1 Corinthians 7

1 Now concerning the things you wrote about: it is good for a man not to touch a woman. [a] 2 But because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. [b]

3 Let the husband pay the wife the debt, and likewise also the wife the husband. [c] 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Do not defraud one another, except perhaps by agreement for a season, so that you may be free for prayer, and then be together again — so that Satan may not test you because of your lack of self-control. [d]

6 But I say this as an allowance, not as an order. [e] 7 I wish all people were as I myself am. But each has his own gift of favor from God, one this way, another that. [f]

8 Now I say to the unmarried and to the widows: it is good for them if they remain as I also am. 9 But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn.

10 To the married I give this charge — not I, but the Lord — that a wife is not to be separated from her husband [g] 11 (but if she is indeed separated, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband) — and that a husband is not to leave his wife. [h]

12 But to the rest I say — I, not the Lord — if any brother has a wife without faith, and she consents to live with him, let him not leave her. [i] 13 And if any woman has a husband without faith, and he consents to live with her, let her not leave the husband. 14 For the husband without faith has been made holy in the wife, and the wife without faith has been made holy in the brother; since otherwise your children are unclean, but as it is they are holy. [j]

15 But if the one without faith separates, let him separate. The brother or the sister has not been enslaved in such cases; God has called us in peace. [k] 16 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 Only, as the Lord has apportioned to each, as God has called each — so let him walk. And this is what I direct in all the gatherings. 18 Was anyone called already circumcised? Let him not draw it over. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised. [l] 19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing — but the keeping of God’s commands. 20 Let each remain in the calling in which he was called.

21 Were you called as a slave? Let it not concern you. But if you are indeed able to become free, rather make use of it. [m] 22 For the one called in the Lord as a slave is the Lord’s freedman; likewise the one called as a free man is Christ’s slave. [n] 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 Brothers, let each remain with God in that in which he was called.

25 Now concerning the virgins I have no order from the Lord, but I give an opinion, as one who has been shown mercy by the Lord to be faithful. [o] 26 So I think this is good because of the present necessity — that it is good for a person to be as he is. [p] 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek release. Are you released from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if the virgin marries, she has not sinned. But such people will have affliction in the flesh, and I am sparing you. †

29 This I say, brothers: the time has been drawn short. From now on, let even those who have wives be as though they had none, [q] 30 and those who weep as though not weeping, and those who rejoice as though not rejoicing, and those who buy as though not possessing, 31 and those who use the world as though not using it to the full. For the form of this world is passing away. [r]

32 I want you to be free from anxiety. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; 33 but the married man is anxious about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, 34 and he is divided. And the unmarried woman, and the virgin, is anxious about the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy both in body and in spirit; but the married woman is anxious about the things of the world, how she may please her husband. [s] 35 I say this for your own benefit, not to throw a noose over you, but for what is fitting, and for sitting close beside the Lord without distraction. [t]

36 But if anyone thinks he is behaving improperly toward his virgin, if she is past her prime, and it has to be so, let him do what he wants — he does not sin; let them marry. [u] 37 But the man who stands firm in his heart, having no necessity, and has authority over his own will, and has judged this in his own heart — to keep his own virgin — he will do well. 38 So then the one who gives his own virgin in marriage does well, and the one who does not give her in marriage will do better. [v]

39 A wife is bound for as long a time as her husband lives. But if the husband falls asleep, she is free to be married to whom she wants — only in the Lord. [w] † 40 But she is more blessed if she remains as she is, in my opinion — and I think that I too have God’s Spirit.