1 Corinthians 7 Now as to the things concerning which ye wrote to me: it were good for a man not to touch a woman.

Worsley⁽ⁱ⁾ ¹ Now as to the things concerning which ye wrote to me: it were good for a man not to touch a woman. ² Nevertheless to prevent whoredoms, let every one have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. ³ Let the husband render to the wife due benevolence; and in like manner also the wife to the husband. ⁴ The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband; and in like manner also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. ⁵ Do not withdraw from one another, unless by consent for a season, that ye may attend to fasting and prayer: and come together again, least Satan tempt you through your incontinency. ⁶ But I say this by way of permission, not of command: ⁷ for I could wish that all men were as I myself am; but every man hath his proper gift from God, one of one kind and another of another? ⁸ Now to the unmarried and widows I say, it is good for them to continue so, as I do. ⁹ But if they have not the gift of continence, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with lust. ¹⁰ But those that are married, not I command, but the Lord, that the wife be not separated from her husband; ¹¹ (but if she separate, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband;) and that the husband put not away his wife. ¹² But to the rest say I, not the Lord, If any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she like to dwell with him, let him not put her away. ¹³ And if any wife hath an unbelieving husband, and he like to dwell with her, let her not leave him. ¹⁴ For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the husband: else were your children unclean; but they are holy. ¹⁵ But if the unbeliever depart, let them depart; a brother or a sister is not bound in such cases. ¹⁶ But God hath called us to peace; for how knowest thou, O wife, but thou shalt save thy husband; or how knowest thou, O husband, but thou shalt save thy wife? ¹⁷ However, as God hath distributed to every man, and as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk: and thus I order in all the churches. ¹⁸ Is any one called that is circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised: is any one called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised: for circumcision is nothing, ¹⁹ and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God. ²⁰ In the calling in which every one was called, let him continue. ²¹ Wast thou called being a slave, be not anxious about it; but if thou canst be made free, prefer it. ²² For he that is called in the Lord being a slave, is the Lord's freed-man: and he likewise that is called being free is the servant of Christ. ²³ Ye are bought with a price, do not become the slaves of men. ²⁴ Brethren, in whatever condition every one was when called, let him abide therein with God. ²⁵ But concerning single persons I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgement as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful. ²⁶ I think then, that it is---better on account of the present distress,---that it is better, I say, ²⁷ for a single man to be so. Art thou bound to a wife indeed? seek not to be loosed: but art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife. ²⁸ Though, if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned: such however will probably have more trouble in life: but I spare you. ²⁹ But this I say, brethren, that the time is short: it remains therefore, that even those, who have wives, be as though they had none; ³⁰ and they, that weep, as if they wept not; and they, that rejoice, as if they rejoiced not; and they, that buy, as if they possessed not; ³¹ and they, that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away. ³² And I would have you without anxiety. Now he, that is unmarried, careth for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; but he, ³³ that is married, is in care about the things of the world, and how he may please his wife. ³⁴ There is a difference also between a wife and a virgin: she, that is unmarried, careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but she, that is married, is in care about the things of the world, and how she may please her husband. ³⁵ And this I say for your own benefit, not that I may cast a snare upon you, but in order to recommend that which is fit and becoming before the Lord without distraction. ³⁶ But if any one think that he acts unbecomingly towards his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and that it ought to be so, let him do what he will; he doth not sin: let them marry. ³⁷ But he, that is stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath determined in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doth well. ³⁸ So that he, who giveth her in marriage, doth well; but he, that giveth her not in marriage, doth better. ³⁹ The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth: but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will, only in the Lord: ⁴⁰ but she is happier, in my opinion, if she continue as she is: and I think I have the Spirit of God.