7:1Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

7:2Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

7:3Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

7:4The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

7:5Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

7:6But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.

7:7For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

7:8I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.

7:9But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

7:10And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:

7:11But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

7:12But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

7:13And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

7:14For 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 holy.

7:15But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.

7:16For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

7:17But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.

7:18Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.

7:19Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.

7:20Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.

7:21Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.

7:22For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.

7:23Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

7:24Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

7:25Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.

7:26I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.

7:27Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

7:28But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.

7:29But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;

7:30And 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;

7:31And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

7:32But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:

7:33But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.

7:34There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

7:35And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

7:36But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.

7:37Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.

7:38So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.

7:39The wife is bound by the law 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 the Lord.

7:40But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

8:1Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

8:2And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

8:3But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

8:4As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.

8:5For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)

8:6But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

8:7Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

8:8But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.

8:9But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

8:10For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;

8:11And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

8:12But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

8:13Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

9:1Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?

9:2If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.

9:3Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,

9:4Have we not power to eat and to drink?

9:5Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

9:6Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

9:7Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?

9:8Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?

9:9For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?

9:10Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.

9:11If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?

9:12If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.

9:13Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?

9:14Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.

9:15But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.

9:16For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

9:17For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.

9:18What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

9:19For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

9:20And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;

9:21To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.

9:22To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

9:23And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

9:24Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

9:25And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

9:26I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:

9:27But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

10:1Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

10:2And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

10:3And did all eat the same spiritual meat;

10:4And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

10:5But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

10:6Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

10:7Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

10:8Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

10:9Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

10:10Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.

10:11Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

10:12Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

10:13There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

10:14Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.

10:15I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.

10:16The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

10:17For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.

10:18Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?

10:19What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?

10:20But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.

10:21Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.

10:22Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

10:23All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

10:24Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.

10:25Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake:

10:26For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.

10:27If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.

10:28But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:

10:29Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?

10:30For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?

10:31Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

10:32Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:

10:33Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

11:1Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

11:2Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.

11:3But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

11:4Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.

11:5But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.

11:6For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.

11:7For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.

11:8For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.

11:9Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.

11:10For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.

11:11Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.

11:12For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.

11:13Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?

11:14Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?

11:15But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

11:16But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

11:17Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.

11:18For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.

11:19For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.

11:20When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper.

11:21For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.

11:22What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.

11:23For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:

11:24And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

11:25After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

11:26For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

11:27Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

11:28But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

11:29For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

11:30For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

11:31For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

11:32But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

11:33Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.

11:34And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.

12:1Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

12:2Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led.

12:3Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

12:4Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

12:5And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.

12:6And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

12:7But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

12:8For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

12:9To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

12:10To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

12:11But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

12:12For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

12:13For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

12:14For the body is not one member, but many.

12:15If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

12:16And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

12:17If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

12:18But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

12:19And if they were all one member, where were the body?

12:20But now are they many members, yet but one body.

12:21And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

12:22Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:

12:23And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

12:24For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:

12:25That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

12:26And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

12:27Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

12:28And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.

12:29Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

12:30Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?

12:31But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

13:1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

13:2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

13:3And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

13:4Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

13:5Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

13:6Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

13:7Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

13:8Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

13:9For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

13:10But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

13:11When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

13:12For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

13:13And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

14:1Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

14:2For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

14:3But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

14:4He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

14:5I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

14:6Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?

14:7And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

14:8For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

14:9So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.

14:10There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.

14:11Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.

14:12Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

14:13Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.

14:14For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

14:15What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

14:16Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?

14:17For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

14:18I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

14:19Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

14:20Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

14:21In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.

14:22Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

14:23If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

14:24But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:

14:25And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

14:26How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

14:27If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.

14:28But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

14:29Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.

14:30If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.

14:31For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.

14:32And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

14:33For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

14:34Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.

14:35And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.

14:36What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?

14:37If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

14:38But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

14:39Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

14:40Let all things be done decently and in order.