The Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians (WEB)
7:1 Now concerning the things about which you wrote to me. It is good for a man not to touch a
woman. 7:2But, because of sexual immoralities, let each man have his own wife, and let each
woman have her own husband. 7:3Let the husband render to his wife the affection owed her, and
likewise also the wife to her husband. 7:4The wife doesn't have authority over her own body, but
the husband. Likewise also the husband doesn't have authority over his own body, but the wife.
7:5Don't deprive one another, unless it is by consent for a season, that you may give yourselves to
fasting and prayer, and may be together again, that Satan doesn't tempt you because of your lack
of self-control. 7:6But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment. 7:7Yet I wish that all
men were like me. However each man has his own gift from God, one of this kind, and another of
that kind. 7:8But I say to the unmarried and to widows, it is good for them if they remain even as I
am. 7:9But if they don't have self-control, let them marry. For it's better to marry than to burn. 7:10But
to the married I command -- not I, but the Lord -- that the wife not leave her husband 7:11(but if she
departs, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband not
leave his wife. 7:12But to the rest I -- not the Lord -- say, if any brother has an unbelieving wife, and
she is content to live with him, let him not leave her. 7:13The woman who has an unbelieving
husband, and he is content to live with her, let her not leave her husband. 7:14For the unbelieving
husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the husband. Otherwise
your children would be unclean, but now are they holy. 7:15Yet if the unbeliever departs, let there
be separation. The brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us
in peace. 7:16For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you
know, husband, whether you will save your wife? 7:17Only, as the Lord has distributed to each man,
as God has called each, so let him walk. So I command in all the assemblies. 7:18Was anyone called
being circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Has any been called in uncircumcision?
Let him not be circumcised. 7:19Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the
keeping of the commandments of God. 7:20Let each man stay in that calling in which he was called.
7:21Were you called being a bondservant? Don't let that bother you, but if you get an opportunity to
become free, use it. 7:22For he who was called in the Lord being a bondservant is the Lord's free
man. Likewise he who was called being free is Christ's bondservant. 7:23You were bought with a
price. Don't become bondservants of men. 7:24Brothers, let each man, in whatever condition he was
called, stay in that condition with God. 7:25Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment from
the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who has obtained mercy from the Lord to be trustworthy.
7:26I think that it is good therefore, because of the distress that is on us, that it is good for a man to
be as he is. 7:27Are you bound to a wife? Don't seek to be freed. Are you free from a wife? Don't
seek a wife. 7:28But if you marry, you have not sinned. If a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet
such will have oppression in the flesh, and I want to spare you. 7:29But I say this, brothers: the time
is short, that from now on, both those who have wives may be as though they had none; 7:30and
those who weep, as though they didn't weep; and those who rejoice, as though they didn't rejoice;
and those who buy, as though they didn't possess; 7:31and those who use the world, as not using it
to the fullest. For the mode of this world passes away. 7:32But I desire to have you to be free from
cares. He who is unmarried is concerned for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord;
7:33but he who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife.
7:34There is also a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the
things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares
about the things of the world -- how she may please her husband. 7:35This I say for your own profit;
not that I may throw a snare on you, but for that which is appropriate, and that you may attend to
the Lord without distraction. 7:36But if any man thinks that he is behaving inappropriately toward
his virgin, if she is past the flower of her age, and if need so requires, let him do what he desires.
He doesn't sin. Let them marry. 7:37But he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity,
but has power over his own heart, to keep his own virgin, will do well. 7:38So then both he who
gives his own virgin in marriage does well, and he who doesn't give her in marriage will do better.
7:39A wife is bound by law for so long time as her husband lives; but if the husband is dead, she is
free to be married to whoever she desires, only in the Lord. 7:40But she is happier if she stays as she
is, in my judgment, and I think that I also have God's Spirit.