1 Corinthians Chapter 7 (Index)

001  Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

002  Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

003  Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

004  The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

005  Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

006  But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.

007  For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

008  I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.

009  But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

010  And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:

011  But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

012  But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

013  And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

014  For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

015  But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.

016  For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

017  But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.

018  Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.

019  Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.

020  Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.

021  Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.

022  For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.

023  Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

024  Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

025  Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.

026  I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.

027  Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

028  But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.

029  But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;

030  And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;

031  And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

032  But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:

033  But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.

034  There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

035  And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

036  But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.

037  Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.

038  So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.

039  The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

040  But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.