1 Corinthians 7

KING JAMES BIBLE	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.	1 Now in regard to the matters about which you wrote: "It is a good thing for a man not to touch a woman,"
2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.	2 but because of cases of immorality every man should have his own wife, and every woman her own husband.
3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.	3 The husband should fulfill his duty toward his wife, and likewise the wife toward her husband.
4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.	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.
5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.	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.
6 But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.	6 This I say by way of concession, however, not as a command.
7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.	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.
8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.	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,
9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.	9 but if they cannot exercise self-control they should marry, for it is better to marry than to be on fire.
10 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:	10 To the married, however, I give this instruction (not I, but the Lord): a wife should not separate from her husband
11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.	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.
12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.	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;
13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.	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.
14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.	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.
15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.	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.
16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?	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?
17 But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.	17 Only, everyone should live as the Lord has assigned, just as God called each one. I give this order in all the churches.
18 Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.	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.
19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.	19 Circumcision means nothing, and uncircumcision means nothing; what matters is keeping God's commandments.
20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.	20 Everyone should remain in the state in which he was called.
21 Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.	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.
22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.	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.
23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.	23 You have been purchased at a price. Do not become slaves to human beings.
24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.	24 Brothers, everyone should continue before God in the state in which he was called.
25 Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.	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.
26 I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.	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.
27 Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.	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.
28 But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.	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.
29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;	29 I tell you, brothers, the time is running out. From now on, let those having wives act as not having them,
30 And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;	30 those weeping as not weeping, those rejoicing as not rejoicing, those buying as not owning,
31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.	31 those using the world as not using it fully. For the world in its present form is passing away.
32 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:	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.
33 But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.	33 But a married man is anxious about the things of the world, how he may please his wife,
34 There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.	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.
35 And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.	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.
36 But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.	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.
37 Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.	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.
38 So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.	38 So then, the one who marries his virgin does well; the one who does not marry her will do better.
39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.	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.
40 But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.	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.