1 Corinthians 7:1-28 ▼

1 But concerning the things of which ye have written [to me]: [It is] good for a man not to touch a woman;

2 but on account of fornications, let each have his own wife, and each [woman] have her own husband.

3 Let the husband render her due to the wife, and in like manner the wife to the husband.

4 The wife has not authority over her own body, but the husband: in like manner also the husband has not authority over his own body, but the wife.

5 Defraud not one another, unless, it may be, by consent for a time, that ye may devote yourselves to prayer, and again be together, that Satan tempt you not because of your incontinency.

6 But this I say, as consenting [to], not as commanding [it].

7 Now I wish all men to be even as myself: but every one has his own gift of God: one man thus, and another thus.

8 But I say to the unmarried and to the widows, It is good for them that they remain even as I.

9 But if they have not control over themselves, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn.

10 But to the married I enjoin, not I, but the Lord, Let not wife be separated from husband;

11 (but if also she shall have been separated, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband;) and let not husband leave wife.

12 But as to the rest, I say, not the Lord, If any brother have an unbelieving wife, and she consent to dwell with him, let him not leave her.

13 And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to dwell with her, let her not leave [her] husband.

14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the brother; since [otherwise] indeed your children are unclean, but now they are holy.

15 But if the unbeliever go away, let them go away; a brother or a sister is not bound in such [cases], but God has called us in peace.

16 For what knowest thou, O wife, if thou shalt save thy husband? or what knowest thou, O husband, if thou shalt save thy wife?

17 However, as the Lord has divided to each, as God has called each, so let him walk; and thus I ordain in all the assemblies.

18 Has any one been called circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised: has any one been called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.

19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but keeping God's commandments.

20 Let each abide in that calling in which he has been called.

21 Hast thou been called [being] a bondman, let it not concern thee; but and if thou canst become free, use [it] rather.

22 For the bondman that is called in [the] Lord is the Lord's freedman; in like manner [also] the freeman being called is Christ's bondman.

23 Ye have been bought with a price; do not be the bondmen of men.

24 Let each, wherein he is called, brethren, therein abide with God.

25 But concerning virgins, I have no commandment of [the] Lord; but I give my opinion, as having received mercy of [the] Lord to be faithful.

26 I think then that this is good, on account of the present necessity, that [it is] good for a man to remain so as he is.

27 Art thou bound to a wife? seek not to be loosed; art thou free from a wife? do not seek a wife.

28 But if thou shouldest also marry, thou hast not sinned; and if the virgin marry, they have not sinned: but such shall have tribulation in the flesh; but I spare you.