1 Corinthians 7

Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 Ref And concerning the things of which ye wrote to me: good `it is' for a man not to touch a woman,

2 Ref and because of the whoredom let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her proper husband;

3 Ref to the wife let the husband the due benevolence render, and in like manner also the wife to the husband;

4 Ref the wife over her own body hath not authority, but the husband; and, in like manner also, the husband over his own body hath not authority, but the wife.

5 Ref Defraud not one another, except by consent for a time, that ye may be free for fasting and prayer, and again may come together, that the Adversary may not tempt you because of your incontinence;

6 Ref and this I say by way of concurrence -- not of command,

7 Ref for I wish all men to be even as I myself `am'; but each his own gift hath of God, one indeed thus, and one thus.

8 Ref And I say to the unmarried and to the widows: it is good for them if they may remain even as I `am';

9 Ref and if they have not continence -- let them marry, for it is better to marry than to burn;

10 Ref and to the married I announce -- not I, but the Lord -- let not a wife separate from a husband:

11 Ref but and if she may separate, let her remain unmarried, or to the husband let her be reconciled, and let not a husband send away a wife.

12 Ref And to the rest I speak -- not the Lord -- if any brother hath a wife unbelieving, and she is pleased to dwell with him, let him not send her away;

13 and a woman who hath a husband unbelieving, and he is pleased to dwell with her, let her not send him away;

14 Ref for the unbelieving husband hath been sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife hath been sanctified in the husband; otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy.

15 Ref And, if the unbelieving doth separate himself -- let him separate himself: the brother or the sister is not under servitude in such `cases', and in peace hath God called us;

16 Ref for what, hast thou known, O wife, whether the husband thou shalt save? or what, hast thou known, O husband, whether the wife thou shalt save?

17 Ref if not, as God did distribute to each, as the Lord hath called each -- so let him walk; and thus in all the assemblies do I direct:

18 Ref being circumcised -- was any one called? let him not become uncircumcised; in uncircumcision was any one called? let him not be circumcised;

19 Ref the circumcision is nothing, and the uncircumcision is nothing -- but a keeping of the commands of God.

20 Ref Each in the calling in which he was called -- in this let him remain;

21 Ref a servant -- wast thou called? be not anxious; but if also thou art able to become free -- use `it' rather;

22 Ref for he who `is' in the Lord -- having been called a servant -- is the Lord's freedman: in like manner also he the freeman, having been called, is servant of Christ:

23 Ref with a price ye were bought, become not servants of men;

24 Ref each, in that in which he was called, brethren, in this let him remain with God.

25 Ref And concerning the virgins, a command of the Lord I have not; and I give judgment as having obtained kindness from the Lord to be faithful:

26 Ref I suppose, therefore, this to be good because of the present necessity, that `it is' good for a man that the matter be thus: --

27 Ref Hast thou been bound to a wife? seek not to be loosed; hast thou been loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

28 Ref But and if thou mayest marry, thou didst not sin; and if the virgin may marry, she did not sin; and such shall have tribulation in the flesh: and I spare you.

29 Ref And this I say, brethren, the time henceforth is having been shortened -- that both those having wives may be as not having;

30 Ref and those weeping, as not weeping; and those rejoicing, as not rejoicing; and those buying, as not possessing;

31 Ref and those using this world, as not using `it' up; for passing away is the fashion of this world.

32 Ref And I wish you to be without anxiety; the unmarried is anxious for the things of the Lord, how he shall please the Lord;

33 Ref and the married is anxious for the things of the world, how he shall please the wife.

34 Ref The wife and the virgin have been distinguished: the unmarried is anxious for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit, and the married is anxious for the things of the world, how she shall please the husband.

35 Ref And this for your own profit I say: not that I may cast a noose upon you, but for the seemliness and devotedness to the Lord, undistractedly,

36 and if any one doth think `it' to be unseemly to his virgin, if she may be beyond the bloom of age, and it ought so to be, what he willeth let him do; he doth not sin -- let him marry.

37 And he who hath stood stedfast in the heart -- not having necessity -- and hath authority over his own will, and this he hath determined in his heart -- to keep his own virgin -- doth well;

38 Ref so that both he who is giving in marriage doth well, and he who is not giving in marriage doth better.

39 Ref A wife hath been bound by law as long time as her husband may live, and if her husband may sleep, she is free to be married to whom she will -- only in the Lord;

40 Ref and she is happier if she may so remain -- according to my judgment; and I think I also have the Spirit of God.

American Standard-ASV1901 (ASV)

1 Ref Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

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

3 Ref Let the husband render unto the wife her due: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

4 Ref The wife hath not power over her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power over his own body, but the wife.

5 Ref Defraud ye not one the other, except it be by consent for a season, that ye may give yourselves unto prayer, and may be together again, that Satan tempt you not because of your incontinency.

6 Ref But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment.

7 Ref Yet I would that all men were even as I myself. Howbeit each man hath his own gift from God, one after this manner, and another after that.

8 Ref But I say to the unmarried and to widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.

9 Ref But if they have not continency, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

10 Ref But unto the married I give charge, `yea' not I, but the Lord, That the wife depart not from her husband

11 Ref (but should she depart, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband); and that the husband leave not his wife.

12 Ref But to the rest say I, not the Lord: If any brother hath an unbelieving wife, and she is content to dwell with him, let him not leave her.

13 And the woman that hath an unbelieving husband, and he is content to dwell with her, let her not leave her husband.

14 Ref For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the brother: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

15 Ref Yet if the unbelieving departeth, let him depart: the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such `cases': but God hath called us in peace.

