1 Corinthians 7:22-40 ▼

22 For he that is called in the Lord being a seruaunt, is the Lordes free man: Lykewyse also he that is called beyng free, is Christes seruaunt.

23 Ye are dearely bought, be not ye the seruauntes of men.

24 Brethren, let euery man wherin he is called, therin abyde with God.

25 Nowe concerning virgins I haue no commaundement of the Lord: yet geue I counsell, as one that hath obtayned mercy in the Lorde to be faythfull.

26 I suppose therfore that it is good for the present necessitie: for I say it is good for a man so to be.

27 Art thou bounde vnto a wife? seke not to be loosed: Art thou loosed from a wyfe? seke not a wyfe.

28 But and if thou marrie a wyfe, thou sinnest not, and if a virgin marrie, she hath not sinned: Neuerthelesse, such shall haue trouble in their fleshe, but I beare with you.

29 But this say I brethren, the tyme is short: It remayneth, that they which haue wyues, be as though they had none:

30 And they that wepe, as though they wept not: & they that reioyce, as though they reioyced not: and they that bye, as though they possessed not:

31 And they that vse this worlde, as though they vsed it not: For the fashion of this worlde goeth away.

32 I woulde haue you without care: He that is vnmaryed, careth for the thinges that belong to the Lorde, how he may please the Lorde:

33 But he that hath maryed awyfe, careth for the thinges that are of the worlde, how he may please his wyfe.

34 There is difference betweene a virgin and a wyfe: The vnmaryed woman careth for the thinges that are of the Lorde, that she may be holy both in body and in spirite: Againe she that is maryed careth for the thinges that pertayne to the world, how she may please her husbande.

35 This speake I for your profite, not to tangle you in a snare: but that ye may folowe that which is honest and comely, and that ye may cleaue fast vnto the Lorde without separation.

36 But if any man thinke that it is vncomely for his virgin if she passe the time of mariage, and neede so require, let him do what he wyll, he sinneth not: let them be maryed.

37 Neuerthelesse, he that purposeth surely in his heart hauing no neede, but hath power ouer his owne wyll, and hath so decreed in his heart that he wyl kepe his virgin, doth well.

38 So then he that ioyneth his virgin in maryage, doth well: but he that ioyneth not his virgin in mariage, doth better.

39 The wyfe is bounde to the lawe as long as her husbande lyueth: but if her husband be dead, she is at libertie to marry with whom she wil, onely in the Lorde.

40 But she is happier if she so abide, after my iudgement: And I thinke veryly that I haue the spirite of God.