1 Corinthians 7 NKJV ISV Parallel

◄ 1 Corinthians 7 ►

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1Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

1Now about what you asked: "Is it advisable for a man not to marry?"

2Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.

2Because sexual immorality is so rampant, every man should have his own wife, and every woman should have her own husband.

3Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband.

3A husband should fulfill his obligation to his wife, and a wife should do the same for her husband.

4The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

4A wife does not 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.

5Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

5Do not withhold yourselves from each other unless you agree to do so just for a set time, in order to devote yourselves to prayer. Then you should come together again so that Satan does not tempt you through your lack of self-control.

6But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment.

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

7For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.

7I would like everyone to be unmarried, like I am. However, each person has a special gift from God, one this and another that.

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

8I say to those who are unmarried, especially to widows: It is good for them to remain like me.

9but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

9However, if they cannot control themselves, they should get married, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

10Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband.

10To married people I give this command (not really I, but the Lord): A wife must not leave her husband.

11But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.

11But if she does leave him, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. Likewise, a husband must not abandon his wife.

12But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her.

12I (not the Lord) say to the rest of you: If a brother has a wife who is an unbeliever and she is willing to live with him, he must not abandon her.

13And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him.

13And if a woman has a husband who is an unbeliever and he is willing to live with her, she must not abandon him.

14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.

14For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified because of her husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.

15But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace.

15But if the unbelieving partner leaves, let him go. In such cases the brother or sister is not under obligation. God has called you to live in peace.

16For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?

16Wife, you might be able to save your husband. Husband, you might be able to save your wife.

17But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches.

17Nevertheless, everyone should live the life that the Lord gave him and to which God called him. This is my rule in all the churches.

18Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised.

18Was anyone circumcised when he was called? He should not try to change that. Was anyone uncircumcised when he was called? He should not get circumcised.

19Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters.

19Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but obeying God's commandments is everything.

20Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called.

20Everyone should stay in the same condition in which he was called.

21Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it.

21Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let that bother you. Of course, if you have a chance to become free, take advantage of the opportunity.

22For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave.

22For the slave who has been called to belong to the Lord is the Lord's free person. In the same way, the free person who has been called is the Messiah's slave.

23You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.

23You were bought for a price. Stop becoming slaves of people.

24Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.

24Brothers, everyone should stay in the same condition in which he was called by God.

25Now concerning virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy.

25Now concerning virgins, although I do not have any command from the Lord, I will give you my opinion as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy.

26I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress—that it is good for a man to remain as he is:

26In view of the present crisis, I think it is prudent for a man to stay as he is.

27Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife.

27Have you become committed to a wife? Stop trying to get released from your commitment. Have you been freed from your commitment to a wife? Stop looking for one.

28But even if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you.

28But if you do get married, you have not sinned. And if a virgin gets married, she has not sinned. However, these people will experience trouble in this life, and I want to spare you from that.

29But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none,

29This is what I mean, brothers: The time is short. From now on, those who have wives should live as though they had none,

30those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess,

30and those who mourn as though they did not mourn, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they did not own a thing,

31and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away.

31and those who use the things in the world as though they were not dependent on them. For the world in its present form is passing away.

32But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord.

32I want you to be free from concerns. An unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord, that is, about how he can please the Lord.

33But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife.

33But a married man is concerned about things of this world, that is, about how he can please his wife,

34There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband.

34and so his attention is divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the affairs of the Lord, so that she may be holy in body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world, that is, about how she can please her husband.

35And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.

35I'm saying this for your benefit, not to put a noose around your necks, but to promote good order and unhindered devotion to the Lord.

36But if any man thinks he is behaving improperly toward his virgin, if she is past the flower of youth, and thus it must be, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin; let them marry.

36If a man thinks he is not behaving properly toward his virgin, and if his passion is so strong that he feels he ought to marry her, let him do what he wants; he isn't sinning. Let them get married.

37Nevertheless he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own will, and has so determined in his heart that he will keep his virgin, does well.

37However, if a man stands firm in his resolve, feels no necessity, and has made up his mind to keep her a virgin, he will be acting appropriately.

38So then he who gives her in marriage does well, but he who does not give her in marriage does better.

38So then the man who marries the virgin acts appropriately, but the man who refrains from marriage does even better.

39A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.

39A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, only in the Lord.

40But she is happier if she remains as she is, according to my judgment—and I think I also have the Spirit of God.

40However, in my opinion she will be happier if she stays as she is. And in saying this, I think that I, too, have God's Spirit.

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