^7:2But because of immoralities, each man should have relations with² his own wife and each woman with³ her own husband. ^7:3A husband should give to his wife her sexual rights,⁴ and likewise a wife to her husband. ^7:4It is not the wife who has the rights to her own body, but the husband. In the same way, it is not the husband who has the rights to his own body, but the wife. ^7:5Do not deprive each other, except by mutual agreement for a specified time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer.⁵ Then resume your relationship,⁶ so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. ^7:6I say this as a concession, not as a command. ^7:7I wish that everyone was as I am. But each has his own gift from God, one this way, another that.

^7:8To the unmarried and widows I say that it is best for them to remain as I am. ^7:9But if they do not have self-control, let them get married. For it is better to marry than to burn with sexual desire.⁷

^7:10To the married I give this command—not I, but the Lord⁸—a wife should not divorce a husband ^7:11(but if she does, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband), and a husband should not divorce his wife.

^7:12To the rest I say—I, not the Lord⁹—if a brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is happy to live with him, he should not divorce her. ^7:13And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is happy to live with her, she should not divorce him.

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Footnotes

2 Grk “each man should have his own wife.” “Have” in this context means “have marital relations with” (see the following verse). The verb ἐχέτω (echetō, “have”) occurs twice in the Greek text, but has not been repeated in the translation for stylistic reasons. This verb occurs 8 times in the (Exod 2:1; Deut 28:30; 2 Chr 11:21; 1 Esd 9:12, 18; Tob 3:8; Isa 13:16; 54:1) with the meaning “have sexual relations with,” and 9 times elsewhere in the NT with the same meaning (Matt 20:23; 22:28; Mark 6:18; 12:33; Luke 20:28; John 4:18 [twice]; 1 Cor 5:1; 7:2).
3 Grk “should have.” For explanation of the translation, see the note on “have relations with” earlier in this verse.
4 Grk “fulfill the obligation” or “pay the debt,” referring to the fulfillment of sexual needs within marriage.
5 Most later witnesses (א2 𝔐 sy) add “fasting and” (τῇ νηστείᾳ καί, tē nēsteia kai) before “prayer.” But such an addition is motivated by ascetic concerns; further, its lack in 𝔓11vid,46 א* A B C D F G P Ψ 33 1739 1881 2464 latt co argues decisively against its authenticity.
6 Grk “and be together again.”
7 Grk “than to burn,” a figure of speech referring to unfulfilled sexual passion.
8 Not I, but the Lord. Here and in v. 12 Paul distinguishes between his own apostolic instruction and Jesus’ teaching during his earthly ministry. In vv. 10–11, Paul reports the Lord’s own teaching about divorce (cf. Mark 10:5–12).
9 I, not the Lord. Here and in v. 10 Paul distinguishes between his own apostolic instruction and Jesus’ teaching during his earthly ministry. In vv. 12–16, Paul deals with a situation about which the Lord gave no instruction in his earthly ministry.