1. |
Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. |
2. |
But, because of fornications, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. |
3. |
Let the husband render unto the wife her due: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. |
4. |
The wife hath not power over her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power over his own body, but the wife. |
5. |
Defraud ye not one the other, except it be by consent for a season, that ye may give yourselves unto prayer, and may be together again, that Satan tempt you not because of your incontinency. |
6. |
But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment. |
7. |
Yet I would that all men were even as I myself. Howbeit each man hath his own gift from God, one after this manner, and another after that. |
8. |
But I say to the unmarried and to widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. |
9. |
But if they have not continency, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn. |
10. |
But unto the married I give charge, `yea' not I, but the Lord, That the wife depart not from her husband |
11. |
(but should she depart, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband); and that the husband leave not his wife. |
12. |
But to the rest say I, not the Lord: If any brother hath an unbelieving wife, and she is content to dwell with him, let him not leave her. |
13. |
And the woman that hath an unbelieving husband, and he is content to dwell with her, let her not leave her husband. |
14. |
For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the brother: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. |
15. |
Yet if the unbelieving departeth, let him depart: the brother or the sister is not under bondage 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 husband, whether thou shalt save thy wife? |
17. |
Only, as the Lord hath distributed to each man, as God hath called each, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all the churches. |
18. |
Was any man called being circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Hath any been called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised. |
19. |
Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but the keeping of the commandments of God. |
20. |
Let each man abide in that calling wherein he was called. |
21. |
Wast thou called being a bondservant? Care not for it: nay, even if thou canst become free, use `it' rather. |
22. |
For he that was called in the Lord being a bondservant, is the Lord's freedman: likewise he that was called being free, is Christ's bondservant. |
23. |
Ye were bought with a price; become not bondservants of men. |
24. |
Brethren, let each man, wherein he was called, therein abide with God. |
25. |
Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: but I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be trustworthy. |
26. |
I think therefore that this is good by reason of the distress that is upon us, `namely,' that it is good for a man to be as he is. |
27. |
Art thou bound unto a wife? Seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? Seek not a wife. |
28. |
But shouldest thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Yet such shall have tribulation in the flesh: and I would spare you. |
29. |
But this I say, brethren, the time is shortened, that henceforth both those that have wives may be as though they had none; |
30. |
and those that weep, as though they wept not; and those that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and those that buy, as though they possessed not; |
31. |
and those that use the world, as not using it to the full: for the fashion of this world passeth away. |
32. |
But I would have you to be free from cares. He that is unmarried is careful for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord: |
33. |
but he that is married is careful for the things of the world, how he may please his wife, |
34. |
and is divided. `So' also the woman that is unmarried and the virgin is careful for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married is careful for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. |
35. |
And this I say for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is seemly, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction. |
36. |
But if any man thinketh that he behaveth himself unseemly toward his virgin `daughter', if she be past the flower of her age, and if need so requireth, let him do what he will; he sinneth not; let them marry. |
37. |
But he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power as touching in his own heart, to keep his own virgin `daughter', shall do well. |
38. |
So then both he that giveth his own virgin `daughter' in marriage doeth well; and he that giveth her not in marriage shall do better. |
39. |
A wife is bound for so long time as her husband liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is free to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. |
40. |
But she is happier if she abide as she is, after my judgment: and I think that I also have the Spirit of God. |