1 Corinthians 7:1-19

Darby Translation

7 But concerning the things of which ye have written [to me]: [It is] good for a man not to touch a woman;

²but on account of fornications, let each have his own wife, and each [woman] have her own husband.

³Let the husband render her due to the wife, and in like manner the wife to the husband.

⁴The wife has not authority over her own body, but the husband: in like manner also the husband has not authority over his own body, but the wife.

⁵Defraud not one another, unless, it may be, by consent for a time, that ye may devote yourselves to prayer, and again be together, that Satan tempt you not because of your incontinency.

⁶But this I say, as consenting [to], not as commanding [it].

⁷Now I wish all men to be even as myself: but every one has his own gift of God: one man thus, and another thus.

⁸But I say to the unmarried and to the widows, It is good for them that they remain even as I.

⁹But if they have not control over themselves, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn.

¹⁰But to the married I enjoin, not *I*, but the Lord, Let not wife be separated from husband;

¹¹(but if also she shall have been separated, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband;) and let not husband leave wife.

¹²But as to the rest, *I* say, not the Lord, If any brother have an unbelieving wife, and *she* consent to dwell with him, let him not leave her.

¹³And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to dwell with her, let her not leave [her] husband.

¹⁴For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the brother; since [otherwise] indeed your children are unclean, but now they are holy.

¹⁵But if the unbeliever go away, let them go away; a brother or a sister is not bound in such [cases], but God has called us in peace.

¹⁶For what knowest thou, O wife, if thou shalt save thy husband? or what knowest thou, O husband, if thou shalt save thy wife?

¹⁷However, as the Lord has divided to each, as God has called each, so let him walk; and thus I ordain in all the assemblies.

¹⁸Has any one been called circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised: has any one been called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.

¹⁹Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but keeping God's commandments.

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1 Corinthians 7:1-19

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) ²But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. ³The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife,^(B) and likewise the wife to her husband. ⁴The 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. ⁵Do 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. ⁶I say this as a concession, not as a command.^(F) ⁷I 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)

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

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

¹²To 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. ¹³And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. ¹⁴For 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)

¹⁵But 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) ¹⁶How 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

¹⁷Nevertheless, 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) ¹⁸Was 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) ¹⁹Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing.^(U) Keeping God’s commands is what counts.