1 Corinthians 7

RKJNT^{(i) 1} Now concerning the things about which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. ² Nevertheless, to avoid impurity, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. ³ Let the husband fulfill his marital duty to his wife: and likewise the wife to the husband. ⁴ The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does: and likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. ⁵ Do not deprive one another, except by consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to prayer; and then come together again, that Satan may not tempt you for your lack of self-control. ⁶ But I speak this as a concession, and not as a commandment. ⁷ For I wish that all men were as I am. But every man has his proper gift from God, one of this type, and another of that. ⁸ Therefore I say to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them to remain single, as I am. ⁹ But if they cannot contain themselves, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn with passion. ¹⁰ And to the married I give this command, not I, but the Lord, Let the wife not depart from her husband: ¹¹ But if she does depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let the husband not divorce his wife. ¹² But to the rest I say, not the Lord: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. ¹³ And the woman who has a husband who does not believe, and if he is willing to live with her, let her not leave him. ¹⁴ For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: otherwise your children would be unclean; but now are they holy. ¹⁵ But if the unbelieving one departs, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: for God has called us to peace. ¹⁶ For how do you know, O wife, whether you shall save your husband? or how do you know, O man, whether you shall save your wife? ¹⁷ But as the Lord has assigned to every man, as God has called every one, so let him walk. And this is my rule in all the churches. ¹⁸ Was any man circumcised when he was called? let him not become uncircumcised. Was any uncircumcised when called? let him not be circumcised. ¹⁹ Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping of the commandments of God is what matters. ²⁰ Let every man remain in the same situation in which he was called. ²¹ Were you called when a slave? do not let it trouble you: but if you may become free, do so. ²² For he who is called in the Lord while a slave, is the Lord's freedman: likewise he who is called while free, is Christ's slave. ²³ You were bought with a price; do not become the slaves of men. ²⁴ Brethren, let every man, in whatever situation he was in when called, remain there with God. ²⁵ Now concerning virgins I have no commandment from the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one who has obtained mercy from the Lord to be trustworthy. ²⁶ I think then, in view of the present distress, that it is good for a man to remain as he is. ²⁷ Are you bound to a wife? do not seek to be released. Are you released from a wife? do not seek a wife. ²⁸ But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless, those who marry shall have trouble in this life: and I seek to spare you. ²⁹ But this I say, brethren, the time is short: from now on let those who have wives be as though they had none; 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 possess; ³¹ And those who use this world, as though not engrossed in it: for the form of this world passes away. ³² I would have you be without concern. He who is unmarried is concerned for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: ³³ But he who is married is concerned for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife, ³⁴ And his interests are divided. And the unmarried woman or the virgin cares for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she who is married cares for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. ³⁵ And this I speak for your own benefit; not to restrain you, but to promote that which is seemly, and that you may attend to the Lord without distraction. ³⁶ But if any man thinks that he is behaving improperly toward the virgin he is engaged to, if she is passing the flower of her youth, and if need so requires, let him do what he wishes, he does not sin: let them marry. ³⁷ Nevertheless, he who stands steadfast in his heart, being under no compulsion, but having power over his own will, and having determined in his heart that he will keep his virginity, does well. ³⁸ So then he who marries does well; but he who does not marry does better. ³⁹ The wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to marry whom she wishes; only in the Lord. ⁴⁰ But in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is: and I also think that I have the Spirit of God.