MARRIAGE, CELIBACY, ETC., AND THINGS OFFERED TO IDOLS. 1 [7:1]CONCERNING what you wrote to me, it is good for a man not to touch a woman; [7:2]but on account of fornications, let each man have his wife, and each woman have her husband. [7:3]Let the husband render to the wife her due, and in like manner also the wife the husband. [7:4]The wife has not the right to her body, but the husband; and in like manner the husband has not the right to his body, but the wife. [7:5]Withhold not yourselves from one another, except by agreement for a time that you may be at leisure for prayer, and come together again, that Satan may not tempt you by your incontinence. [7:6]But this I say by suggestion, not by command. [7:7]For I wish that all men were even as I am; but each one has his gift from God, and one is of one kind and another of another. 2 [7:8]And I say to the unmarried and to the widows, that it is good for them to continue as I am; [7:9]but if they have not self-control, let them marry; it is better to marry than to be incontinent. [7:10]But the married I charge, not I, but the Lord, Let not a wife separate from her husband, [7:11]and also if she is separated let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to the husband, and let not a husband leave his wife. 3 [7:12]But to the rest I speak, not the Lord, If any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she is pleased to live with him, let him not leave her; [7:13]and if any wife has an unbelieving husband and he is pleased to live with her, let her not leave the husband. [7:14]For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the believing wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the brother; else were your children impure, but now are they holy. [7:15]But if the unbelieving companion departs, let him depart; the brother or the sister is not bound in such cases; but God has called us to peace. [7:16]For how do you know, wife, that you will not save your husband? or how do you know, husband, that you will not save your wife? 4 [7:17]Unless as the Lord has imparted to each one, as God has called each one, so let him walk; and so I appoint in all the churches. [7:18]Is any one called being circumcised, let him not be uncircumcised; is any one called in uncircumcision, let him not be circumcised. [7:19]Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping God's commandments. [7:20]Let each one remain in the calling in which he was called; [7:21]were you called being a servant, care not for it; but if you can be free, use it rather. [7:22]For the servant called in the Lord is the Lord's freeman; in like manner the called freeman is Christ's servant. [7:23]You are bought with a price; be not servants of men. [7:24]Let each one continue, brothers, in the calling in which he was called under God.