7:1 Now concerning the things of which you* wrote to me: it is good for a man not to touch a woman sexually.
7:2 But, because of fornications, let each man have his own wife and let each woman have her own husband.
7:3 Let the husband give to the wife her owed benevolence and likewise also the wife to the husband.
7:4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife.
7:5 Do not deprive one another, lest it is from agreement for a season, that* you* may occupy yourselves with fasting and with prayer and you* may come together to the same again, in order that the Adversary may not tempt you* because of your* shortage of self-control.
7:6 But I am saying this by concession, not by commandment.
7:7 For* I wish that all men were even as I am myself. But each man has his own gift* from God, one so but another thus.
7:8 But I say to the unmarried and to widows, it is good for them if they remain even as I am.
7:9 But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for* it is better to marry than to be inflamed.
7:10 But I command to the married, (not I, but the Lord), That the wife is not to be separated from her husband
7:11 (but even if she is separated, let him remain unmarried or let her be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband is not to leave his wife.
7:12 But to the rest I say, (not the Lord); if any brother has an unbelieving wife and she consents to dwell with him, let him not leave her.
7:13 And if a wife who has an unbelieving husband and he consents to dwell with her, let her not leave her husband.
7:14 For* the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband. Consequently, your* children were unclean, but now they are holy.
7:15 Yet if the unbelieving spouse separates, let him separate; the brother or the sister is not enslaved in such. Now God has called us in peace.
7:16 For* O wife, how do you know if you will save your husband? Or O husband, how do you know if you will save your wife?
7:17 Except as God has divided to each one, as the Lord has called each, so let him walk. And so I command in all the congregations*.
7:18 Was anyone called being circumcised? Let him not be uncircumcised. Has any been called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised.
7:19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
7:20 Let each one remain in that calling in which he was called.
7:21 Were you called being a bondservant? Let it not be a care to you, but if you are also able to become free; use it rather.
7:22 For* he who was called in the Lord being a bondservant, is the Lord's freedman; likewise he who was called being free, is Christ's bondservant.
7:23 You* were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men.
7:24 Brethren, let each one abide with God in that in which he was called.
7:25 Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord, but I give my viewpoint, as one who has been shown-mercy by the Lord to be faithful.
7:26 Therefore I suppose this to be* good, because of the present necessity that is upon us; that it is good for a man to be like he is.
7:27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek divorce. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife.
7:28 But even if you marry, you have not sinned, and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have affliction in the flesh and I would spare you*.
7:29 But, I say this, brethren, the time is limited, that* furthermore both those who have wives may be as though they had none;
7:30 and those who weep, as though they did not weep, and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice, and those who buy, as though they did not have;
7:31 and those who use this world, as though they did not make full use of it; for* the fashion of this world is passing away.
7:32 But I wish for you* to be carefree. He who is unmarried is anxious for the things of the Lord, how he will please the Lord;
7:33 but he who is married is anxious for the things of the world, how he may please his wife.
7:34 He has been divided. The unmarried woman (also the virgin) is anxious for that which is of the Lord, that* she may be holy both in body and in spirit, but she who is married is anxious for the things of the world, how she will please her husband.
7:35 Now I say this is advantageous for yourselves*, not that* I may cast a noose upon you*, but *for what is decent and that you* may be devoted to the Lord without distraction.
7:36 But if anyone supposes he is behaving improperly toward his virgin, if she is beyond her prime and thus it ought to happen, let him do what he wills; he is not sinning; let them marry.
7:37 But he who stands, grounded in his heart, having no necessity, but has the authority concerning his own will and he has decided this in his own heart to keep his own virgin, he does well.
7:38 So-then both he who betroths his own virgin does well, and he who does not betroth his own virgin is doing better.
7:39 A wife is bound by law inasmuch time as her husband is living, but if the husband has fallen-asleep, she is free to be married to whom she wills , but only in the Lord.
7:40 But she is fortunate if she remains so, according to my viewpoint and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.