1 Corinthians 7

CATHOLIC PUBLIC DOMAIN	KING JAMES BIBLE
1 Now concerning the things about which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.	1 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
2 But, because of fornication, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.	2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
3 A husband should fulfill his obligation to his wife, and a wife should also act similarly toward her husband.	3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
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.	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.
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.	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.
6 But I am saying this, neither as an indulgence, nor as a commandment.	6 But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.
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.	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.
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.	8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
9 But if they cannot restrain themselves, they should marry. For it is better to marry, than to be burned.	9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
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.	10 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:
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.	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.
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.	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.
13 And if any woman has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce her husband.	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.
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.	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.
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.	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.
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?	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?
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.	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.
18 Has any circumcised man been called? Let him not cover his circumcision. Has any uncircumcised man been called? Let him not be circumcised.	18 Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.
19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; there is only the observance of the commandments of God.	19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
20 Let each and every one remain in the same calling to which he was called.	20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.
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.	21 Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.
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.	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.
23 You have been bought with a price. Do not be willing to become the servants of men.	23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
24 Brothers, let each one, in whatever state he was called, remain in that state with God.	24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.
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.	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.
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.	26 I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.
27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be freed. Are you free of a wife? Do not seek a wife.	27 Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.
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.	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.
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;	29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;
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;	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;
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.	31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
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.	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:
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.	33 But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.
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.	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.
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.	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.
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.	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.
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.	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.
38 And so, he who joins with his virgin in matrimony does well, and he who does not join with her does better.	38 So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.
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.	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.
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.	40 But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.