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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. 1 Corinthians 7:1 Other mss add to me
  2. 1 Corinthians 7:1 Lit not to touch
  3. 1 Corinthians 7:1 The words in quotation marks are a principle that the Corinthians wrote to Paul about to ask for his view.
  4. 1 Corinthians 7:2 Lit because of immoralities
  5. 1 Corinthians 7:5 Other mss add fasting and to
  6. 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
  7. 1 Corinthians 7:10 Or separate from, or divorce
  8. 1 Corinthians 7:12 Jesus did not address the situation of a marriage in the Gentile world where only one person is a believer.
  9. 1 Corinthians 7:14 Lit the brother
  10. 1 Corinthians 7:15 Other mss read us
  11. 1 Corinthians 7:17 Lit called each
  12. 1 Corinthians 7:20 Lit in the calling
  13. 1 Corinthians 7:21 Or But even though you can become free, make the most of your position as a slave.
  14. 1 Corinthians 7:22 A former slave
  15. 1 Corinthians 7:22 A man who was never a slave
  16. 1 Corinthians 7:28 Lit in the flesh
  17. 1 Corinthians 7:36 = a man’s fiancée, or his daughter, or his Levirate wife, or a celibate companion
  18. 1 Corinthians 7:36 Or virgin, if his passions are strong,
  19. 1 Corinthians 7:38 Or marries off
  20. 1 Corinthians 7:38 Or marry her off
  21. 1 Corinthians 7:39 Other mss add by law
  22. 1 Corinthians 7:39 Only a believer
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Prva poslanica Korinćanima 7
Hrvatski Novi Zavjet – Rijeka 2001

Ženidba

7 Sada o onome što ste mi pisali: Dobro je čovjeku ne dotaći ženu. 2 Ipak, zbog bludnosti, neka svaki ima svoju ženu, i svaka neka ima svojega muža. 3 Muž neka dadne ženi ono što joj je dužan, a isto tako i žena mužu. 4 Žena nije gospodar svojega tijela, nego muž; a isto tako ni muž nije gospodar svojega tijela, nego žena. 5 Ne uskraćujte se jedno drugomu, osim po dogovoru, na neko vrijeme, da se posvetite molitvi, pa se opet združite da vas Sotona ne bi napastovao zbog vaše neuzdržanosti. 6 Ali ovo govorim kao dopuštenje, ne kao zapovijed. 7 A htio bih da su svi ljudi kao i ja; ali svatko ima svoj milosni dar od Boga; jedan ovako, drugi onako.

8 A neoženjenima i udovicama kažem da im je dobro ako ostanu kao i ja. 9 Ako se pak ne mogu suzdržavati, neka se žene i udaju, jer je bolje ženiti se negoli izgarati.

10 A oženjenima zapovijedam, ne ja, nego Gospodin: žena neka se od muža ne rastavlja. 11 Ako se ipak rastavi, neka ostane neudanom ili se s mužem pomiri, i muž neka ne otpušta ženu. 12 A ostalima govorim, ja, ne Gospodin: Ako koji brat ima ženu nevjernicu i ona pristane obitavati s njim, neka je ne otpušta. 13 I ako koja žena ima muža nevjernika i on pristane obitavati s njom, neka ne otpušta muža. 14 Jer muž je nevjernik posvećen ženom, i žena je nevjernica posvećena bratom. Inače bi vaša djeca bila nečista, a ovako su sveta. 15 Ako se nevjernik rastavlja, neka se rastavi. U takvim slučajevima brat ili sestra nisu vezani; ta Bog vas je pozvao na mir.[a] 16 Jer što znaš, ženo, hoćeš li spasiti muža? Ili što znaš, mužu, hoćeš li spasiti ženu? 17 Samo, neka svatko živi kako komu Gospodin dodijeli, svatko kako ga je Bog pozvao. Tako zapovijedam po svim crkvama.

18 Je li tko pozvan kao obrezan? Neka ne prikriva obrezanja. Je li tko pozvan kao neobrezan? Neka se ne obrezuje. 19 Obrezanje je ništa i neobrezanje je ništa, nego držanje zapovijedi Božjih. 20 Svatko neka ostane u onom zvanju u kojem je pozvan. 21 Jesi li pozvan kao rob? Ne brini! Ali, ako i možeš postati slobodan, radije se okoristi prigodom! 22 Jer tko je u Gospodinu pozvan kao rob, slobodnjak je Gospodnji. Jednako i onaj tko je pozvan kao slobodnjak, rob je Kristov. 23 Po cijeni ste kupljeni, ne budite robovi ljudima. 24 Svatko u čemu je pozvan, braćo, neka u tome ostane pred Bogom.

