1 Corinthians 7

¹ NNow 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. Fathers

⁶ But I speak this by indulgence, not by commandment. Fathers

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. Fathers

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. CCC · Fathers

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? CCC

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. Fathers

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. CCC · Fathers

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. CCC

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. CCC

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. CCC