1 Corinthians 7

1Now concerning what you wrote, not to touch a woman is good for a man.

2But because of fornications, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.

3Let the husband give his wife her due, and likewise the wife her husband.

4The wife does not exercise authority over her own body, but the husband; likewise also the husband does not exercise authority over his own body, but the wife.

5Do not deprive each other, unless by mutual consent for a season, so you may devote yourselves to prayer and reunite, lest Satan tempt you through your lack of self-control.

6But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment.

7Yet I wish all people were even as I myself am, but each has his own gift from God—one this way, another that.

8But I say to the unmarried and widows, it is good for them if they remain as I also.

9But if they do not control themselves, let them marry, for it is better to marry than to burn.

10To the married I command—not I, but the Lord—that a wife not separate from her husband.

11But if she separates, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband, and let no husband forsake his wife.

12But to the rest I say—not the Lord—if any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she consents to dwell with him, let him not forsake her.

13And if any wife has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to dwell with her, let her not leave her husband.

14For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through the wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through the brother; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.

15But if the unbeliever separates, let that one separate; the brother or sister is not enslaved in such circumstances, but God has called us to peace.

16For how can you tell, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how can you tell, husband, whether you will save your wife?

17Only as the Lord has assigned to each, as God has called each, so let him live. And so I direct in all the churches.

18Was anyone called circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised.

19Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping God's commandments.

20Let each one remain in the calling in which he was called.

21Were you called a slave? Do not let it concern you, but even if you can become free, use it all the more.

22For the one called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord's freedman; likewise the one called while free is Christ's slave.

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

24Brothers, let each one remain with God in whatever he was called.

25Concerning virgins, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one shown mercy by the Lord to be faithful.

26Therefore I think it good to remain as one is because of the present distress—that it is good for a person to be that way.

27Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek release. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife.

28But even if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have distress in the flesh, but I am sparing you.

29But brothers, I tell you this: the time is short, so from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none.

30And those who weep, as if they were not weeping; and those who rejoice, as if they were not rejoicing; and those who buy, as if they were not possessing.

31and those who use the world as not misusing it, for the form of this world is passing away.

32But I want you to be free from anxiety. The unmarried man cares for the Lord's matters—how to please the Lord.

33But the married man cares for the things of the world, how he may please his wife.

34And she is divided. The unmarried woman and the virgin care for the Lord's concerns, that she may be holy both in body and spirit, but she who has married cares for the world's concerns, how she may please her husband.

35But I say this for your own advantage, not that I might throw a snare upon you, but for what is honorable and devoted attendance to the Lord without distraction.

36But if anyone thinks he is acting dishonorably toward his virgin, if she is past her prime and it so requires, let him do what he desires; he does not sin—let them marry.

37But he who stands firm in his heart, steadfast, without constraint but with authority concerning his own will, and has resolved this in his own heart—to keep his own virgin—does well.

38So then both he who marries his own virgin acts honorably, and he who does not marry her will act better.

39A wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if he dies, she is free to marry whomever she chooses, only in the Lord.

40But she is happier if she remains so, according to my judgment, and I think that I too have God's Spirit.