LO - I Corinthians - 7

7:1  Now, concerning the things of which you wrote me: It is good for a man not to marry a woman.

7:2  Nevertheless, on account of uncleanness, let every man have a wife of his own, and let every woman have her own husband.

7:3  Let the husband fulfill his obligations to his wife: and in like manner, also, the wife to the husband.

7:4  The wife has not the command of her own person, but the husband: and in like manner, also, the husband has not the command of his own person, but the wife.

7:5  Deprive not one another, unless, perhaps, by consent, for a time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; and do you come again together, that Satan may not tempt you through your incontinency.

7:6  But this which follows I speak as an advice, and not as an injunction,

7:7  that I wish all men to be as I myself am. However, each has a proper gift from God; one, indeed, after this manner, and another after that.

7:8  I say, to the unmarried men, and to the widows, it is good for them if they can remain even as I do.

7:9  Yet, if they can not live continently, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to be in pain.

7:10  Now, those who have married I charge, (yet not I, but the Lord;) let not a wife depart from her husband:

7:11  but if she even depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband; and a husband must not put away his wife.

7:12  But the rest I command, not the Lord; if any brother have an infidel wife, who herself is well pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

7:13  And a woman who has an infidel husband, who himself is well pleased to dwell with her, let her not put him away.

7:14  For the infidel husband is sanctified by the wife, and the infidel wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise, certainly, your children were unclean; whereas, indeed, they are holy.

7:15  But if the infidel depart, let him depart: the brother or the sister is not in bondage with such; but God has called us to peace.

7:16  For how do you know, O wife! whether you shall save your husband? And how do you know, O husband! whether you shall save your wife?

7:17  But as God has distributed to every one, and as the Lord has called every one, so let him walk; and so, in all the congregations, I ordain.

7:18  Has any circumcised one been called? Let him not be uncircumcised. Has any one been called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised.

7:19  Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.

7:20  Let every one remain in the same calling in which he was called.

7:21  Were you called, being a bondman? Be not careful to be made free. Yet, if you can be made free, prefer it.

7:22  For a bondman, who is called by the Lord, is the Lord's freedman. In like manner, also, a freedman who is called, is Christ's bondman.

7:23  You were bought with a price: become not the slaves of men.

7:24  Brethren, in what state each one was called, in that let him remain with God.

7:25  Now, concerning virgins, I have not a commandment of the Lord: but, I give my judgment, as having obtained mercy of the Lord, to be faithful.

7:26  I declare this, then, to be good, on account of the present distress; namely, that it is good for a man who is unmarried, to continue so.

7:27  Are you bound to a wife? seek not to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

7:28  And yet, if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she has not sinned: nevertheless, affliction in the flesh such shall have; but I spare you.

7:29  Now, this I say, brethren, the time being short, it remains that both they who have wives, should be as not having wives;

7:30  and they who weep, as not weeping; and they who rejoice, as not rejoicing; and they who buy, as not possessing;

7:31  and they who use this world, as not abusing it: for the form of this world passes by.

7:32  Besides, I would have you without anxious care. The unmarried man anxiously cares for the things of the Lord; how he shall please the Lord.

7:33  But he who is married, anxiously cares for the things of the world; how he shall please his wife.

7:34  There is the like difference between the wife and the virgin. The unmarried woman anxiously cares for the things of the Lord; that she may be holy, both in body and spirit: but she who is married, anxiously cares for the things of the world; how she shall please her husband.

7:35  Now, this I say, for your own benefit; not with a view to lay a snare for you, but for that which is becoming, and best adapted to a steady, uninterrupted adherence to the Lord.

7:36  But if any one thinks he acts improperly toward his virgin, if she be above age, unmarried, and so needs to be married; let him do what she inclines, he does not sin: let such marry.

7:37  But he who stands firm in his heart; not having necessity, and has power concerning his own will; and has determined this in his own heart, to keep his virgin, does well.

7:38  So, then, even he who gives her in marriage, does well; but he who gives her not in marriage, does better.

7:39  A 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 pleases; only in the Lord.

7:40  But she is happier if she continue as she is. This is my opinion; and I think I have the Spirit of God.