1 Corinthians 7:1–9

PRINCIPLES OF MARRIAGE

7Now in response to the matters you wrote^E about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”^{F 2}But because sexual immorality is so common,^Gar each man should have sexual relations with his own wife,^as and each woman should have sexual relations with her own husband. ³A husband should fulfill his marital duty^at to his wife, and likewise a wife to her husband. ⁴A 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. ⁵Do not deprive^au one another—except when you agree for a time, to devote yourselves to^H prayer. Then come together again; otherwise, Satan may tempt you because of your lack of self-control. ⁶I say this as a concession, not as a command. ⁷I wish that all people were as I am. But each has his own gift^av from God, one person has this gift, another has that.

A WORD TO THE UNMARRIED

⁸I say to the unmarried^I and to widows:^aw It is good for them if they remain as I am. ⁹But if they do not have self-control,^a they should marry, since it is better to marry^b than to burn with desire.