1 Corinthians 7
1NOW concerning the things whereof ye wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman;
2but because of fornication, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.
3Let the husband render to the wife her due; and in like manner the wife also to the husband.
4The wife has not power over her own body, but the husband; and in like manner the husband also has not power over his own body, but the wife.
5Defraud not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer, and come again together, that Satan may not tempt you on account of your incontinency.
6But this I say by way of permission, not of command.
7But I would that all men were as myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one after this manner, and another after that.
8And I say to the unmarried and the widows, it is good for them if they remain as I also am.
9But if they have not self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn.
10And the married not I command, but the Lord, that the wife depart not from the husband.
11But if she have departed, let her remain unmarried, or let her be reconciled to her husband; and let the husband not put away his wife.
12But to the rest say I, not the Lord: If any brother has a wife that believes not, and she is pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
13And a woman who has a husband that believes not, and he is pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave her husband.
14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the husband; else your children are unclean; but now they are holy.
15But if the unbelieving departs, let him depart. The brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases; but God has called us to peace.
16For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? Or what knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
17Only, as the Lord apportioned to each one, as God has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches.
18Was any one called being circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Has any one been called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised.
19Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but the keeping of the commandments of God.
20Let each one abide in the same calling wherein he was called.
21Wast thou called being a servant? Care not for it; but if thou canst become free, use it rather.
22For he that was called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freedman; in like manner also the freeman, being called, is Christ's servant.
23Ye were bought with a price; become not servants of men.
24Brethren, let every man, wherein he was called, therein abide with God.
25Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord; but I give my judgment, as one that has obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.
26I consider therefore that this is good on account of the present necessity, that it is good for a man so to be.
27Art thou bound to a wife? Seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? Seek not a wife.
28But if also thou marry, thou sinnedst not; and if a virgin marry, she sinned not. But such shall have affliction in the flesh; but I spare you[7:28].
29But this I say, brethren, the time that remains is short; that both they who have wives may be as though they had none;
30and they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;
31and they that use this world, as not abusing it; for the fashion of this world is passing away.
32But I would have you without cares. He that is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord, how he shall please the Lord;
33but he that is married cares for the things of the world, how he shall please his wife.
34There is a difference also between the wife and the virgin. The unmarried woman cares for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but she that is married cares for the things of the world, how she shall please her husband.
35And this I say for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is seemly, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.
36But if any one thinks that he behaves himself unseemly toward his virgin, if she be past the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sins not; let them marry.
37But he that stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own will, and has determined this in his heart that he will keep his virgin, does well.
38So that both he that gives her in marriage does well, and he that gives her not in marriage does better.
39A wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
40But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment; and I too think that I have the Spirit of God.