Sha'ul�s First Letter to the Corinthians, Chapter 7
{7:1} Now concerning the things about which you wrote to me. It is
good for a man not to touch a woman. {7:2} But, because of sexual
immoralities, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have
her own husband. {7:3} Let the husband render to his wife the
affection owed her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. {7:4}
The wife doesn't have authority over her own body, but the husband.
Likewise also the husband doesn't have authority over his own body,
but the wife. {7:5} Don't deprive one another, unless it is by consent
for a season, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer, and
may be together again, that Hasatan doesn't tempt you because of your
lack of self-control. {7:6} But this I say by way of concession, not
of [1>]mitzvah[<1]. {7:7} Yet I wish that all men were like me.
However each man has his own gift from God, one of this kind, and
another of that kind. {7:8} But I say to the unmarried and to widows,
it is good for them if they remain even as I am. {7:9} But if they
don't have self-control, let them marry. For it's better to marry than
to burn. {7:10} But to the married I command -- not I, but the Lord --
that the wife not leave her husband {7:11} (but if she departs, let
her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that
the husband not leave his wife. {7:12} But to the rest I -- not the
Lord -- say, if any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she is
content to live with him, let him not leave her. {7:13} The woman who
has an unbelieving husband, and he is content to live with her, let
her not leave her husband. {7:14} For the unbelieving husband is
sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the
husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now are they
holy. {7:15} Yet if the unbeliever departs, let there be separation.
The brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God
has called us in shalom. {7:16} For how do you know, wife, whether you
will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will
save your wife? {7:17} Only, as the Lord has distributed to each man,
as God has called each, so let him walk. So I command in all the
assemblies. {7:18} Was anyone called being circumcised? Let him not
become uncircumcised. Has any been called in uncircumcision? Let him
not be circumcised. {7:19} Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision
is nothing, but the keeping of the [2>]mitzvot[<2] of God. {7:20} Let
each man stay in that calling in which he was called. {7:21} Were you
called being a bondservant? Don't let that bother you, but if you get
an opportunity to become free, use it. {7:22} For he who was called in
the Lord being a bondservant is the Lord's free man. Likewise he who
was called being free is Messiah's bondservant. {7:23} You were bought
with a price. Don't become bondservants of men. {7:24} Brothers, let
each man, in whatever condition he was called, stay in that condition
with God. {7:25} Now concerning virgins, I have no [3>]mitzvah[<3]
from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who has obtained mercy
from the Lord to be trustworthy. {7:26} I think that it is good
therefore, because of the distress that is on us, that it is good for
a man to be as he is. {7:27} Are you bound to a wife? Don't seek to be
freed. Are you free from a wife? Don't seek a wife. {7:28} But if you
marry, you have not sinned. If a virgin marries, she has not sinned.
Yet such will have oppression in the flesh, and I want to spare you.
{7:29} But I say this, brothers: the time is short, that from now on,
both those who have wives may be as though they had none; {7:30} and
those who weep, as though they didn't weep; and those who rejoice, as
though they didn't rejoice; and those who buy, as though they didn't
possess; {7:31} and those who use the world, as not using it to the
fullest. For the mode of this world passes away. {7:32} But I desire
to have you to be free from cares. He who is unmarried is concerned
for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; {7:33} but he
who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may
please his wife. {7:34} There is also a difference between a wife and
a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that
she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married
cares about the things of the world -- how she may please her husband.
{7:35} This I say for your own profit; not that I may throw a snare on
you, but for that which is appropriate, and that you may attend to the
Lord without distraction. {7:36} But if any man thinks that he is
behaving inappropriately toward his virgin, if she is past the flower
of her age, and if need so requires, let him do what he desires. He
doesn't sin. Let them marry. {7:37} But he who stands steadfast in his
heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own heart, to keep
his own virgin, will do well. {7:38} So then both he who gives his own
virgin in marriage does well, and he who doesn't give her in marriage
will do better. {7:39} A wife is bound by law for so long time as her
husband lives; but if the husband is dead, she is free to be married
to whoever she desires, only in the Lord. {7:40} But she is happier if
she stays as she is, in my judgment, and I think that I also have
God's Spirit.
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Footnotes:
[1] {7:6} commandment
[2] {7:19} commandments
[3] {7:25} commandment
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