1 Corinthians 7:1-19

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.