1 Corinthians 7:9-31

9But if they do not have self-control, 1let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

10But to the married I give instructions, 2not 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 3divorce his wife.

12But to the rest 4I say, not the Lord, that if any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she consents to live with him, he must not 5divorce her. 13And 6if any woman has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not 7divorce her husband. 14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through 8her believing husband; for otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are 9holy. 15Yet if the unbelieving one is leaving, 10let him leave; the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called 11us 12in peace. 16For how do you know, wife, whether you will 13save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

17Only, 14as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, in this way let him walk. And 15so I direct in 16all the churches. 18Was any man called when he was already circumcised? He is not to become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? 17He is not to be circumcised. 1918Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is 19the keeping of the commandments of God. 2020Each person is to remain in that 21state 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 22the Lord’s freed person; likewise the one who was called as free, is 23Christ’s slave. 2324You were bought for a price; do not become slaves of people. 24Brothers and sisters, 25each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called.

25Now concerning virgins, I have 26no command of the Lord, but I am offering direction as one who 2728by the mercy of the Lord is trustworthy. 26I think, then, that this is good in view of the 29present 30distress, that 31it is good for a man 32to 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 33trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you. 29But this I say, brothers, 34the 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 35make full use of it; for 36the present form of this world is passing away.