7:1 Now concerning the things whereof you wrote to me: [It is] good for a man not to touch a woman.
7:2 Nevertheless, [to avoid] fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
7:3 Let the husband render to the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife to the husband.
7:4 The wife have not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband have not power of his own body, but the wife.
7:5 Defraud you not one the other, except [it be] with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
7:6 But I speak this by permission, [and] not of commandment.
7:7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man have his proper gift of Elohim (אלהים), one after this manner, and another after that.
7:8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
7:9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
7:10 And to the married I command, [yet] not I, but Adonay, Let not the wife depart from [her] husband:
7:11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to [her] husband: and let not the husband put away [his] wife.
7:12 But to the rest speak I, not Adonay: If any brother have a wife that believes not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
7:13 And the woman which have an husband that believes not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they kadosh.
7:15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such [cases]: but Elohim (אלהים) have called us to shalom.
7:16 For what knows you, O wife, whether you shalt save [thy] husband? or how knows you, O man, whether you shalt save [thy] wife?
7:17 But as Elohim (אלהים) have distributed to every man, as Adonay have called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all assemblies.
7:18 Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.
7:19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of Elohim (אלהים).
7:20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.
7:21 Are you called [being] a servant? care not for it: but if you mayest be made free, use [it] rather.
7:22 For he that is called in Adonay, [being] a servant, is Adonay's freeman: likewise also he that is called, [being] free, is Mashiach's servant.
7:23 you are bought with a price; be not you the servants of men.
7:24 Achim, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with Elohim (אלהים).
7:25 Now concerning betulot I have no commandment of Adonay: yet I give my judgment, as one that have obtained mercy of Adonay to be faithful.
7:26 I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, [I say], that [it is] good for a man so to be.
7:27 Are you bound to a wife? seek not to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.
7:28 But and if you marry, you hast not sinned; and if a betulah marry, she have not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.
7:29 But this I say, achim, the time [is] short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;
7:30 And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;
7:31 And they that use this olam hazeh, as not abusing [it]: for the fashion of this olam hazeh passeth away.
7:32 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to Adonay, how he may please Adonay:
7:33 But he that is married careth for the things that are of olam hazeh, how he may please [his] wife.
7:34 There is difference [also] between a wife and a betulah . The unmarried woman careth for the things of Adonay, that she may be kadosh both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of olam hazeh, how she may please [her] husband.
7:35 And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that you may attend upon Adonay without distraction.
7:36 But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his betulah , if she pass the flower of [her] age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.
7:37 Nevertheless he that stands firmly in his heart, having no necessity, but have power over his own will, and have so decreed in his heart that he will keep his betulah , doeth well.
7:38 So then he that gives [her] in marriage doeth well; but he that gives [her] not in marriage doeth better.
7:39 The wife is bound by the Torah as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in Adonay.
7:40 But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Ruach of Elohim (אלהים).