1 Corinthians 7

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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?

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.

18 Has any circumcised one been called? Let him not be uncircumcised. Has any one been 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 one remain in the same calling in which he was called.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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