1 Corinthians 7
King James Version
7 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good 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.
3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the 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.
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 speak this by permission, and not of commandment.
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 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, it is good for them if they abide even as I.
9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
10 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart 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.
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 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 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 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 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 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 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, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.
21 Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.
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 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.
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 I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.
27 Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not 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.
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 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 they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth 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:
33 But he that is married careth for the things that are 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.
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 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 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 So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth 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.
40 But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.
1 Corintios 7
Biblia del Jubileo
7 ¶ En cuanto a las cosas de que me escribisteis, bien es al hombre no tocar mujer.
2 Mas por evitar las fornicaciones, cada uno tenga su mujer, y cada una tenga su marido.
3 El marido pague a la mujer la debida benevolencia; y asimismo la mujer al marido.
4 La mujer no tiene potestad de su propio cuerpo, sino el marido; e igualmente tampoco el marido tiene potestad de su propio cuerpo, sino la mujer.
5 No os defraudéis el uno al otro, a no ser por algún tiempo de mutuo consentimiento, para ocuparos en ayuno y oración; y volved a juntaros en uno, para que no os tiente Satanás a causa de vuestra incontinencia.
6 Mas esto digo por permiso, no por mandamiento.
7 Quisiera más bien que todos los hombres fueran como yo; pero cada uno tiene su propio don de Dios; uno a la verdad así, y otro así.
8 Digo, pues, a los por casar y a los viudos, que bueno les es si se quedaren como yo.
9 Y si no tienen don de continencia, cásense; que mejor es casarse que quemarse.
10 ¶ Mas a los que están juntos en matrimonio, denuncio, no yo, sino el Señor; Que la mujer no se aparte del marido;
11 y si se apartare, que se quede sin casar, o reconcíliese con su marido; y que el marido no despida a su mujer.
12 Y a los demás yo digo, no el Señor: si algún hermano tiene mujer incrédula, y ella consiente para habitar con él, no la despida.
13 Y la mujer que tiene marido incrédulo, y él consiente para habitar con ella, no lo deje.
14 Porque el marido incrédulo es santificado en la mujer (fiel), y la mujer incrédula en el marido (fiel); de otra manera ciertamente vuestros hijos serían inmundos; pero ahora son santos.
15 Pero si el incrédulo se aparta, apartese; que el hermano o la hermana no está sujeto a servidumbre en semejante caso; antes a paz nos llamó Dios.
16 Porque ¿de dónde sabes, oh mujer, si quizá harás salvo a tu marido? ¿O de dónde sabes, oh marido, si quizá harás salva a tu mujer?
17 ¶ Sino que cada uno como el Señor le repartió, y como Dios llamó a cada uno, así ande; y así ordeno en todas las Iglesias.
18 ¿Es llamado alguno circuncidado? Quédese circunciso. ¿Es llamado alguno incircuncidado? Que no se circuncide.
19 La circuncisión nada es, y la incircuncisión nada es; sino la observancia de los mandamientos de Dios.
20 Cada uno en la vocación en que fue llamado, en ella se quede.
21 ¿Eres llamado siendo esclavo? No te dé cuidado; mas también si puedes hacerte libre, procúralo más.
22 Porque el que en el Señor es llamado siendo esclavo, liberto es del Señor; asimismo también el que es llamado siendo libre, esclavo es del Cristo.
23 Por precio sois comprados; no os hagáis esclavos de los hombres.
24 Cada uno, hermanos, en lo que fue llamado, en esto se quede para con Dios.
25 ¶ Pero de las vírgenes no tengo mandamiento del Señor; mas doy mi parecer, como hombre que ha alcanzado misericordia del Señor para ser fiel.
26 Tengo, pues, esto por bueno a causa de la necesidad que apremia, por lo cual bueno es al hombre estarse así:
27 ¿Estás ligado a mujer? No procures soltarte. ¿Estáis suelto de mujer? No procures mujer.
28 Mas también si tomares mujer, no pecaste; y si la virgen se casare, no peca; pero aflicción de carne tendrán los tales; mas yo os dejo.
29 Pero esto digo, hermanos, que el tiempo es corto; para los demás es, que los que tienen mujer sean como los que no la tienen,
30 y los que lloran, como los que no lloran; y los que se regocijan, como los que no se regocijan; y los que compran, como los que no poseen;
31 y los que usan de este mundo, como los que no lo usan como si fuera propio; porque la apariencia de este mundo se pasa.
32 Quisiera, pues, que estuvierais sin congoja. El soltero tiene cuidado de las cosas que son del Señor, cómo ha de agradar al Señor;
33 pero el que se casó tiene cuidado de las cosas que son del mundo, cómo ha de agradar a su mujer.
34 Hay diferencia entre la mujer casada y la virgen, La mujer no casada tiene cuidado de las cosas del Señor, para ser santa así en el cuerpo como en el espíritu; mas la casada tiene cuidado de las cosas que son del mundo, cómo ha de agradar a su marido.
35 Esto, sin embargo, digo para vuestro provecho; no para echaros lazo, sino para lo honorable, y para que sin impedimento os sirváis al Señor.
36 ¶ Mas, si a alguno parece cosa fea en su hija, que pase ya de edad, y que así conviene que se haga, haga lo que quisiere, no peca; cásese.
37 Pero el que está firme en su corazón, y no tiene necesidad, sino que tiene libertad de su voluntad, y determinó en su corazón esto, el guardar su hija, bien hace.
