1 Corinthians 7 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Principles of Marriage

7 Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me:

(A)It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. 3 (B)Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 (C)Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that (D)Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 But I say this as a concession, (E)not as a commandment. 7 For (F)I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.

8 But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: (G)It is good for them if they remain even as I am; 9 but (H)if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

Keep Your Marriage Vows

10 Now to the married I command, yet not I but the (I)Lord: (J)A wife is not to depart from her husband. 11 But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.

12 But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. 13 And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise (K)your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. 15 But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us (L)to peace. 16 For how do you know, O wife, whether you will (M)save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?

Live as You Are Called

17 But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And (N)so I [a]ordain in all the churches. 18 Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? (O)Let him not be circumcised. 19 (P)Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but (Q)keeping the commandments of God is what matters. 20 Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. 21 Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. 22 For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is (R)the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is (S)Christ’s slave. 23 (T)You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 Brethren, let each one remain with (U)God in that state in which he was called.

To the Unmarried and Widows

25 Now concerning virgins: (V)I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one (W)whom the Lord in His mercy has made (X)trustworthy. 26 I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress—(Y)that it is good for a man to remain as he is: 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 But even if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you.

29 But (Z)this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, 30 those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, 31 and those who use this world as not (AA)misusing it. For (AB)the form of this world is passing away.

32 But I want you to be without [b]care. (AC)He who is unmarried [c]cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord. 33 But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife. 34 There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman (AD)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 And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.

36 But if any man thinks he is behaving improperly toward his [d]virgin, if she is past the flower of youth, and thus it must be, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin; let them marry. 37 Nevertheless he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own will, and has so determined in his heart that he will keep his [e]virgin, does well. 38 (AE)So then he who gives [f]her in marriage does well, but he who does not give her in marriage does better.

39 (AF)A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, (AG)only in the Lord. 40 But she is happier if she remains as she is, (AH)according to my judgment—and (AI)I think I also have the Spirit of God.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 7:17 direct
  2. 1 Corinthians 7:32 concern
  3. 1 Corinthians 7:32 is concerned about
  4. 1 Corinthians 7:36 Or virgin daughter
  5. 1 Corinthians 7:37 Or virgin daughter
  6. 1 Corinthians 7:38 NU his own virgin

Cross references

  1. 1 Corinthians 7:1 : 1 Cor. 7:8, 26
  2. 1 Corinthians 7:3 : Ex. 21:10
  3. 1 Corinthians 7:5 : Joel 2:16
  4. 1 Corinthians 7:5 : 1 Thess. 3:5
  5. 1 Corinthians 7:6 : 2 Cor. 8:8
  6. 1 Corinthians 7:7 : Acts 26:29
  7. 1 Corinthians 7:8 : 1 Cor. 7:1, 26
  8. 1 Corinthians 7:9 : 1 Tim. 5:14
  9. 1 Corinthians 7:10 : Mark 10:6–10
  10. 1 Corinthians 7:10 : Mal. 2:14; [Matt. 5:32]
  11. 1 Corinthians 7:14 : Ezra 9:2; Mal. 2:15
  12. 1 Corinthians 7:15 : Rom. 12:18
  13. 1 Corinthians 7:16 : Rom. 11:14; 1 Pet. 3:1
  14. 1 Corinthians 7:17 : 1 Cor. 4:17
  15. 1 Corinthians 7:18 : Acts 15:1
  16. 1 Corinthians 7:19 : [Rom. 2:27, 29; Gal. 3:28; 5:6; 6:15; Col. 3:11]
  17. 1 Corinthians 7:19 : [John 15:14]
  18. 1 Corinthians 7:22 : [John 8:36]; Rom. 6:18; Philem. 16
  19. 1 Corinthians 7:22 : [1 Cor. 9:21; Gal. 5:13]; Eph. 6:6; Col. 3:24; 1 Pet. 2:16
  20. 1 Corinthians 7:23 : Lev. 25:42; 1 Cor. 6:20; 1 Pet. 1:18, 19; Rev. 5:9
  21. 1 Corinthians 7:24 : [Eph. 6:5–8; Col. 3:22–24]
  22. 1 Corinthians 7:25 : 2 Cor. 8:8
  23. 1 Corinthians 7:25 : 2 Cor. 4:1; 1 Tim. 1:13, 16
  24. 1 Corinthians 7:25 : 1 Tim. 1:12
  25. 1 Corinthians 7:26 : 1 Cor. 7:1, 8
  26. 1 Corinthians 7:29 : [Rom. 13:11]; 1 Cor. 7:31; 1 Pet. 4:7; [2 Pet. 3:8, 9]
  27. 1 Corinthians 7:31 : 1 Cor. 9:18
  28. 1 Corinthians 7:31 : Ps. 39:6; 1 Cor. 7:29; James 1:10; 4:14; 1 Pet. 1:24; 4:7; [1 John 2:17]
  29. 1 Corinthians 7:32 : 1 Tim. 5:5
  30. 1 Corinthians 7:34 : Luke 10:40
  31. 1 Corinthians 7:38 : Heb. 13:4
  32. 1 Corinthians 7:39 : Rom. 7:2
  33. 1 Corinthians 7:39 : 2 Cor. 6:14
  34. 1 Corinthians 7:40 : 1 Cor. 7:6, 25
  35. 1 Corinthians 7:40 : 1 Thess. 4:8

