1 Corinthians 7:1-9 ▼

1 Now, concerning the things that you wrote about: It's good for men not to get married.

2 But in order to avoid sexual sins, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband.

3 Husbands and wives should satisfy each other's [sexual] needs.

4 A wife doesn't have authority over her own body, but her husband does. In the same way, a husband doesn't have authority over his own body, but his wife does.

5 Don't withhold yourselves from each other unless you agree to do so for a set time to devote yourselves to prayer. Then you should get back together so that Satan doesn't use your lack of self-control to tempt you.

6 What I have just said is not meant as a command but as a suggestion.

7 I would like everyone to be like me. However, each person has a special gift from God, and these gifts vary from person to person.

8 I say to those who are not married, especially to widows: It is good for you to stay single like me.

9 However, if you cannot control your desires, you should get married. It is better for you to marry than to burn [with sexual desire].