1 Corinthians 7

1Now concerning the matters you wrote about: it is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.

2But because of the temptations to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband.

3The husband should give his wife what he owes her, and likewise the wife her husband.

4The 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.

5Do not deprive each other, except perhaps by mutual agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again, so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

6I say this as a concession, not as a command.

7I wish that all people were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and another of another.

8To the unmarried and to widows I say that it is good for them to remain as I am.

9But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with desire.

10To the married I give this command—not I, but the Lord: a wife is not to separate from her husband—

11but if she does separate, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband—and a husband is not to divorce his wife.

12To the rest I say—I, not the Lord—that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.

13And if any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce her husband.

14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.

15But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not bound. God has called you to peace.

16For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

17Nevertheless, each one should live the life the Lord has assigned to him, as God has called him. This is what I direct in all the churches.

18Was anyone circumcised when he was called? He should not try to undo his circumcision. Was anyone uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised.

19Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing; what matters is keeping the commandments of God.

20Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called.

21Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let it trouble you. But if you are able to become free, make use of the opportunity.

22For the one who was a slave when he was called in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person. Likewise the one who was free when he was called is a slave of Christ.

23You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings.

24Brothers and sisters, each one should remain with God in the condition in which he was called.

25Now concerning virgins, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my opinion as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.

26I think, then, that because of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is.

27Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife.

28But 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 want to spare you that.

29What I mean, brothers and sisters, is this: the time has been shortened. From now on, those who have wives should live as though they had none,

30those who weep as though they were not weeping, those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, those who buy as though they did not own what they bought,

31and those who use the world as though they were not making full use of it. For this world in its present form is passing away.

32I want you to be free from anxious concerns. The unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord.

33But the married man is concerned about the things of the world, how to please his wife,

34and his interests are divided. The unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the things of the Lord, so as to be holy in both body and spirit. But the married woman is concerned about the things of the world, how to please her husband.

35I say this for your own benefit, not to put a restraint on you, but to promote what is fitting and to help you devote yourselves to the Lord without distraction.

36If anyone thinks he is not behaving properly toward his virgin, if she is past the usual age for marriage and it ought to happen, he should do as he wishes; he is not sinning. They should marry.

37But whoever stands firm in his heart, being under no compulsion but having control over his own will, and has decided in his own heart to keep her as his virgin, will do well.

38So then, whoever marries his virgin does well, and whoever does not marry will do better.

39A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to anyone she wishes, only in the Lord.

40Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.