1 Corinthians 7:1-9 ▼

1 Now in response to the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”

2 But because sexual immorality is so common, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman should have sexual relations with her own husband.

3 A husband should fulfill his marital duty 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 one another—except when you agree for a time, to devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again; otherwise, Satan may tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

6 I say this as a concession, not as a command.

7 I wish that all people were as I am. But each has his own gift from God, one person has this gift, another has that.

8 I say to the unmarried and to widows: It is good for them if they remain as I am.

9 But if they do not have self-control, they should marry, since it is better to marry than to burn with desire.