Djevičanstvo i neženstvo

25 Što se tiče djevica nemam zapovijedi Gospodnje, ali dajem mišljenje kao onaj koji je, zadobivši Gospodnje milosrđe, dostojan povjerenja. 26 Mislim dakle da je to dobro zbog sadašnje nevolje, da je dobro čovjeku tako biti. 27 Jesi li vezan uza ženu? Ne traži rastave! Jesi li slobodan od žene? Ne traži žene! 28 Ali ako se i oženiš, nisi sagriješio; i djevica, ako se uda, nije sagriješila. Takvi će pak imati tjelesnu nevolju, a ja bih vas toga rado poštedio.

29 Ovo vam kažem, braćo: Vrijeme se skratilo. Odsad i oni koji imaju žene, neka budu kao da ih nemaju; 30 i koji plaču, kao da ne plaču, i koji se raduju, kao da se ne raduju, i koji kupuju, kao da ne posjeduju, 31 i koji koriste ovaj svijet, kao da ga ne koriste, jer prolazi obličje ovoga svijeta. 32 Htio bih da budete bezbrižni. Neoženjeni se brine za Gospodnje - kako da ugodi Gospodinu. 33 Oženjeni se pak brine za svjetovno - kako ugoditi ženi, 34 te je podijeljen. I neudana žena i djevica brine se za Gospodnje - da bude sveta i tijelom i duhom; a udana se brine za svjetovno - kako ugoditi mužu. 35 A ovo govorim vama na korist, ne da vam zamku postavim, nego poradi čestitosti i neometane odanosti Gospodinu. 36 Ako pak tko misli da je nedoličan prema svojoj djevici kad mu je žudnja jaka, i tako mora biti, neka učini što želi; ne griješi, neka se žene! 37 Tko pak ostane postojan u svojem srcu i nema potrebe, nego ima vlast nad svojom voljom, pa tako odluči u svojem srcu sačuvati svoju djevicu, dobro čini. 38 Tako i onaj koji se oženi svojom djevicom dobro čini; no onaj koji se ne oženi, čini bolje. 39 Žena je vezana sve dok joj njezin muž živi; umre li joj muž, slobodna je udati se za koga hoće, samo neka je u Gospodinu! 40 Ali prema mome mišljenju, bit će blaženija ostane li onako kako jest. A mislim da i ja imam Duha Božjega.

Footnotes

  1. 1Kor 7,15 Umjesto »vas«, neki rukopisi imaju: »nas«.
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1 Corinthians 7
New Century Version

About Marriage

7 Now I will discuss the things you wrote me about. It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman. 2 But because sexual sin is a danger, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband. 3 The husband should give his wife all that he owes her as his wife. And the wife should give her husband all that she owes him as her husband. 4 The wife does not have full rights over her own body; her husband shares them. And the husband does not have full rights over his own body; his wife shares them. 5 Do not refuse to give your bodies to each other, unless you both agree to stay away from sexual relations for a time so you can give your time to prayer. Then come together again so Satan cannot tempt you because of a lack of self-control. 6 I say this to give you permission to stay away from sexual relations for a time. It is not a command to do so. 7 I wish that everyone were like me, but each person has his own gift from God. One has one gift, another has another gift.

8 Now for those who are not married and for the widows I say this: It is good for them to stay unmarried as I am. 9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry. It is better to marry than to burn with sexual desire.

10 Now I give this command for the married people. (The command is not from me; it is from the Lord.) A wife should not leave her husband. 11 But if she does leave, she must not marry again, or she should make up with her husband. Also the husband should not divorce his wife.

12 For all the others I say this (I am saying this, not the Lord): If a Christian man has a wife who is not a believer, and she is happy to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13 And if a Christian woman has a husband who is not a believer, and he is happy to live with her, she must not divorce him. 14 The husband who is not a believer is made holy through his believing wife. And the wife who is not a believer is made holy through her believing husband. If this were not true, your children would not be clean, but now your children are holy.

15 But if those who are not believers decide to leave, let them leave. When this happens, the Christian man or woman is free. But God called us[a] to live in peace. 16 Wife, you don’t know; maybe you will save your husband. And husband, you don’t know; maybe you will save your wife.

