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1 Corinthians 7
Legacy Standard Bible

Concerning Marriage and Singleness

7 Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is (A)good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 But because of sexual immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband. 3 The husband must [a]fulfill his duty to his wife, 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 also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 (B)Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and [b]come together again so that (C)Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 But this I say as a concession, (D)not as a command. 7 [c]Yet I wish that all men were (E)even as I myself am. However, (F)each man has his own gift from God, one this way, and another that.

8 But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is (G)good for them if they remain (H)even as I. 9 But if they do not have self-control, (I)let them marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

10 But to the married I give instructions, (J)not I, but the Lord, that the wife should not [d]leave her husband 11 (but if she does leave, she must remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband should not [e]divorce his wife.

12 But to the rest (K)I say, not the Lord, that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he must not [f]divorce her. 13 And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not divorce her husband. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through [g]her believing husband. For otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are (L)holy. 15 Yet if the unbelieving one leaves, let him leave. The brother or the sister is not enslaved in such cases, but God has called [h]us [i](M)to peace. 16 For how do you know, O wife, whether you will (N)save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?

17 Only, (O)as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, in this manner let him walk. And (P)so I direct in (Q)all the churches. 18 Was any man called when he was already circumcised? He is not to become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? (R)He is not to be circumcised. 19 (S)Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is (T)the keeping of the commandments of God. 20 (U)Each man must remain in that [j]condition in which he was called.

21 Were you called while a slave? [k]Do not worry about it. But if you are able also to become free, rather [l]do that. 22 For he who was called in the Lord while a slave, is (V)the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who was called while free, is (W)Christ’s slave. 23 (X)You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 Brothers, (Y)each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called.

25 Now concerning virgins I have (Z)no command of the Lord, but I give an opinion as one who [m](AA)by the mercy of the Lord is trustworthy. 26 I think then that this is good because of the [n]present (AB)distress, that (AC)it is good for a man [o]to remain as he is. 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you released from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 But if you marry, you have not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have [p]trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you. 29 But this I say, brothers, (AD)the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none; 30 and those who cry, as though they did not cry; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not possess; 31 and those who use the world, as though they did not (AE)make full use of it. For (AF)the form of this world is passing away.

32 But I want you to be free from concern. One who is (AG)unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord. 33 But one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, 34 and his interests have been divided. The woman who is unmarried, and the virgin, is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit. But one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband. 35 Now this I say for your own benefit, not to put a restraint upon you, but [q]to promote propriety and undistracted devotion to the Lord.

36 But if any man thinks that he is acting unbecomingly toward his virgin daughter, if she is past her youth, and if it must be so, let him do what he wishes, he does not sin; let [r]her marry. 37 But he who stands firm in his heart, [s]being under no compulsion, but has authority [t]over his own will, and has decided this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin daughter, he will do well. 38 So then both he who gives his own virgin daughter in marriage does well, and he who does not give her in marriage will do better.

39 (AH)A wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband has [u]fallen asleep, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only (AI)in the Lord. 40 But (AJ)in my opinion she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I also have the Spirit of God.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 7:3 Lit render
  2. 1 Corinthians 7:5 Lit be
  3. 1 Corinthians 7:7 One early ms For
  4. 1 Corinthians 7:10 Lit depart from
  5. 1 Corinthians 7:11 Or leave his wife
  6. 1 Corinthians 7:12 Or leave her
  7. 1 Corinthians 7:14 Lit the brother
  8. 1 Corinthians 7:15 One early ms you
  9. 1 Corinthians 7:15 Lit in
  10. 1 Corinthians 7:20 Lit calling
  11. 1 Corinthians 7:21 Lit Let it not be a care to you
  12. 1 Corinthians 7:21 Lit use
  13. 1 Corinthians 7:25 Lit has had mercy shown on him by the Lord to be trustworthy
  14. 1 Corinthians 7:26 Or impending
  15. 1 Corinthians 7:26 Lit so to be
  16. 1 Corinthians 7:28 Lit affliction in the flesh
  17. 1 Corinthians 7:35 Lit for what is seemly
  18. 1 Corinthians 7:36 Lit them; the virgin daughter and her fiancé
  19. 1 Corinthians 7:37 Lit having no necessity
  20. 1 Corinthians 7:37 Lit pertaining to
  21. 1 Corinthians 7:39 Or died
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1 Corinthians 7
Lexham English Bible

