7:1 Now concerning the matters about which you wrote. It is well for a man not to touch a woman.
7:1 Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: "It is well for a man not to touch a woman."

7:2 But because of the temptation to immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.
7:2 But because of cases of sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.

7:3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband.
7:3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband.

7:4 For the wife does not rule over her own body, but the husband does; likewise the husband does not rule over his own body, but the wife does.
7:4 For 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.

7:5 Do not refuse one another except perhaps by agreement for a season, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, lest Satan tempt you through lack of self-control.
7:5 Do not deprive one another except perhaps by agreement for a set time, to devote yourselves to prayer, and then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

7:6 I say this by way of concession, not of command.
7:6 This I say by way of concession, not of command.

7:7 I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own special gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.
7:7 I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has a particular gift from God, one having one kind and another a different kind.

7:8 To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is well for them to remain single as I do.
7:8 To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is well for them to remain unmarried as I am.

7:9 But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to be aflame with passion.
7:9 But if they are not practicing self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to be aflame with passion.

7:10 To the married I give charge, not I but the Lord, that the wife should not separate from her husband
7:10 To the married I give this command--not I but the Lord--that the wife should not separate from her husband

7:11 (but if she does, let her remain single or else be reconciled to her husband) -- and that the husband should not divorce his wife.
7:11 (but if she does separate, let her remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband should not divorce his wife.

7:12 To the rest I say, not the Lord, that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her.
7:12 To the rest I say--I and not the Lord--that if any believer has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her.

7:13 If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him.
7:13 And if any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him.

7:14 For the unbelieving husband is consecrated through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is consecrated through her husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean, but as it is they are holy.
7:14 For the unbelieving husband is made holy through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy through her husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.

7:15 But if the unbelieving partner desires to separate, let it be so; in such a case the brother or sister is not bound. For God has called us to peace.
7:15 But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so; in such a case the brother or sister is not bound. It is to peace that God has called you.

7:16 Wife, how do you know whether you will save your husband? Husband, how do you know whether you will save your wife?
7:16 Wife, for all you know, you might save your husband. Husband, for all you know, you might save your wife.

7:17 Only, let every one lead the life which the Lord has assigned to him, and in which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.
7:17 However that may be, let each of you lead the life that the Lord has assigned, to which God called you. This is my rule in all the churches.

7:18 Was any one at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was any one at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision.
7:18 Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision.

7:19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.
7:19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but obeying the commandments of God is everything.

7:20 Every one should remain in the state in which he was called.
7:20 Let each of you remain in the condition in which you were called.

7:21 Were you a slave when called? Never mind. But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.
7:21 Were you a slave when called? Do not be concerned about it. Even if you can gain your freedom, make use of your present condition now more than ever.

7:22 For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a slave of Christ.
7:22 For whoever was called in the Lord as a slave is a freed person belonging to the Lord, just as whoever was free when called is a slave of Christ.

7:23 You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men.
7:23 You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of human masters.

7:24 So, brethren, in whatever state each was called, there let him remain with God.
7:24 In whatever condition you were called, brothers and sisters, there remain with God.

7:25 Now concerning the unmarried, I have no command of the Lord, but I give my opinion as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy.
7:25 Now concerning virgins, I have no command of the Lord, but I give my opinion as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy.

7:26 I think that in view of the present distress it is well for a person to remain as he is.
7:26 I think that, in view of the impending crisis, it is well for you to remain as you are.

7:27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek marriage.
7:27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife.

7:28 But if you marry, you do not sin, and if a girl marries she does not sin. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that.
7:28 But if you marry, you do not sin, and if a virgin marries, she does not sin. Yet those who marry will experience distress in this life, and I would spare you that.

7:29 I mean, brethren, the appointed time has grown very short; from now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none,
7:29 I mean, brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short; from now on, let even those who have wives be as though they had none,

7:30 and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods,
7:30 and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no possessions,

7:31 and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the form of this world is passing away.
7:31 and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.

7:32 I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to please the Lord;
7:32 I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to please the Lord;

7:33 but the married man is anxious about worldly affairs, how to please his wife,
7:33 but the married man is anxious about the affairs of the world, how to please his wife,

7:34 and his interests are divided. And the unmarried woman or girl is anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit; but the married woman is anxious about worldly affairs, how to please her husband.
7:34 and his interests are divided. And the unmarried woman and the virgin are anxious about the affairs of the Lord, so that they may be holy in body and spirit; but the married woman is anxious about the affairs of the world, how to please her husband.

7:35 I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.
7:35 I say this for your own benefit, not to put any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and unhindered devotion to the Lord.

7:36 If any one thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed, if his passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry -- it is no sin.
7:36 If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his fiancee, if his passions are strong, and so it has to be, let him marry as he wishes; it is no sin. Let them marry.

7:37 But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well.
7:37 But if someone stands firm in his resolve, being under no necessity but having his own desire under control, and has determined in his own mind to keep her as his fiancee, he will do well.

7:38 So that he who marries his betrothed does well; and he who refrains from marriage will do better.
7:38 So then, he who marries his fiancee does well; and he who refrains from marriage will do better.

7:39 A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. If the husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.
7:39 A wife is bound as long as her husband lives. But if the husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, only in the Lord.

7:40 But in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I have the Spirit of God.
7:40 But in my judgment she is more blessed if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.