	If any man thinks He is behaving improperly toward His virgin, if she is past the flower of her age, and need so requires, let Him do as He will — he does not sin: let them marry.
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.	But the man who stands firm in his resolve — who is under no compulsion but has control over his own desire and has made up his mind to keep her as his fiancée — does well.
38	So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.	So then, he who marries his fiancée does well, and he who does not marry does even better.
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.	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, but only in the Lord.
40	But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.	In my judgment, she is happier if she remains unmarried. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.