You Might Also Like:

1 Corinthians 7 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

7 And concerning the things of which ye wrote to me: good [it is] for a man not to touch a woman, 2 and because of the whoredom let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her proper husband; 3 to the wife let the husband the due benevolence render, and in like manner also the wife to th...
Read More

1 Corinthians 7 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

7 But of those things that ye have written to me, it is good to a man to touch not a woman [it is good to a man for to not touch a woman]. 2 But for fornication each man have his own wife, and each woman have her own husband. 3 The husband yield debt to the wife, and also the wife to the husband. ...
Read More

1 Corinthians 7 - Worldwide English (New Testament) (WE)

7 You wrote me a letter. Here is my answer to the things in the letter. It is good if a man has nothing to do with a woman. 2 But wrong sex is always a danger to us. So it is better for each man to have his own wife and each woman to have her own husband. 3 The husband should give his wife what is r...
Read More

1 Corinthians 7 - World English Bible (WEB)

7 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 sexual immoralities, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. 3 Let the husband give his wife the affection owed her,[a] and likewise also the wife ...
Read More

1 Corinthians 7 - The Voice (VOICE)

Salvation is a costly proposition. You and your body belong to God, so use your body for the work of God, not for selfish pursuits.7 Now to the topics you raised in your last letter. Some have said, “It is better for a man to abstain from having sex with his wife.” 2 Well, I disagree. Because of ou...
Read More

1 Corinthians 7 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Counsel About Marriage7 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 much immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. 3 Let the husband fulfill his obligation to his wife, and likewise al...
Read More

1 Corinthians 7 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Directions concerning Marriage7 Now concerning the matters about which you wrote. It is well for a man not to touch a woman. 2 But because of the temptation to immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. 3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, a...
Read More

1 Corinthians 7 - Revised Geneva Translation (RGT)

7 Now, concerning the things about which you wrote to me, it is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have a wife for himself, and let every woman have her own husband. 3 Let the husband give to the wife her due affection, and likewise also the wife...
Read More

1 Corinthians 7 - New Testament for Everyone (NTE)

Life Within Marriage7 Let me now turn to the matters you wrote about. ‘It is good for a man to have no sexual contact with a woman.’ 2 Well, yes; but the temptation to immorality means that every man should maintain sexual relations with his own wife, and every woman with her own husband. 3 The ma...
Read More

1 Corinthians 7 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Directions concerning Marriage7 Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to touch a woman.” 2 But because of cases of sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. 3 The husband should give to his wife what is due her and like...
Read More

1 Corinthians 7 - New Matthew Bible (NMB)

Of marriage, virginity, and widowhood. 7 As for the things you wrote to me about: it is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his wife, and let every woman have her husband. 3 Let the man give due affection to his wife; likewise also the wife...
Read More

1 Corinthians 7 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Instruction on Marriage7 Now regarding the questions you asked in your letter. Yes, it is good to abstain from sexual relations.[a] 2 But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his wife’s...
Read More

1 Corinthians 7 - New Life Version (NLV)

How a Husband and Wife Should Live7 You asked me some questions in your letter. This is my answer. It is good if a man does not get married. 2 But because of being tempted to sex sins, each man should get married and have his own wife. Each woman should get married and have her own husband. 3 The ...
Read More

1 Corinthians 7 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Principles of Marriage7 Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me:(A)It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. 3 (B)Let the husband render to his wife the affection due ...
Read More