1 Corinthians 7:7–40

⁷Yet 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.

⁸But I say to the unmarried and to widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. ⁹But if they have not continency, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn. ¹⁰But unto the married I give charge, yea not I, but the Lord, That the wife depart not from her husband ¹¹(but should she depart, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband); and that the husband leave not his wife. 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. ¹³And the woman that hath an unbelieving husband, and he is content to dwell with her, let her not leave her husband. ¹⁴For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the brother: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. 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. ¹⁶For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O husband, whether thou shalt save thy wife? ¹⁷Only, as the Lord hath distributed to each man, as God hath called each, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all the churches. ¹⁸Was any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Hath any been called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. ¹⁹Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but the keeping of the commandments of God. ²⁰Let each man abide in that calling wherein he was called. ²¹Wast thou called being a bondservant? care not for it: nay, even if thou canst become free, use it rather. ²²For he that was called in the Lord being a bondservant, is the Lord’s freedman: likewise he that was called being free, is Christ’s bondservant. ²³Ye were bought with a price; become not bondservants of men. ²⁴Brethren, let each man, wherein he was called, therein abide with God.

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. 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. ²⁷Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife. 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. ²⁹But this I say, brethren, the time is shortened, that henceforth both those that have wives may be as though they had none; 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; ³¹and those that use the world, as not using it to the full: for the fashion of this world passeth away. ³²But I would have you to be free from cares. He that is unmarried is careful for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord: ³³but he that is married is careful for the things of the world, how he may please his wife, ³⁴and is divided. So also the woman that is unmarried and the virgin 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 may please her husband. 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. ³⁶But if any man thinketh that he behaveth himself unseemly toward his virgin daughter, 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. ³⁷But he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power as touching his own will, and hath determined this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin daughter, shall do well. ³⁸So then both he that giveth his own virgin daughter in marriage doeth well; and he that giveth her not in marriage shall do better. ³⁹A wife is bound for so long time as her husband liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is free to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. ⁴⁰But she is happier if she abide as she is, after my judgment: and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.