1 Corinthians 7:1-20

Christian Standard Bible

Principles of Marriage

7 Now in response to the matters you wrote^[a] about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”^{[b] 2} But because sexual immorality is so common,^[c](A) each man should have sexual relations with his own wife,^(B) and each woman should have sexual relations with her own husband. ³ A husband should fulfill his marital duty^(C) to his wife, and likewise a wife to her husband. ⁴ A wife does not have the right over her own body, but her husband does. In the same way, a husband does not have the right over his own body, but his wife does. ⁵ Do not deprive^(D) one another—except when you agree for a time, to devote yourselves to^[d] prayer. Then come together again; otherwise, Satan may tempt you because of your lack of self-control. ⁶ I say this as a concession, not as a command. ⁷ I wish that all people were as I am. But each has his own gift^(E) from God, one person has this gift, another has that.

A Word to the Unmarried

⁸ I say to the unmarried^[e] and to widows:^(F) It is good for them if they remain as I am. ⁹ But if they do not have self-control,^(G) they should marry, since it is better to marry^(H) than to burn with desire.

About Married People

¹⁰ To the married I give this command^(I)—not I, but the Lord—a wife is not to leave^[f] her husband. ¹¹ But if she does leave, she must remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband—and a husband is not to divorce his wife.^{(J) 12} But I (not the Lord) say to the rest: If any brother^(K) has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. ¹³ Also, if any woman has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce her husband. ¹⁴ For the unbelieving husband is made holy^(L) by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy by the husband.^[g] Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is they are holy. ¹⁵ But if the unbeliever leaves, let him leave. A brother or a sister is not bound in such cases. God has called you^[h] to live in peace. ¹⁶ Wife, for all you know, you might save your husband. Husband, for all you know, you might save your wife.^[i]

Various Situations of Life

¹⁷ Let each one live his life in the situation the Lord assigned when God called^(M) him.^[j] This is what I command in all the churches. ¹⁸ Was anyone already circumcised when he was called? He should not undo his circumcision. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? He should not get circumcised. ¹⁹ Circumcision does not matter and uncircumcision does not matter. Keeping God’s commands is what matters. ²⁰ Let each of you remain in the situation^[k] in which he was called.