1 Corinthians 7 Parallel Bible Translations

1 Corinthians 7 ▼
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1 NOW concerning the things which you wrote to me: It is proper for a husband not to have intimacy with his wife at times. Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”
2 Nevertheless, because of the danger of immorality, let every man cling to his own wife, and let every woman cling to her own husband. But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband.
3 Let the husband give to his wife the love which he owes her; and likewise also the wife to her husband. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.
4 The wife has no authority over her own body, but her husband; and likewise also the husband has no authority over his own body, but his wife. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 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 Therefore do not deprive one another except when both of you consent to do so, especially at the time when you devote yourselves to fasting and prayer; and then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your physical passion. Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
6 But I say this only to weak persons, for it is not part of the law. Now as a concession, not a command, I say this. I say this as a concession, not as a command.
7 For I would that all men were like myself in purity. But every man has his proper gift from God, one after this manner, and another after that. I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another. I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
8 I say this to those who have no wives and to widows, It is better for them to be as I am; To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am. Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do.
9 But if they cannot endure it, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion. But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
10 But those who have wives, I command, yet not I, but my LORD, Let not the wife be separated from her husband; To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.
11 But if she separate, let her remain single, or be reconciled to her husband; and let not the husband desert his wife. (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
12 But to the rest, I say this, not my LORD: If any brother has a wife who is not a convert, and she wishes to live with him, let him not leave her. To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): 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 the woman who has a husband who is not a convert but is content to live with her, let her not leave him. If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. 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 husband who is not a convert is sanctified through the wife who is a convert, and the wife who is not a convert is sanctified through the husband who is a convert; otherwise, their children would be impure, but in such cases they are pure. For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. 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.
15 But if the one who is not a convert wishes to separate, let him separate. In such cases, a convert man or woman is free; for God has called us to live in peace. But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace. 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.
16 For how do you know, O wife, that you shall save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, that you shall save your wife? For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife? How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
17 But every man, according as the LORD has distributed to him, and every man, as God has called him, so let him walk. And this I command also for all the churches. Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.
18 If a man was circumcised when he was called, let him not adhere to the party of uncircumcision. And if he was uncircumcised, when he was called, let him not be circumcised. Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. 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.
19 For circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the LORD’s commandments is everything. For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts.
20 Let every man remain in the station of life in which he is called. Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.
21 If you were a slave when you were called, do not feel concerned about it; but even though you can be made free, choose rather to serve. Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) 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 he who is called by our LORD, being a slave, is God’s free man; likewise he who is called, being a freeman, is also Christ’s servant. For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave.
23 You have been bought with a price; you must not therefore become slaves of men. You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings.
24 My brethren, let every man in whatever station of life he was called, remain therein, serving God. So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God. Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.
25 Now concerning virginity, I have no command from God; yet I give my advice as one who has been favored by God to be trustworthy. Now concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.
26 And I suppose that this is good for the present necessity, therefore I say, It is better for a man to remain as he is. I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is. Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is.
27 If you are married, do not seek divorce. If you are divorced from a wife, do not seek a wife. Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 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.
28 But if you marry, you do not sin; and if a virgin marry, she does not sin. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you. But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. But if you do marry, you have not sinned; 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 But this I do say, my brethren, the time is short; let those who have wives be as though they had none; This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not;
30 And those who weep, as though they had not wept; and those who rejoice, as though they had not rejoiced; and those who buy, as though they did not possess anything; and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, 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 And those who make use of this world should not abuse it, for the fashion of this world is passing away. and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away. those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.
32 Therefore I would that you were free from worldly cares. For he who is unmarried, is concerned in the things of his master, so as to please his master. I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord.
33 And he who is married is concerned with worldly things, in order to please his wife. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife—
34 So there is a difference between a married woman and a virgin. She who is unmarried is concerned about the welfare of her father, and to be pure both in body and in spirit; but she who is married is concerned with worldly things, in order to please her husband. and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. 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. 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 benefit; I am not trying to snare or put a yoke on you, but I exhort you to be perfect before the LORD, and faithful without distraction. I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord. I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.
36 If any man thinks that he is shamed by the behavior of his virgin daughter, because she has passed the marriage age, and he has not given her in marriage, and that he should give her, let him give her in marriage and he does not sin. Let her be married. If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed, if his passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry—it is no sin. 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 and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married.
37 Nevertheless, he who has sincerely decided, and who is not forced by circumstances, but has determined and decreed in his heart to keep his virgin daughter single, he does well. But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well. 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 gives his virgin daughter in marriage does well; and he who does not give his virgin daughter in marriage does even better. So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better. So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does better.
39 A wife is bound by the law, as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is free to marry whom she pleases, but only in our LORD. A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.
40 But in my opinion, she is happier to remain as she is. And I think also that I have the Spirit of God. Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God. In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is—and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.
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