1 Corinthians 7

Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

Regarding what you asked me: It's wise for a man to avoid intimate contact with a woman.

Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

Because sexual immorality is a real danger, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.

Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

A husband should give his wife what he owes her in marriage, including physical intimacy, and a wife should do the same for her husband.

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.

A wife doesn't solely own her body, it's also her husband's. Similarly, a husband's body isn't just his, it belongs to his wife too.

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.

Don't deprive each other of intimacy, unless you both agree to pause for a while to pray and fast. Then come back together, so that Satan can't tempt you through your lack of self-control.

But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.

I say this with allowance, not as an order.

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.

I wish everyone could be like me, but I understand that each person has their own unique gift from God, each one different from the next.

I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.

I advise those who are single or have lost their spouses, it's beneficial for them to remain as I am - content in solitude.

But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

If they can't control their passions, they should marry. It's better to be wed than consumed by desire.

And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:

As an instruction, not from me but from the Lord, I urge married couples to stay together; a wife should not leave her husband.

But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

If she chooses to leave, she should stay single or make amends with her husband. The husband, on the other hand, should never abandon his wife.

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.

I say this, not God: If a man's wife doesn't share his faith, but is happy to live with him, he shouldn't leave her.

And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

If a woman's husband doesn't share her faith, but he's happy to live with her, she shouldn't abandon him.

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.

A husband who doesn't believe is made pure through his believing wife, and a wife who doesn't believe is made pure through her believing husband. Without this, your children would be impure, but now, they are sacred.

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.

If someone without faith chooses to leave, let them go. We are not chained to such situations. God invites us to live in harmony.

For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

How can you be certain, dear wife, that you will save your husband? Or you, dear husband, that you will save your wife?

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.

God has given each of us unique gifts and calls us all to different paths. Let's embrace and walk these paths with faith. This is my guidance for all congregations.

Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.

If a man was circumcised when he was called, he shouldn't try to reverse it. If he wasn't, he shouldn't get circumcised.

Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.

Whether you're circumcised or not doesn't matter; what truly counts is living by God's rules.

Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.

Each of you should stay in the situation you were in when God called you.

Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.

Are you a servant? Don't worry about it. But if you get a chance to be free, embrace it wholeheartedly.

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.

When God calls you, even if you're a servant, you're free in His eyes. Similarly, even if you're free, when Christ calls you, you become His humble servant.

Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

You've been purchased at a great cost; don't live as slaves to others.

Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

My dear friends, whatever situation you were in when God called you, stay in it, close to God.

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.

Regarding unmarried individuals, I don't have a direct instruction from God. But, I offer my advice, as someone who has received God's grace to be trustworthy.

I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.

I believe, given our current struggles, it's beneficial for a man to remain as he is.

Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

If you're married, don't seek to be free of it. If you're unmarried, don't look for a wife.

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.

If you choose to marry, it's not a sin; the same goes for a virgin who marries. But be aware, marriage comes with its own set of challenges. I'm just giving you a heads up.

But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;

Dear brothers, time is fleeting. So, even those with spouses should live as if they were alone.

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;

Those who cry should act as if they aren't crying; those who are happy should behave as if they aren't joyful; and those who purchase should act as if they own nothing.

And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

Those who use the things of this world should not be wrapped up in them, for this world as it is now is passing away.

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:

I wish for you to be free from worries. A man who is single focuses on pleasing the Lord, caring for His matters.

But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.

A married man is often preoccupied with worldly matters, seeking ways to make his wife happy.

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.

A single woman and a wife are not the same. The single woman focuses on spiritual matters, seeking purity in body and soul. But a married woman tends to worldly matters, aiming to make her husband happy.

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.

I'm saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but to promote what is appropriate and to enable you to focus on serving the Lord without any distractions.

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.

If a man feels he's not acting honorably towards his lady love, who is of age and ready for commitment, he should follow his heart without guilt. They should get married.

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.

He who remains firm in his heart, free from pressure, in control of his own desires, and decides not to marry the young woman, does well.

So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.

He who marries her off does good, but he who doesn't, does even better.

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.

As long as her husband is alive, a wife is committed to him by law. But if he passes away, she's free to marry anyone she chooses, as long as it's in accordance with God's will.

But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

In my opinion, she finds more joy in staying as she is, and I believe that I'm guided by God's Spirit in saying this.