WeBible

1 - Now 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.

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

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.