Live as God Called You

17 But in any case each one of you should continue to live the way God has given you to live—the way you were when God called you. This is a rule I make in all the churches. 18 If a man was already circumcised when he was called, he should not undo his circumcision. If a man was without circumcision when he was called, he should not be circumcised. 19 It is not important if a man is circumcised or not. The important thing is obeying God’s commands. 20 Each one of you should stay the way you were when God called you. 21 If you were a slave when God called you, do not let that bother you. But if you can be free, then make good use of your freedom. 22 Those who were slaves when the Lord called them are free persons who belong to the Lord. In the same way, those who were free when they were called are now Christ’s slaves. 23 You all were bought at a great price, so do not become slaves of people. 24 Brothers and sisters, each of you should stay as you were when you were called, and stay there with God.

Questions About Getting Married

25 Now I write about people who are not married. I have no command from the Lord about this; I give my opinion. But I can be trusted, because the Lord has shown me mercy. 26 The present time is a time of trouble, so I think it is good for you to stay the way you are. 27 If you have a wife, do not try to become free from her. If you are not married, do not try to find a wife. 28 But if you decide to marry, you have not sinned. And if a girl who has never married decides to marry, she has not sinned. But those who marry will have trouble in this life, and I want you to be free from trouble.

29 Brothers and sisters, this is what I mean: We do not have much time left. So starting now, those who have wives should live as if they had no wives. 30 Those who are crying should live as if they were not crying. Those who are happy should live as if they were not happy. Those who buy things should live as if they own nothing. 31 Those who use the things of the world should live as if they were not using them, because this world in its present form will soon be gone.

32 I want you to be free from worry. A man who is not married is busy with the Lord’s work, trying to please the Lord. 33 But a man who is married is busy with things of the world, trying to please his wife. 34 He must think about two things—pleasing his wife and pleasing the Lord. A woman who is not married or a girl who has never married is busy with the Lord’s work. She wants to be holy in body and spirit. But a married woman is busy with things of the world, as to how she can please her husband. 35 I am saying this to help you, not to limit you. But I want you to live in the right way, to give yourselves fully to the Lord without concern for other things.

36 If a man thinks he is not doing the right thing with the girl he is engaged to, if she is almost past the best age to marry and he feels he should marry her, he should do what he wants. They should get married. It is no sin. 37 But if a man is sure in his mind that there is no need for marriage, and has his own desires under control, and has decided not to marry the one to whom he is engaged, he is doing the right thing. 38 So the man who marries his girl does right, but the man who does not marry will do better.

39 A woman must stay with her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry any man she wants, but she must marry another believer. 40 The woman is happier if she does not marry again. This is my opinion, but I believe I also have God’s Spirit.

Footnotes

  1. 7:15 us Some Greek copies read “you.”
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1 Corinthians 7
New International Version

Concerning Married Life

7 Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”(A) 2 But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife,(B) and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. 5 Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time,(C) so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan(D) will not tempt you(E) because of your lack of self-control. 6 I say this as a concession, not as a command.(F) 7 I wish that all of you were as I am.(G) But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.(H)

8 Now to the unmarried[a] and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do.(I) 9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry,(J) for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.(K) 11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband.(L) And a husband must not divorce his wife.

12 To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord):(M) If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13 And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.(N)

15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.(O) 16 How do you know, wife, whether you will save(P) your husband?(Q) Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

Concerning Change of Status

17 Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them.(R) This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.(S) 18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised.(T) 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing.(U) Keeping God’s commands is what counts. 20 Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.(V)

21 Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. 22 For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person;(W) similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave.(X) 23 You were bought at a price;(Y) do not become slaves of human beings. 24 Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.(Z)

Concerning the Unmarried

25 Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord,(AA) but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy(AB) is trustworthy. 26 Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is.(AC) 27 Are you pledged to a woman? Do not seek to be released. Are you free from such a commitment? Do not look for a wife.(AD) 28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned;(AE) and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.

29 What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short.(AF) From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; 30 those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; 31 those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.(AG)

32 I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs(AH)—how he can please the Lord. 33 But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— 34 and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit.(AI) But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. 35 I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided(AJ) devotion to the Lord.

36 If anyone is worried that he might not be acting honorably toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if his passions are too strong[b] and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning.(AK) They should get married. 37 But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin—this man also does the right thing. 38 So then, he who marries the virgin does right,(AL) but he who does not marry her does better.[c]

39 A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives.(AM) But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.(AN) 40 In my judgment,(AO) she is happier if she stays as she is—and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 7:8 Or widowers
  2. 1 Corinthians 7:36 Or if she is getting beyond the usual age for marriage
  3. 1 Corinthians 7:38 Or 36 If anyone thinks he is not treating his daughter properly, and if she is getting along in years (or if her passions are too strong), and he feels she ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. He should let her get married. 37 But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind to keep the virgin unmarried—this man also does the right thing. 38 So then, he who gives his virgin in marriage does right, but he who does not give her in marriage does better.
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