1 Corinthians 7:12-26

Holman Christian Standard Bible

¹² But I (not the Lord)^[a] say to the rest: If any brother^(A) has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not leave her. ¹³ Also, if any woman has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must not leave her husband. ¹⁴ For the unbelieving husband is set apart for God^(B) by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is set apart for God by the husband.^[b] Otherwise your children would be corrupt, but now they are set apart for God. ¹⁵ But if the unbeliever leaves, let him leave. A brother or a sister is not bound in such cases. God has called you^[c] to live in peace. ¹⁶ For you, wife, how do you know whether you will save your husband? Or you, husband, how do you know whether you will save your wife?

Various Situations of Life

¹⁷ However, each one must live his life in the situation the Lord assigned when God called^(C) him.^[d] This is what I command in all the churches. ¹⁸ Was anyone already circumcised when he was called? He should not undo his circumcision. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? He should not get circumcised. ¹⁹ Circumcision does not matter and uncircumcision does not matter, but keeping God’s commands does. ²⁰ Each person should remain in the life situation^[e] in which he was called. ²¹ Were you called while a slave? It should not be a concern to you. But if you can become free, by all means take the opportunity.^{[f] 22} For he who is called by the Lord as a slave^(D) is the Lord’s freedman.^[g] Likewise he who is called as a free man^[h] is Christ’s slave. ²³ You were bought^(E) at a price; do not become slaves of men. ²⁴ Brothers, each person should remain with God in whatever situation he was called.

About the Unmarried and Widows

²⁵ About virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I do give an opinion as one who by the Lord’s mercy^(F) is trustworthy.^{(G) 26} Therefore I consider this to be good because of the present distress: It is fine for a man to remain as he is.