(KJV) 1 Corinthians 7¹

⥃Principles of Marriage

[1] Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: [It is] good² for a man not to touch³ a woman. [2] Nevertheless, [to avoid⁴] fornication, let⁵ every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. [3] Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.⁶ [4] 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.⁷ [5] Defraud ye not one the other, except⁸ [it be] with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan⁹ tempt you not for your incontinency. [6] But I speak this by¹⁰ permission, [and] not of commandment. [7] For I would¹¹ that all men were even as I myself. But¹² every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that. [8] I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.¹³ [9] But if they cannot contain, let¹⁴ them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn. [10] And unto the married I command, [yet¹⁵] not I, but the Lord, Let¹⁶ not the wife depart from [her] husband: [11] But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or¹⁷ be reconciled to [her] husband: and let¹⁸ not the husband put away [his] wife. [12] But to the rest speak¹⁹ I, not the Lord: If²⁰ any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. [13] And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. [14] For the unbelieving husband²¹ is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else²² were your children unclean; but now are they holy. [15] But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother²³ or a sister is not under bondage in such [cases]: but²⁴ God hath called us to peace²⁵. [16] For what knowest thou, O wife²⁶, whether thou shalt save [thy] husband? or how²⁷ knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save [thy] wife?

⥃Live Your Calling

[17] But as God²⁸ hath distributed to every man, as the²⁹ Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain³⁰ I in all churches. [18] Is any man called being³¹ circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. [19] Circumcision³² is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but³³ the keeping of the commandments of God. [20] Let every man abide³⁴ in the same calling wherein he was called. [21] Art thou called [being³⁵] a servant³⁶? care³⁷ not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use [it] rather. [22] For he that is called in the Lord, [being] a servant, is the³⁸ Lord’s freeman³⁹: likewise also he that is called, [being] free, is Christ’s⁴⁰ servant. [23] Ye are⁴¹ bought with a price; be⁴² not ye the servants of men. [24] Brethren, let⁴³ every man, wherein he is called, therein abide⁴⁴ with God.

⥃The Unmarried and Widowed

[25] Now concerning⁴⁵ virgins⁴⁶ I have⁴⁷ no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained⁴⁸ mercy of the Lord to be faithful. [26] I suppose therefore that⁴⁹ this is good for the present distress⁵⁰, [I say], that [it is] good for a man so to be. [27] Art thou bound⁵¹ unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife. [28] But and if thou marry, thou hast⁵² not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless⁵³ such shall have trouble in the flesh: but⁵⁴ I spare you. [29] But this I say, brethren, the time⁵⁵ [is] short: it remaineth, that both⁵⁶ they that have wives be as though they had none; [30] And they that weep⁵⁷, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; [31] And they that use⁵⁸ this world, as not abusing [it]: for⁵⁹ the fashion⁶⁰ of this world passeth away. [32] But I would⁶¹ have you without carefulness. He that⁶² is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord⁶³, how he may please the Lord: [33] But he that is married careth⁶⁴ for the things that are of the world, how⁶⁵ he may please [his] wife. [34] There is difference [also] between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth⁶⁶ for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both⁶⁷ in body and in spirit: but she that⁶⁸ is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please [her] husband. [35] And this I speak for your own profit; not⁶⁹ that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely⁷⁰, and that⁷¹ ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction. [36] But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin⁷², if she pass the flower⁷³ of [her] age, and need⁷⁴ so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth⁷⁵ not: let them marry. [37] 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. [38] So then⁷⁶ he that giveth [her] in marriage doeth well⁷⁷; but he that giveth [her] not in marriage doeth better⁷⁸. [39] The wife⁷⁹ 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; only⁸⁰ in the Lord. [40] But she⁸¹ is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think⁸² also that I have the Spirit of God.