16 Ref For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? Or how knowest thou, O husband, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

17 Ref Only, as the Lord hath distributed to each man, as God hath called each, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all the churches.

18 Ref Was any man called being circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Hath any been called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised.

19 Ref Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but the keeping of the commandments of God.

20 Ref Let each man abide in that calling wherein he was called.

21 Ref Wast thou called being a bondservant? Care not for it: nay, even if thou canst become free, use `it' rather.

22 Ref For he that was called in the Lord being a bondservant, is the Lord's freedman: likewise he that was called being free, is Christ's bondservant.

23 Ref Ye were bought with a price; become not bondservants of men.

24 Ref Brethren, let each man, wherein he was called, therein abide with God.

25 Ref Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: but I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be trustworthy.

26 Ref I think therefore that this is good by reason of the distress that is upon us, `namely,' that it is good for a man to be as he is.

27 Ref Art thou bound unto a wife? Seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? Seek not a wife.

28 Ref But shouldest thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Yet such shall have tribulation in the flesh: and I would spare you.

29 Ref But this I say, brethren, the time is shortened, that henceforth both those that have wives may be as though they had none;

30 Ref and those that weep, as though they wept not; and those that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and those that buy, as though they possessed not;

31 Ref and those that use the world, as not using it to the full: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

32 Ref But I would have you to be free from cares. He that is unmarried is careful for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord:

33 Ref but he that is married is careful for the things of the world, how he may please his wife,

34 Ref and is divided. `So' also the woman that is unmarried and the virgin is careful for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married is careful for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

35 Ref And this I say for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is seemly, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

36 But if any man thinketh that he behaveth himself unseemly toward his virgin `daughter', if she be past the flower of her age, and if need so requireth, let him do what he will; he sinneth not; let them marry.

37 But he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power as touching in his own heart, to keep his own virgin `daughter', shall do well.

38 Ref So then both he that giveth his own virgin `daughter' in marriage doeth well; and he that giveth her not in marriage shall do better.

39 Ref A wife is bound for so long time as her husband liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is free to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

40 Ref But she is happier if she abide as she is, after my judgment: and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.

World English Bible (WEB)

1 Ref Now concerning the things about which you wrote to me: it is good for a man not to touch a woman.

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

3 Ref Let the husband render to his wife the affection owed her, and likewise also the wife to her husband.

4 Ref The wife doesn't have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise also the husband doesn't have authority over his own body, but the wife.

5 Ref Don't deprive one another, unless it is by consent for a season, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer, and may be together again, that Satan doesn't tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

6 Ref But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment.

7 Ref Yet I wish that all men were like me. However each man has his own gift from God, one of this kind, and another of that kind.

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

9 Ref But if they don't have self-control, let them marry. For it's better to marry than to burn.

10 Ref But to the married I command--not I, but the Lord--that the wife not leave her husband

11 Ref (but if she departs, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband not leave his wife.

12 Ref But to the rest I--not the Lord--say, if any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she is content to live with him, let him not leave her.

13 The woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he is content to live with her, let her not leave her husband.

14 Ref For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now are they holy.

15 Ref Yet if the unbeliever departs, let there be separation. The brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us in peace.

16 Ref 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 Ref Only, as the Lord has distributed to each man, as God has called each, so let him walk. So I command in all the assemblies.

18 Ref Was anyone called having been circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised.

19 Ref Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.

20 Ref Let each man stay in that calling in which he was called.

21 Ref Were you called being a bondservant? Don't let that bother you, but if you get an opportunity to become free, use it.

22 Ref For he who was called in the Lord being a bondservant is the Lord's free man. Likewise he who was called being free is Christ's bondservant.

23 Ref You were bought with a price. Don't become bondservants of men.

24 Ref Brothers, let each man, in whatever condition he was called, stay in that condition with God.

25 Ref Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who has obtained mercy from the Lord to be trustworthy.

26 Ref I think that it is good therefore, because of the distress that is on us, that it is good for a man to be as he is.

27 Ref Are you bound to a wife? Don't seek to be freed. Are you free from a wife? Don't seek a wife.

28 Ref But if you marry, you have not sinned. If a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have oppression in the flesh, and I want to spare you.

29 Ref But I say this, brothers: the time is short, that from now on, both those who have wives may be as though they had none;

30 Ref and those who weep, as though they didn't weep; and those who rejoice, as though they didn't rejoice; and those who buy, as though they didn't possess;

31 Ref and those who use the world, as not using it to the fullest. For the mode of this world passes away.

32 Ref But I desire to have you to be free from cares. He who is unmarried is concerned for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord;

33 Ref but he who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife.

34 Ref There is also a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world--how she may please her husband.

35 Ref This I say for your own profit; not that I may ensnare you, but for that which is appropriate, and that you may attend to the Lord without distraction.

36 But if any man thinks that he is behaving inappropriately toward his virgin, if she is past the flower of her age, and if need so requires, let him do what he desires. He doesn't sin. Let them marry.

37 But he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own heart, to keep his own virgin, does well.

38 Ref So then both he who gives his own virgin in marriage does well, and he who doesn't give her in marriage does better.

39 Ref A wife is bound by law for as long as her husband lives; but if the husband is dead, she is free to be married to whoever she desires, only in the Lord.

40 Ref But she is happier if she stays as she is, in my judgment, and I think that I also have God's Spirit.

Chapter 7 of 16

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