38 Así que, el que la da en casamiento, bien hace; y el que no la da en casamiento, hace mejor.
39 ¶ La mujer casada está atada a la ley, mientras vive su marido; mas si su marido muriere, libre es; cásese con quien quisiere, con tal que sea en el Señor.
40 Pero más bienaventurada será si se quedare así, según mi consejo; y pienso que también yo tengo el Espíritu de Dios.
1 Corinthians 7
Holman 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 relations with[b] a woman.”[c] 2 But because sexual immorality is so common,[d](A) each man should have his own wife,(B) and each woman should have her own husband. 3 A husband should fulfill his marital responsibility(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 sexually—except when you agree for a time, to devote yourselves to[e] prayer. Then come together again; otherwise, Satan may tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 I say the following[f] as a concession, not as a command. 7 I wish that all people were just like me. But each has his own gift(E) from God, one person in this way and another in that way.
A Word to the Unmarried
8 I say to the unmarried 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, for it is better to marry(H) than to burn with desire.
About Married People
10 I command the married(I)—not I, but the Lord—a wife is not to leave[g] her husband. 11 But if she does leave, she must remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband—and a husband is not to leave his wife.(J) 12 But I (not the Lord)[h] say to the rest: If any brother(K) has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not leave her. 13 Also, if any woman has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must not leave her husband. 14 For the unbelieving husband is set apart for God(L) by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is set apart for God by the husband.[i] Otherwise your children would be corrupt, but now they are set apart for God. 15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let him leave. A brother or a sister is not bound in such cases. God has called you[j] to live in peace. 16 For you, wife, how do you know whether you will save your husband? Or you, husband, how do you know whether you will save your wife?
Various Situations of Life
17 However, each one must live his life in the situation the Lord assigned when God called(M) him.[k] 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, but keeping God’s commands does. 20 Each person should remain in the life situation[l] in which he was called. 21 Were you called while a slave? It should not be a concern to you. But if you can become free, by all means take the opportunity.[m] 22 For he who is called by the Lord as a slave(N) is the Lord’s freedman.[n] Likewise he who is called as a free man[o] is Christ’s slave. 23 You were bought(O) at a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 Brothers, each person should remain with God in whatever situation he was called.
About the Unmarried and Widows
25 About virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I do give an opinion as one who by the Lord’s mercy(P) is trustworthy.(Q) 26 Therefore I consider this to be good because of the present distress: It is fine 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 However, if you do get married,(R) you have not sinned, and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But such people will have trouble in this life,[p] and I am trying to spare you. 29 And I say this, brothers: The time is limited,(S) so from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none, 30 those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice(T) as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, 31 and those who use the world as though they did not make full use of it. For this world in its current form is passing away.(U)
32 I want you to be without concerns. An unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord—how he may please(V) the Lord. 33 But a married man is concerned about the things of the world—how he may please his wife— 34 and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or a virgin is concerned about the things of the Lord,(W) so that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the things of the world—how she may please her husband. 35 Now I am saying this for your own benefit, not to put a restraint on you, but because of what is proper and so that you may be devoted to the Lord without distraction.
36 But if any man thinks he is acting improperly toward his virgin,[q] if she is past marriageable age,[r] and so it must be, he can do what he wants. He is not sinning; they can get married. 37 But he who stands firm in his heart (who is under no compulsion, but has control over his own will(X)) and has decided in his heart to keep his own virgin, will do well. 38 So then he who marries[s] his virgin does well, but he who does not marry[t] will do better.
39 A wife is bound[u] as long as her husband is living. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to anyone she wants—only in the Lord.[v] 40 But she is happier if she remains as she is, in my opinion. And I think that I also have the Spirit of God.
Footnotes
- 1 Corinthians 7:1 Other mss add to me
- 1 Corinthians 7:1 Lit not to touch
- 1 Corinthians 7:1 The words in quotation marks are a principle that the Corinthians wrote to Paul about to ask for his view.
- 1 Corinthians 7:2 Lit because of immoralities
- 1 Corinthians 7:5 Other mss add fasting and to
- 1 Corinthians 7:6 Lit say this; some interpret the word as referring to v. 2, vv. 2-5, v. 5 (wholly or in part), or v. 6
- 1 Corinthians 7:10 Or separate from, or divorce
- 1 Corinthians 7:12 Jesus did not address the situation of a marriage in the Gentile world where only one person is a believer.
- 1 Corinthians 7:14 Lit the brother
- 1 Corinthians 7:15 Other mss read us
- 1 Corinthians 7:17 Lit called each
- 1 Corinthians 7:20 Lit in the calling
- 1 Corinthians 7:21 Or But even though you can become free, make the most of your position as a slave.
- 1 Corinthians 7:22 A former slave
- 1 Corinthians 7:22 A man who was never a slave
- 1 Corinthians 7:28 Lit in the flesh
- 1 Corinthians 7:36 = a man’s fiancée, or his daughter, or his Levirate wife, or a celibate companion
- 1 Corinthians 7:36 Or virgin, if his passions are strong,
- 1 Corinthians 7:38 Or marries off
- 1 Corinthians 7:38 Or marry her off
- 1 Corinthians 7:39 Other mss add by law
- 1 Corinthians 7:39 Only a believer
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 Corinthians 7:17 direct
- 1 Corinthians 7:32 concern
- 1 Corinthians 7:32 is concerned about
- 1 Corinthians 7:36 Or virgin daughter
- 1 Corinthians 7:37 Or virgin daughter
- 1 Corinthians 7:38 NU his own virgin
Biblia del Jubileo 2000 (JUS) © 2000, 2001, 2010, 2014, 2017, 2020 by Ransom Press International
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
