1 Corinthians

The first epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians, chapter 7, New English Translation and King James Version

Chapter 7 New English Translation

Celibacy and Marriage

   1 Now with regard to the issues you wrote about: "It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman." 2 But because of immoralities, each man should have relations with his own wife and each woman with her own husband. 3 A husband should give to his wife her sexual rights, and likewise a wife to her husband. 4 It is not the wife who has the rights to her own body, but the husband. In the same way, it is not the husband who has the rights to his own body, but the wife. 5 Do not deprive each other, except by mutual agreement for a specified time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then resume your relationship, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7 I wish that everyone was as I am. But each has his own gift from God, one this way, another that.
   8 To the unmarried and widows I say that it is best for them to remain as I am. 9 But if they do not have self-control, let them get married. For it is better to marry than to burn with sexual desire.
   10 To the married I give this command - not I, but the LORD - a wife should not divorce a husband 11 (but if she does, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband), and a husband should not divorce his wife.
   12 To the rest I say - I, not the LORD - if a brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is happy to live with him, he should not divorce her. 13 And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is happy to live with her, she should not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified because of the wife, and the unbelieving wife because of her husband. Otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy. 15 But if the unbeliever wants a divorce, let it take place. In these circumstances the brother or sister is not bound. God has called you in peace. 16 For how do you know, wife, whether you will bring your husband to salvation? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will bring your wife to salvation?

The Circumstances of Your Calling

   17 Nevertheless, as the LORD has assigned to each one, as God has called each person, so must he live. I give this sort of direction in all the churches. 18 Was anyone called after he had been circumcised? He should not try to undo his circumcision. Was anyone called who is uncircumcised? He should not get circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Instead, keeping God's commandments is what counts. 20 Let each one remain in that situation in life in which he was called. 21 Were you called as a slave? Do not worry about it. But if indeed you are able to be free, make the most of the opportunity. 22 For the one who was called in the LORD as a slave is the LORD's freedman. In the same way, the one who was called as a free person is Christ's slave. 23 You were bought with a price. Do not become slaves of men. 24 In whatever situation someone was called, brothers and sisters, let him remain in it with God.

Remaining Unmarried

   25 With regard to the question about people who have never married, I have no command from the LORD, but I give my opinion as one shown mercy by the LORD to be trustworthy. 26 Because of the impending crisis I think it best for you to remain as you are. 27 The one bound to a wife should not seek divorce. The one released from a wife should not seek marriage. 28 But if you marry, you have not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face difficult circumstances, and I am trying to spare you such problems. 29 And I say this, brothers and sisters: The time is short. So then those who have wives should be as those who have none, 30 those with tears like those not weeping, those who rejoice like those not rejoicing, those who buy like those without possessions, 31 those who use the world as though they were not using it to the full. For the present shape of this world is passing away.
   32 And I want you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the things of the LORD, how to please the LORD. 33 But a married man is concerned about the things of the world, how to please his wife, 34 and he is divided. An unmarried woman or a virgin is concerned about the things of the LORD, to be holy both in body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the things of the world, how to please her husband. 35 I am saying this for your benefit, not to place a limitation on you, but so that without distraction you may give notable and constant service to the LORD.
   36 If anyone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward his virgin, if she is past the bloom of youth and it seems necessary, he should do what he wishes; he does not sin. Let them marry. 37 But the man who is firm in his commitment, and is under no necessity but has control over his will, and has decided in his own mind to keep his own virgin, does well. 38 So then, the one who marries his own virgin does well, but the one who does not, does better.
   39 A wife is bound as long as her husband is living. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes (only someone in the LORD). 40 But in my opinion, she will be happier if she remains as she is - and I think that I too have the Spirit of God!

King James Version

   1 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto 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.
   3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the 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.
   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 But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.
   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 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
   9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
   10 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart 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.
   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 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 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 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 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 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 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, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
   20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.
   21 Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.
   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 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
   24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.
   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 I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.
   27 Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not 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.
   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 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 they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth 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:
   33 But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, 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.
   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 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 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 that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth 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.
   40 But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.