Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
2
But, because of fornications, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.
3
Let the husband render unto the wife her due: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
4
The wife hath not power over her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power over his own body, but the wife.
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Defraud ye not one the other, except it be by consent for a season, that ye may give yourselves unto prayer, and may be together again, that Satan tempt you not because of your incontinency.
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But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment.
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Yet I would that all men were even as I myself. Howbeit each man hath his own gift from God, one after this manner, and another after that.
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But I say to the unmarried and to widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
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But if they have not continency, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
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But unto the married I give charge, [yea] not I, but the Lord, That the wife depart not from her husband
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(but should she depart, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband); and that the husband leave not his wife.
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But to the rest say I, not the Lord: If any brother hath an unbelieving wife, and she is content to dwell with him, let him not leave her.
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And the woman that hath an unbelieving husband, and he is content to dwell with her, let her not leave her husband.
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For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the brother: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
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Yet if the unbelieving departeth, let him depart: the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such [cases]: but God hath called us in peace.
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For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? Or how knowest thou, O husband, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
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Only, as the Lord hath distributed to each man, as God hath called each, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all the churches.
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Was any man called being circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Hath any been called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised.
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Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but the keeping of the commandments of God.
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Let each man abide in that calling wherein he was called.
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Wast thou called being a bondservant? Care not for it: nay, even if thou canst become free, use [it] rather.
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For he that was called in the Lord being a bondservant, is the Lord's freedman: likewise he that was called being free, is Christ's bondservant.
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Ye were bought with a price; become not bondservants of men.
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Brethren, let each man, wherein he was called, therein abide with God.
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Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: but I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be trustworthy.
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I think therefore that this is good by reason of the distress that is upon us, [namely,] that it is good for a man to be as he is.
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Art thou bound unto a wife? Seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? Seek not a wife.
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But shouldest thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Yet such shall have tribulation in the flesh: and I would spare you.
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But this I say, brethren, the time is shortened, that henceforth both those that have wives may be as though they had none;
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and those that weep, as though they wept not; and those that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and those that buy, as though they possessed not;
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and those that use the world, as not using it to the full: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
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But I would have you to be free from cares. He that is unmarried is careful for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord:
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but he that is married is careful for the things of the world, how he may please his wife,
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and is divided. [So] also the woman that is unmarried and the virgin is careful for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married is careful for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
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And this I say for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is seemly, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.
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But if any man thinketh that he behaveth himself unseemly toward his virgin [daughter], if she be past the flower of her age, and if need so requireth, let him do what he will; he sinneth not; let them marry.
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But he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power as touching in his own heart, to keep his own virgin [daughter], shall do well.
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So then both he that giveth his own virgin [daughter] in marriage doeth well; and he that giveth her not in marriage shall do better.
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A wife is bound for so long time as her husband liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is free to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
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But she is happier if she abide as she is, after my judgment: and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.
1 [A Psalm of David.] LORD, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.
2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
3 Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
4 Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.
5 Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.
6 When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet.
7 Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth.
8 But mine eyes are unto thee, O GOD the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.
9 Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity.
10 Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.
