1 Corinthians 7:12-40

12But to the rest 1I say, not the Lord, that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he must not 2divorce her. 13And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not 3send her husband away. 14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through 4her believing husband; for otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are 5holy. 15Yet if the unbelieving one leaves, let him leave; the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called 6us 78to peace. 16For how do you know, O wife, whether you will 9save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?

17Only, 10as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, in this manner let him walk. And 11so I direct in 12all the churches. 18Was any man called when he was already circumcised? He is not to become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? 13He is not to be circumcised. 1914Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is 15the keeping of the commandments of God. 2016Each man must remain in that 17condition in which he was called.

21Were you called while a slave? 18Do not worry about it; but if you are able also to become free, rather 19do that. 22For he who was called in the Lord while a slave, is 20the Lord’s freedman; likewise he who was called while free, is 21Christ’s slave. 2322You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. 24Brethren, 23each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called.

25Now concerning virgins I have 24no command of the Lord, but I give an opinion as one who 2526by the mercy of the Lord is trustworthy. 26I think then that this is good in view of the 27present 28distress, that 29it is good for a man 30to 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. 28But if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have 31trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you. 29But this I say, brethren, 32the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none; 30and those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not possess; 31and those who use the world, as though they did not 33make full use of it; for 34the form of this world is passing away.

32But I want you to be free from concern. One who is 35unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; 33but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, 34and his interests are divided. The woman who is unmarried, and the virgin, is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband. 35This I say for your own benefit; not to put a restraint upon you, but 36to promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord.

36But if any man thinks that he is acting unbecomingly toward his virgin daughter, if she is past her youth, and if it must be so, let him do what he wishes, he does not sin; let 37her marry. 37But he who stands firm in his heart, 38being under no constraint, but has authority 39over his own will, and has decided this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin daughter, he will do well. 38So then both he who gives his own virgin daughter in marriage does well, and he who does not give her in marriage will do better.

3940A wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband 41is dead, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only 42in the Lord. 40But 43in my opinion she is happier if she remains as she is; and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.