1 Corinthians 7:7-40

71Yet I wish that all 2men were 3even as I myself am. However, 4each has his own gift from God, one in this way, and another in that.

8But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is 5good for them if they remain 6even as I. 9But if they do not have self-control, 7let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

10But to the married I give instructions, 8not I, but the Lord, that the wife is not to leave her husband 11(but if she does leave, she must remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband is not to 9divorce his wife.

12But to the rest 10I say, not the Lord, that if any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she consents to live with him, he must not 11divorce her. 13And 12if any woman has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not 13divorce her husband. 14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through 14her believing husband; for otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are 15holy. 15Yet if the unbelieving one is leaving, 16let him leave; the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called 17us 18in peace. 16For how do you know, wife, whether you will 19save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

17Only, 20as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, in this way let him walk. And 21so I direct in 22all the churches. 18Was any man called when he was already circumcised? He is not to become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? 23He is not to be circumcised. 1924Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is 25the keeping of the commandments of God. 2026Each person is to remain in that 27state in which he was called.

21Were you called as a slave? Do not let it concern you. But if you are also able to become free, take advantage of that. 22For the one who was called in the Lord as a slave, is 28the Lord’s freed person; likewise the one who was called as free, is 29Christ’s slave. 2330You were bought for a price; do not become slaves of people. 24Brothers and sisters, 31each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called.

25Now concerning virgins, I have 32no command of the Lord, but I am offering direction as one who 3334by the mercy of the Lord is trustworthy. 26I think, then, that this is good in view of the 35present 36distress, that 37it is good for a man 38to 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 people as yourselves will have 39trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you. 29But this I say, brothers, 40the 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 41make full use of it; for 42the present form of this world is passing away.

32But I want you to be free from concern. One who is 43unmarried 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. 35I say this for your own benefit, not to put a restraint on you, but 44to promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord.

36But if anyone thinks that he is acting dishonorably toward his virgin, if she is 45past her youth and it ought to be so, let him do what he wishes, he is not sinning; let 46them marry. 37But the one who stands firm in his heart, 47if he is not under constraint, but has authority 48over his own will, and has decided this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin, he will do well. 38So then, both the one who gives his own virgin in marriage does well, and the one who does not give her in marriage will do better.

3949A wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband 50dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only 51in the Lord. 40But 52in my opinion she is 53happier if she remains as she is; and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.