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The First Epistle of Saint Paul to the Corinthians
Chapter 7
Lessons relating to marriage and celibacy. Virginity is preferable to a married state.
1 |
Now concerning the things whereof you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. |
2 |
But for fear of fornication, let every man have his own wife: and let every woman have her own husband. |
3 |
Let the husband render the debt to his wife: and the wife also in like manner to the husband. |
4 |
The wife hath not power of her own body: but the husband. And in like manner the husband also hath not power of his own body: but the wife. |
5 |
Defraud not one another, except, perhaps, by consent, for a time, that you may give yourselves to prayer: and return together again, lest Satan tempt you for your incontinency. |
6 |
But I speak this by indulgence, not by commandment. |
7 |
For I would that all men were even as myself. But every one hath his proper gift from God: one after this manner, and another after that. |
8 |
But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they so continue, even as I. |
9 |
But if they do not contain themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to be burnt. |
10 |
But to them that are married, not I, but the Lord, commandeth that the wife depart not from her husband. |
11 |
And if she depart, that she remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And let not the husband put away his wife. |
12 |
For to the rest I speak, not the Lord. If any brother hath a wife that believeth not and she consent to dwell with him: let him not put her away. |
13 |
And if any woman hath a husband that believeth not and he consent to dwell with her: let her not put away her husband. |
14 |
For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the believing wife: and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the believing husband. Otherwise your children should be unclean: but now they are holy. |
15 |
But if the unbeliever depart, let him depart. For a brother or sister is not under servitude in such cases. But God hath called us in peace. |
16 |
For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? Or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife? |
17 |
But as the Lord hath distributed to every one, as God hath called every one: so let him walk. And so in all churches I teach. |
18 |
Is any man called, being circumcised? Let him not procure uncircumcision. Is any man called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised. |
19 |
Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing: but the observance of the commandments of God. |
20 |
Let every man abide in the same calling in which he was called. |
21 |
Wast thou called, being a bondman? Care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. |
22 |
For he that is called in the Lord, being a bondman, is the freeman of the Lord. Likewise he that is called, being free, is the bondman of Christ. |
23 |
You are bought with a price: be not made the bondslaves of men. |
24 |
Brethren, let every man, wherein he was called, therein abide with God. |
25 |
Now, concerning virgins, I have no commandment of the Lord: but I give counsel, as having obtained mercy of the Lord, to be faithful. |
26 |
I think therefore that this is good for the present necessity: that it is good for a man so to be. |
27 |
Art thou bound to a wife? Seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? Seek not a wife. |
28 |
But if thou take a wife, thou hast not sinned. And if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned: nevertheless, such shall have tribulation of the flesh. But I spare you. |
29 |
This therefore I say, brethren: The time is short. It remaineth, that they also who have wives be as if they had none: |
30 |
And they that weep, as though they wept not: and they that rejoice, as if they rejoiced not: and they that buy as if they possessed not: |
31 |
And they that use this world, as if they used it not. For the fashion of this world passeth away. |
32 |
But I would have you to be without solicitude. He that is without a wife is solicitous for the things that belong to the Lord: how he may please God. |
33 |
But he that is with a wife is solicitous for the things of the world: how he may please his wife. And he is divided. |
34 |
And the unmarried woman and the virgin thinketh on the things of the Lord: that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she that is married thinketh on the things of the world: how she may please her husband. |
35 |
And this I speak for your profit, not to cast a snare upon you, but for that which is decent and which may give you power to attend upon the Lord, without impediment. |
36 |
But if any man think that he seemeth dishonoured with regard to his virgin, for that she is above the age, and it must so be: let him do what he will. He sinneth not if she marry. |
37 |
For he that hath determined, being steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but having power of his own will: and hath judged this in his heart, to keep his virgin, doth well. |
38 |
Therefore both he that giveth his virgin in marriage doth well: and he that giveth her not doth better. |
39 |
A woman is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth: but if her husband die, she is at liberty. Let her marry to whom she will: only in the Lord. |
40 |
But more blessed shall she be, if she so remain, according to my counsel. And I think that I also have the spirit of God. |