1 Corinthians 7

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN
1 Now in regard to the matters about which you wrote: "It is a good thing for a man not to touch a woman,"	1 Now concerning the things about which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
2 but because of cases of immorality every man should have his own wife, and every woman her own husband.	2 But, because of fornication, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.
3 The husband should fulfill his duty toward his wife, and likewise the wife toward her husband.	3 A husband should fulfill his obligation to his wife, and a wife should also act similarly toward her husband.
4 A wife does not have authority over her own body, but rather her husband, and similarly a husband does not have authority over his own body, but rather his wife.	4 It is not the wife, but the husband, who has power over her body. But, similarly also, it is not the husband, but the wife, who has power over his body.
5 Do not deprive each other, except perhaps by mutual consent for a time, to be free for prayer, but then return to one another, so that Satan may not tempt you through your lack of self-control.	5 So, do not fail in your obligations to one another, except perhaps by consent, for a limited time, so that you may empty yourselves for prayer. And then, return together again, lest Satan tempt you by means of your abstinence.
6 This I say by way of concession, however, not as a command.	6 But I am saying this, neither as an indulgence, nor as a commandment.
7 Indeed, I wish everyone to be as I am, but each has a particular gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.	7 For I would prefer it if you were all like myself. But each person has his proper gift from God: one in this way, yet another in that way.
8 Now to the unmarried and to widows, I say: it is a good thing for them to remain as they are, as I do,	8 But I say to the unmarried and to widows: It is good for them, if they would remain as they are, just as I also am.
9 but if they cannot exercise self-control they should marry, for it is better to marry than to be on fire.	9 But if they cannot restrain themselves, they should marry. For it is better to marry, than to be burned.
10 To the married, however, I give this instruction (not I, but the Lord): a wife should not separate from her husband	10 But to those who have been joined in matrimony, it is not I who commands you, but the Lord: a wife is not to separate from her husband.
11 --and if she does separate she must either remain single or become reconciled to her husband--and a husband should not divorce his wife.	11 But if she has separated from him, she must remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband should not divorce his wife.
12 To the rest I say (not the Lord): if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she is willing to go on living with him, he should not divorce her;	12 Concerning the rest, I am speaking, not the Lord. If any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her.
13 and if any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he is willing to go on living with her, she should not divorce her husband.	13 And if any woman has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce her husband.
14 For the unbelieving husband is made holy through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy through the brother. Otherwise your children would be unclean, whereas in fact they are holy.	14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through the believing wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through the believing husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean, whereas instead they are holy.
15 If the unbeliever separates, however, let him separate. The brother or sister is not bound in such cases; God has called you to peace.	15 But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart. For a brother or sister cannot be made subject to servitude in this way. For God has called us to peace.
16 For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband; or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?	16 And how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
17 Only, everyone should live as the Lord has assigned, just as God called each one. I give this order in all the churches.	17 However, let each one walk just as the Lord has distributed to him, each one just as God has called him. And thus do I teach in all the churches.
18 Was someone called after he had been circumcised? He should not try to undo his circumcision. Was an uncircumcised person called? He should not be circumcised.	18 Has any circumcised man been called? Let him not cover his circumcision. Has any uncircumcised man been called? Let him not be circumcised.
19 Circumcision means nothing, and uncircumcision means nothing; what matters is keeping God's commandments.	19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; there is only the observance of the commandments of God.
20 Everyone should remain in the state in which he was called.	20 Let each and every one remain in the same calling to which he was called.
21 Were you a slave when you were called? Do not be concerned but, even if you can gain your freedom, make the most of it.	21 Are you a servant who has been called? Do not be concerned about it. But if you ever have the ability to be free, make use of it.
22 For the slave called in the Lord is a freed person in the Lord, just as the free person who has been called is a slave of Christ.	22 For any servant who has been called in the Lord is free in the Lord. Similarly, any free person who has been called is a servant in Christ.
23 You have been purchased at a price. Do not become slaves to human beings.	23 You have been bought with a price. Do not be willing to become the servants of men.
24 Brothers, everyone should continue before God in the state in which he was called.	24 Brothers, let each one, in whatever state he was called, remain in that state with God.
25 Now in regard to virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord, but I give my opinion as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy.	25 Now, concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord. But I give counsel, as one who has obtained the mercy of the Lord, so as to be faithful.
26 So this is what I think best because of the present distress: that it is a good thing for a person to remain as he is.	26 Therefore, I consider this to be good, because of the present necessity: that it is good for a man to be such as I am.
27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek a separation. Are you free of a wife? Then do not look for a wife.	27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be freed. Are you free of a wife? Do not seek a wife.
28 If you marry, however, you do not sin, nor does an unmarried woman sin if she marries; but such people will experience affliction in their earthly life, and I would like to spare you that.	28 But if you take a wife, you have not sinned. And if a virgin has married, she has not sinned. Even so, such as these will have the tribulation of the flesh. But I would spare you from this.
29 I tell you, brothers, the time is running out. From now on, let those having wives act as not having them,	29 And so, this is what I say, brothers: The time is short. What remains of it is such that: those who have wives should be as if they had none;
30 those weeping as not weeping, those rejoicing as not rejoicing, those buying as not owning,	30 and those who weep, as though they were not weeping; and those who rejoice, as if they were not rejoicing; and those who buy, as if they possessed nothing;
31 those using the world as not using it fully. For the world in its present form is passing away.	31 and those who use the things of this world, as if they were not using them. For the figure of this world is passing away.
32 I should like you to be free of anxieties. An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord.	32 But I would prefer you to be without worry. Whoever is without a wife is worried about the things of the Lord, as to how he may please God.
33 But a married man is anxious about the things of the world, how he may please his wife,	33 But whoever is with a wife is worried about the things of the world, as to how he may please his wife. And so, he is divided.
34 and he is divided. An unmarried woman or a virgin is anxious about the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy in both body and spirit. A married woman, on the other hand, is anxious about the things of the world, how she may please her husband.	34 And the unmarried woman and the virgin think about the things that are of the Lord, so that she may be holy in body and in spirit. But she who is married thinks about the things that are of the world, as to how she may please her husband.
35 I am telling you this for your own benefit, not to impose a restraint upon you, but for the sake of propriety and adherence to the Lord without distraction.	35 Furthermore, I am saying this for your own benefit, not in order to cast a snare over you, but toward whatever is honest and whatever may provide you with the ability to be without hindrance, so as to worship the Lord.
36 If anyone thinks he is behaving improperly toward his virgin, and if a critical moment has come and so it has to be, let him do as he wishes. He is committing no sin; let them get married.	36 But if any man considers himself to seem dishonorable, concerning a virgin who is of adult age, and so it ought to be, he may do as he wills. If he marries her, he does not sin.
37 The one who stands firm in his resolve, however, who is not under compulsion but has power over his own will, and has made up his mind to keep his virgin, will be doing well.	37 But if he has decided firmly in his heart, and he does not have any obligation, but only the power of his free will, and if he has judged this in his heart, to let her remain a virgin, he does well.
38 So then, the one who marries his virgin does well; the one who does not marry her will do better.	38 And so, he who joins with his virgin in matrimony does well, and he who does not join with her does better.
39 A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whomever she wishes, provided that it be in the Lord.	39 A woman is bound under the law for as long as her husband lives. But if her husband has died, she is free. She may marry whomever she wishes, but only in the Lord.
40 She is more blessed, though, in my opinion, if she remains as she is, and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.	40 But she will be more blessed, if she remains in this state, in accord with my counsel. And I think that I, too, have the Spirit of God.