1 Corinthians 7:9-31

9But if they do not have self-control, they should marry, since it is better to marry than to burn with desire.

10To the married I give this command  — not I, but the Lord — a wife is not to leave her husband.

11But if she does leave, she must remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband — and a husband is not to divorce his wife.

12But I (not the Lord) say to the rest: If any brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.

13Also, if any woman has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce her husband.

14For the unbelieving husband is made holy by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy by the husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is they are holy.

15But if the unbeliever leaves, let him leave. A brother or a sister is not bound in such cases. God has called you to live in peace.

16Wife, for all you know, you might save your husband. Husband, for all you know, you might save your wife.

17Let each one live his life in the situation the Lord assigned when God called him. This is what I command in all the churches.

18Was anyone already circumcised when he was called? He should not undo his circumcision. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? He should not get circumcised.

19Circumcision does not matter and uncircumcision does not matter. Keeping God’s commands is what matters.

20Let each of you remain in the situation in which he was called.

21Were you called while a slave? Don’t let it concern you. But if you can become free, by all means take the opportunity.

22For he who is called by the Lord as a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called as a free man is Christ’s slave.

23You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of people.

24Brothers and sisters, each person is to remain with God in the situation in which he was called.

25Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I do give an opinion as one who by the Lord’s mercy is faithful.

26Because of the present distress, I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is.

27Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you released from a wife? Do not seek a wife.

28However, if you do get married, you have not sinned, and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But such people will have trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you.

29This is what I mean, brothers and sisters: The time is limited, so from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none,

30those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they didn’t own anything,

31and those who use the world as though they did not make full use of it. For this world in its current form is passing away.