1 Corinthians 7:8-24

Lexham English Bible

⁸ Now I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain as I am. ⁹ But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with sexual desire.

¹⁰ To the married I command—not I, but the Lord—a wife must not separate from her husband. ¹¹ But if indeed she does separate, she must remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.

¹² Now to the rest I say—not the Lord—if any brother has an unbelieving wife and she consents to live with him, he must not divorce her. ¹³ And if any wife has an unbelieving husband and he consents to live with her, she must not divorce her husband. ¹⁴ For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the brother, since otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy. ¹⁵ But if the unbeliever leaves, let him leave. The brother or the sister is not bound in such cases. But God has called us^[a] in peace. 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?

¹⁷ But to each one as the Lord has apportioned. As God has called each one, thus let him live—and thus I order in all the churches. ¹⁸ Was anyone called after^[b] being circumcised? He must not undo his circumcision. Was anyone called in uncircumcision? He must not become circumcised. ¹⁹ Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. ²⁰ Each one in the calling in which he was called—in this he should remain. ²¹ Were you called while a slave? Do not let it be a concern to you. But if indeed you are able to become free, rather make use of it. ²² For the one who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedperson. Likewise the one who is called while free is a slave of Christ. ²³ You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. ²⁴ Each one in the situation in which he was called, brothers—in this he should remain with God.