Concerning Christian Marriage

7 Now concerning the things about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to touch[a] a woman.” 2 But because of sexual immorality, let each man have[b] his own wife and let each woman have her own husband. 3 The husband must fulfill his obligation to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but her husband does. And likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but his wife does. 5 Do not defraud one another, except perhaps by agreement, for a time, in order that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and then you should be together[c] again, lest Satan tempt you because of your lack of self control. 6 But I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7 I wish all people could be like myself, but each one has his own gift from God, one in this way and another in that way.

8 Now I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain as I am. 9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with sexual desire.

10 To the married I command—not I, but the Lord—a wife must not separate from her husband. 11 But if indeed she does separate, she must remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.

12 Now to the rest I say—not the Lord—if any brother has an unbelieving wife and she consents to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13 And if any wife has an unbelieving husband and he consents to live with her, she must not divorce her husband. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the brother, since otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy. 15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let him leave. The brother or the sister is not bound in such cases. But God has called us[d] in 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?

17 But to each one as the Lord has apportioned. As God has called each one, thus let him live—and thus I order in all the churches. 18 Was anyone called after[e] being circumcised? He must not undo his circumcision. Was anyone called in uncircumcision? He must not become circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. 20 Each one in the calling in which he was called—in this he should remain. 21 Were you called while a slave? Do not let it be a concern to you. But if indeed you are able to become free, rather make use of it. 22 For the one who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedperson. Likewise the one who is called while free is a slave of Christ. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 Each one in the situation in which he was called, brothers—in this he should remain with God.

Concerning the Unmarried

25 Now concerning virgins I do not have a command from the Lord, but I am giving an opinion as one shown mercy by the Lord to be trustworthy. 26 Therefore, I consider this to be good because of the impending distress, that it is good for a man to be thus. 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek release. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 But if you marry, you have not sinned, and if the virgin marries, she has not sinned. But such people will have affliction in the flesh, and I would spare you. 29 But I say this, brothers: the time is shortened, that from now on even those who have wives should be as if they do not have wives, 30 and those who weep as if they do not weep, and those who rejoice as if they do not rejoice, and those who buy as if they do not possess, 31 and those who make use of the world as if they do not make full use of it. For the present form of this world is passing away.

32 But I want you to be free from care. The unmarried person cares for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord. 33 But the one who is married cares for the things of the world, how he may please his wife, 34 and he is divided. And the unmarried woman or the virgin cares for the things of the Lord, in order that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But the married woman cares for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. 35 Now I am saying this for your own benefit, not that I may put a restriction on you, but to promote appropriate and devoted service to the Lord without distraction.

36 But if anyone thinks he is behaving dishonorably concerning his virgin, if she is past her prime[f] and it ought to be thus, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin. Let them marry. 37 But he who stands firm in his heart, not having necessity, but has authority concerning his own will, and has decided this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin, he will do well. 38 So then, the one who marries[g] his own virgin does well, and the one who does not marry her will do better.

39 A wife is bound for as long a time as her husband lives. But if her husband dies[h], she is free to marry whomever she wishes, only in the Lord. 40 But she is happier if she remains thus, according to my opinion—and I think I have the Spirit of God.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 7:1 I.e., in a sexual sense
  2. 1 Corinthians 7:2 I.e., in the sense of “have sexual relations with”
  3. 1 Corinthians 7:5 Literally “at the same”
  4. 1 Corinthians 7:15 Some manuscripts have “you” (plural)
  5. 1 Corinthians 7:18 Here “after” is supplied as a component of the participle (“being circumcised”) which is understood as temporal
  6. 1 Corinthians 7:36 Or “if his passions are strong” (it is not clear in context whether this term refers to the man or to the woman)
  7. 1 Corinthians 7:38 Or perhaps “the one who gives in marriage”
  8. 1 Corinthians 7:39 Literally “falls asleep”
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1 Corinthians 7
New King James Version

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
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Lexham English Bible (LEB)

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New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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