1 Corinthians 7:1,7-8
1 Corinthians 7:1 The Message (MSG)
Now, getting down to the questions you asked in your letter to me. First, Is it a good thing to have sexual relations?
1 Corinthians 7:7-8-9 The Message (MSG)
Sometimes I wish everyone were single like me—a simpler life in many ways! But celibacy is not for everyone any more than marriage is. God gives the gift of the single life to some, the gift of the married life to others. I do, though, tell the unmarried and widows that singleness might well be the best thing for them, as it has been for me. But if they can’t manage their desires and emotions, they should by all means go ahead and get married. The difficulties of marriage are preferable by far to a sexually tortured life as a single.
1 Corinthians 7:1 King James Version (KJV)
Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
1 Corinthians 7:7-8 King James Version (KJV)
For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that. I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
1 Corinthians 7:1 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman.
1 Corinthians 7:7-8 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995)
Yet I wish that all men were even as I myself am. However, each man has his own gift from God, one in this manner, and another in that. But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I.
1 Corinthians 7:1 New Century Version (NCV)
Now I will discuss the things you wrote me about. It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.
1 Corinthians 7:7-8 New Century Version (NCV)
I wish that everyone were like me, but each person has his own gift from God. One has one gift, another has another gift. Now for those who are not married and for the widows I say this: It is good for them to stay unmarried as I am.
1 Corinthians 7:1 American Standard Version (ASV)
Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
1 Corinthians 7:7-8 American Standard Version (ASV)
Yet I would that all men were even as I myself. Howbeit each man hath his own gift from God, one after this manner, and another after that. But I say to the unmarried and to widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
1 Corinthians 7:1 New International Version (NIV)
Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”
1 Corinthians 7:7-8 New International Version (NIV)
I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that. Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do.
1 Corinthians 7:1 New King James Version (NKJV)
Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
I Corinthians 7:7-8 New King James Version (NKJV)
For 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. But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am
1 Corinthians 7:1 Amplified Bible (AMP)
Now as to the matters of which you wrote: It is good (beneficial, advantageous) for a man not to touch a woman [outside marriage].
1 Corinthians 7:7-8 Amplified Bible (AMP)
I wish that all the people were as I am; but each person has his own gift from God, one of this kind and one of that. But I say to the unmarried and to the widows, [that as a practical matter] it is good if they remain [single and entirely devoted to the Lord] as I am.
1 Corinthians 7:1 New Living Translation (NLT)
Now regarding the questions you asked in your letter. Yes, it is good to abstain from sexual relations.
1 Corinthians 7:7-8 New Living Translation (NLT)
But I wish everyone were single, just as I am. Yet each person has a special gift from God, of one kind or another. So I say to those who aren’t married and to widows—it’s better to stay unmarried, just as I am.
1 Corinthians 7:1 The Passion Translation (TPT)
Now for my response concerning the issues you’ve asked me to address. You wrote saying, “It is proper for a man to live in celibacy.”
1 Corinthians 7:7-8 The Passion Translation (TPT)
I would wish that all of you could live unmarried, just as I do. Yet I understand that we are all decidedly different, with each having a special grace for one thing or another. So let me say to the unmarried and those who have lost their spouses, it is fine for you to remain single as I am.