Chapter 7

  Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.  

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  But, because of fornications, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.  

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  Let the husband render unto the wife her due: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.  

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  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.  

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  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.  

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  But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment.  

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  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.  

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  But I say to the unmarried and to widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.  

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  But if they have not continency, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.  

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  But unto the married I give charge, [yea] not I, but the Lord, That the wife depart not from her husband  

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  (but should she depart, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband); and that the husband leave not his wife.  

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  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.  

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  And the woman that hath an unbelieving husband, and he is content to dwell with her, let her not leave her husband.  

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  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.  

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  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.  

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  For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? Or how knowest thou, O husband, whether thou shalt save thy wife?  

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  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.  

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  Was any man called being circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Hath any been called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised.  

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  Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but the keeping of the commandments of God.  

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  Let each man abide in that calling wherein he was called.  

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  Wast thou called being a bondservant? Care not for it: nay, even if thou canst become free, use [it] rather.  

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  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.  

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  Ye were bought with a price; become not bondservants of men.  

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  Brethren, let each man, wherein he was called, therein abide with God.  

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  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.  

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  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.  

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  Art thou bound unto a wife? Seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? Seek not a wife.  

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  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.  

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  But this I say, brethren, the time is shortened, that henceforth both those that have wives may be as though they had none;  

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  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;  

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  and those that use the world, as not using it to the full: for the fashion of this world passeth away.  

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  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:  

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  but he that is married is careful for the things of the world, how he may please his wife,  

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  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.  

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  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.  

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  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.  

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  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.  

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  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.  

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  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.  

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  But she is happier if she abide as she is, after my judgment: and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.  

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