[1 Corinthians 7]

 

             ^7:1 Now concerning the things of which you^° wrote to me: it is good for a man not to touch a woman sexually. ^7:2 But, because of fornications, let each man have his own wife and let each woman have her own husband. ^7:3 Let the husband repay to the wife her owed goodwill {i.e., conjugal duty} and likewise also the wife repay to the husband. ^7:4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband, and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife. ^7:5 Do^° not deprive one another, except it should be from agreement ^*for a time, in-order-that you^° may occupy yourselves {i.e., have free time} to the fasting and to the prayer, and you^° may come to the same goodwill again, in-order-that the Adversary may not tempt you^° because of your^° shortage of self-control. ^7:6 But I am saying this according-to concession, not according-to commandment. ^7:7 For^* I wish all men to be even as myself. But each one has his own gift^* from God, indeed one which is so and one which is thus.

 

             ^7:8 But I am saying to the unmarried and to the widows, it is good for them if they remain even as I am. ^7:9 But if they do not exercise self-control, let^° them marry, for^* it is better to marry than to inflamed with desire. ^7:10 But I command to the ones who have married (not I, but the Lord): the wife is not to be separated from her husband, ^7:11 (but even if she should be separated, let her remain unmarried, or let her be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband is not to leave his wife.

             ^7:12 But to the rest I say (not the Lord), if some brother has an unbelieving wife and she herself consents to dwell with him, let him not leave her. ^7:13 And if a wife who has an unbelieving husband, and he himself consents to dwell with her, let her not leave him. ^7:14 For^* the unbelieving husband has been made holy by the wife and the unbelieving wife has been made holy by the husband. Otherwise consequently^*, your^° children are unclean, but now they are holy. ^7:15 But if the unbelieving spouse separates, let the one separate; the brother or the sister has not been enslaved in such things. Now God has called us in peace. ^7:16 For^* what do you know, wife, if you will be saving your husband? Or what do you know, husband, if you will be saving your wife?

 

             ^7:17 Except, as God divided to each one, as the Lord has called each, so let him walk. And so I myself am commanding in all the congregations^*. ^7:18 Was anyone called who has been circumcised? Let him not be uncircumcised. Was anyone called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised. ^7:19 The circumcision is nothing and the uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. ^7:20 Let each one remain in this calling in which he was called. ^7:21 Were you called being a bondservant? Let it not be a care to you, but if you are also able to become free, use it rather. ^7:22 For^* he who was called in the Lord, who has been a bondservant, is the Lord’s freedman; likewise also, the free one who was called, is Christ’s bondservant. ^7:23 You^° were bought as one of value; do^° not become bondservants of men. ^7:24 Brethren, let each one remain with God in this thing in which he was called.

 

             ^7:25 Now concerning virgins I have no commandment from the Lord, but I am giving my viewpoint, as one who has been shown-mercy by the Lord to be faithful. ^7:26 Therefore, I suppose this to be^* good, because of the present calamity, that it is good for a man to be thus. ^7:27 Have you been bound to a wife? Do not seek divorce. Have you been loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife. ^7:28 But even if you should marry, you did not sin, and if the virgin should marry, she did not sin. But such will have affliction in the flesh, and I would spare you^°.

             ^7:29 But I am saying this, brethren, the time is limited, furthermore it is that^* both the ones who have wives may be as though they did not have one; ^7:30 and the ones weeping, as though not weeping, and the ones rejoicing, as though not rejoicing, and the ones buying, as though not having; ^7:31 and the ones using this world, as though not making full use of it; for^* the shape of this world is passing-away.

             ^7:32 But I wish for you^° to be carefree. He who is unmarried is anxious for the things of the Lord, how he will be pleasing the Lord; ^7:33 but he who has married is anxious for the things of the world, how he will be pleasing the wife. ^7:34 He has been divided between both. And the unmarried woman (also the virgin), is anxious for the things of the Lord, in-order-that she may be holy both in body and in spirit, but she who is married is anxious for the things of the world, how she will be pleasing the husband. ^7:35 Now, I say this thing is advantageous for yourselves, not in-order-that I may cast a noose upon you^°, but a non-distraction for the decent and devoted in the Lord.

             ^7:36 But if anyone supposes he is behaving improperly over his virgin, if she is beyond her prime and thus it ought to happen, let him do^* what he wills; he is not sinning; let^° them marry.

             ^7:37 But he who stands, grounded in his heart, not having necessity, but has authority concerning his own will, and he has decided this in his own heart to keep his own virgin {Or: keep himself a virgin}, he does^* well. ^7:38 So-then both he who gives-in-marriage does^* well, and he who does not give-in-marriage is doing^* better.

             ^7:39 A wife has been bound by law inasmuch time as her husband is living, but if also the husband should be fallen-asleep {i.e., dead}, she is free to be married to whom she wills, but only in the Lord. ^7:40 But she is fortunate if she remains so, according-to my viewpoint, and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.