Chapter 7

1Now about the matters you wrote about: it is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.

2But because sexual immorality is a real danger, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.

3A husband should give his wife the sexual intimacy he owes her, and a wife should do the same for her husband.

4A wife does not have sole authority over her own body; her husband shares that authority. In the same way, a husband does not have sole authority over his own body; his wife shares it.

5Do not withhold sexual intimacy from each other, except perhaps for a limited time when you both agree to devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again, so that Satan cannot tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

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

7I would like everyone to be as I am. Yet each person has a particular gift from God: one person is suited to one way of life, and another to a different way.

8To unmarried people and widows I say this: it is good for them to remain unmarried, as I do.

9But if they cannot control their sexual desires, they should marry. It is better to marry than to burn with desire.

10To married people I give this command—not merely I, but the Lord Jesus: a wife must not separate from her husband.

11But if she does separate, she should remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. A husband must not divorce his wife.

12To everyone else I say this—I, not the Lord: if a believing man has a wife who does not believe, and she agrees to live with him, he must not divorce her.

13If a believing woman has a husband who does not believe, and he agrees to live with her, she must not divorce him.

14The husband who does not believe has been set apart for God through his wife, and the wife who does not believe has been set apart through her believing husband. Otherwise, their children would not be regarded as belonging to God; as it is, they are set apart for him.

15But if the partner who does not believe wants to leave, let that person leave. A believing husband or wife is not bound in such cases. God has called us to live in peace.

16Wife, how do you know whether your husband will be saved through you? Husband, how do you know whether your wife will be saved through you?

17In any case, each person should live according to the situation the Lord has given them and in which God called them. This is the rule I give in all the communities of believers.

18Was a man already circumcised when God called him? He should not try to reverse it. Was a man uncircumcised when God called him? He should not become circumcised.

19Being circumcised or uncircumcised is not what matters. What matters is obeying God’s commands.

20Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.

21Were you enslaved when God called you? Do not let that trouble you. But if you can gain your freedom, take the opportunity.

22A person who was enslaved when called by the Lord is now the Lord’s freed person. In the same way, someone who was free when called is now a slave of the Messiah, God’s Anointed King.

23You were bought at a price. Do not become slaves of human beings.

24Brothers and sisters, each of you should remain with God in the situation you were in when he called you.

25Now about unmarried young women: I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as someone whom the Lord has treated with mercy and made trustworthy.

26Because of the present crisis, I think it is good for a person to remain as they are.

27Are you bound in marriage to a wife? Do not seek release. Are you no longer bound to a wife? Do not seek a wife.

28But if you marry, you have not sinned. If an unmarried woman marries, she has not sinned. Still, people who marry will face hardship in this life, and I would like to spare you that.

29Brothers and sisters, what I mean is that the remaining time is short. From now on, even those who have wives must hold marriage lightly, as though they had none.

30Those who weep should live as though their grief were not everything, and those who rejoice as though their joy were not everything. Those who buy things should live as though the possessions were not truly theirs.

31Those who make use of this world should not be consumed by it, because the present form of this world is passing away.

32I want you to be free from worry. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s work and how to please the Lord.

33But a married man is concerned about everyday responsibilities and how to please his wife.

34His interests are divided. An unmarried woman, whether previously married or not, is concerned about the Lord’s work so that she may be set apart for God in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about everyday responsibilities and how to please her husband.

35I say this for your own benefit, not to restrict you. I want to help you live properly and devote yourselves to the Lord without distraction.

36If a man thinks he is treating the unmarried woman in his care improperly, if she is past the usual age for marriage and marriage ought to happen, he may do what he thinks best. He is not sinning; let the marriage take place.

37But if he has settled the matter firmly in his own mind, is under no pressure, is free to decide, and has decided to keep her unmarried, he will do well.

38So the one who lets the marriage go ahead does well, and the one who does not will do better.

39A woman is bound to her husband for as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, as long as he belongs to the Lord.

40In my judgment, however, she will be happier if she remains unmarried. And I think that I too have God’s Spirit.