“1 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: [It is] good
for a man not to touch a woman. 2 Nevertheless, [to avoid] fornication,
let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own
husband. 3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and
likewise also the wife unto the husband. 4 The wife hath not power of
her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not
power of his own body, but the wife. 5 Defraud ye not one the other,
except [it be] with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to
fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not
for your incontinency. 6 But I speak this by permission, [and] not of
commandment. 7 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. 8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good
for them if they abide even as I. 9 But if they cannot contain, let them
marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.”
“10 And unto the married I command, [yet] not I, but the Lord, Let not
the wife depart from [her] husband: 11 But and if she depart, let her
remain unmarried, or be reconciled to [her] husband: and let not the
husband put away [his] wife. 12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord:
If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to
dwell with him, let him not put her away. 13 And the woman which hath an
husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell 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: else were
your children unclean; but now are they holy. 15 But if the unbelieving
depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in
such [cases]: but God hath called us to peace. 16 For what knowest thou,
O wife, whether thou shalt save [thy] husband? or how knowest thou, O
man, whether thou shalt save [thy] wife?”
“17 But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called
every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches. 18 Is any
man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any
called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is
nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the
commandments of God. 20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein
he was called. 21 Art thou called [being] a servant? care not for it:
but if thou mayest be made free, use [it] rather. 22 For he that is
called in the Lord, [being] a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise
also he that is called, [being] free, is Christ’s servant. 23 Ye are
bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. 24 Brethren, let
every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.”
“25 Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I
give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be
faithful. 26 I suppose therefore that this is good for the present
distress, [I say], that [it is] good for a man so to be. 27 Art thou
bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife?
seek not a wife. 28 But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if
a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have
trouble in the flesh: but I spare you. 29 But this I say, brethren, the
time [is] short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as
though they had none; 30 And 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; 31 And they that use this world, as not
abusing [it]: for the fashion of this world passeth away. 32 But I would
have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things
that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: 33 But he that is
married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please
[his] wife. 34 There is difference [also] between a wife and a virgin.
The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be
holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the
things of the world, how she may please [her] husband. 35 And this I
speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for
that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without
distraction.”
“36 But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his
virgin, if she pass the flower of [her] age, and need so require, let
him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry. 37 Nevertheless he
that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power
over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep
his virgin, doeth well. 38 So then he that giveth [her] in marriage
doeth well; but he that giveth [her] not in marriage doeth 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 if she so abide, after my
judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.” (1
Corinthians 7:1-40 AV)
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