1 Corinthians 7 — ASVBT
7Verse 1Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.Verse 2But, because of fornications, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.Verse 3Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.Verse 4The wife hath not power over her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power over his own body, but the wife.Verse 5Defraud ye not one the other, except it be by consent for a season, that ye may give yourselves unto fasting and prayer, and may come together again, that Satan tempt you not because of your incontinency.Verse 6But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment.Verse 7For I would that all men were even as I myself. Howbeit each man hath his own gift from God, one after this manner, and another after that.Verse 8But I say to the unmarried and to widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.Verse 9But if they have not continency, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.Verse 10But unto the married I give charge, yea not I, but the Lord, That the wife depart not from her husbandVerse 11(but should she depart, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband); and that the husband leave not his wife.Verse 12But to the rest say I, not the Lord: If any brother hath an unbelieving wife, and she is content to dwell with him, let him not leave her.Verse 13And the woman that hath an unbelieving husband, and he is content to dwell with her, let her not leave him.Verse 14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.Verse 15Yet if the unbelieving departeth, let him depart: the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us in peace.Verse 16For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O husband, whether thou shalt save thy wife?Verse 17Only, as God hath distributed to each man, as the Lord hath called each, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all the churches.Verse 18Was any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Was any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.Verse 19Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but the keeping of the commandments of God.Verse 20Let each man abide in that calling wherein he was called.Verse 21Wast thou called being a bondservant? care not for it: nay, even if thou canst become free, use it rather.Verse 22For he that was called in the Lord being a bondservant, is the Lord’s freedman: likewise also he that was called being free, is Christ’s bondservant.Verse 23Ye were bought with a price; become not bondservants of men.Verse 24Brethren, let each man, wherein he was called, therein abide with God.Verse 25Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: but I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be trustworthy.Verse 26I think therefore that this is good by reason of the distress that is upon us, namely, that it is good for a man to be as he is.Verse 27Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.Verse 28But shouldest thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Yet such shall have tribulation in the flesh: and I would spare you.Verse 29But this I say, brethren, the time is shortened: henceforth it is such that both those that have wives may be as though they had none;Verse 30and those that weep, as though they wept not; and those that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and those that buy, as though they possessed not;Verse 31and those that use this world, as not using it to the full: for the fashion of this world passeth away.Verse 32But I would have you to be free from cares. He that is unmarried is careful for the things of the Lord, how he shall please the Lord:Verse 33but he that is married is careful for the things of the world, how he shall please his wife.Verse 34There is a difference between both the wife and the virgin. The unmarried is careful for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married is careful for the things of the world, how she shall please her husband.Verse 35And this I say for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is seemly, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.Verse 36But if any man thinketh that he behaveth himself unseemly toward his virgin, if she be past the flower of her age, and if need so requireth, let him do what he will; he sinneth not; let them marry.Verse 37But he that standeth steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power as touching his own will, and hath determined this in his heart, to keep his own virgin, doeth well.Verse 38So then even he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.Verse 39A wife is bound by the law for so long time as her husband liveth; but if the husband indeed be dead, she is free to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.Verse 40But she is happier if she abide as she is, after my judgment: and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.