The Bible (Old and New Testaments)

But this I say, brethren, the time is shortened, that henceforth both those that have wives may be as though they had none;

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;

and those that use the world, as not using it to the full: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

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:

but he that is married is careful for the things of the world, how he may please his wife,

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.

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.

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.

But he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power as touching his own will, and hath determined this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin [daughter], shall do well.

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.

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.

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

Now concerning things sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but love edifieth.

If any man thinketh that he knoweth anything, he knoweth not yet as he ought to know;

but if any man loveth God, the same is known by him.

Concerning therefore the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that no idol is [anything] in the world, and that there is no God but one.

For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or on earth; as there are gods many, and lords many;

yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we unto him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through him.

Howbeit there is not in all men that knowledge: but some, being used until now to the idol, eat as [of] a thing sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

But food will not commend us to God: neither, if we eat not, are we the worse; nor, if we eat, are we the better.

But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to the weak.

For if a man see thee who hast knowledge sitting at meat in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be emboldened to eat things sacrificed to idols?

For through thy knowledge he that is weak perisheth, the brother for whose sake Christ died.

And thus, sinning against the brethren, and wounding their conscience when it is weak, ye sin against Christ.

Wherefore, if meat causeth my brother to stumble, I will eat no flesh for evermore, that I cause not my brother to stumble.

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

If to others I am not an apostle, yet at least I am to you; for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.

My defence to them that examine me is this.

Have we no right to eat and to drink?

Have we no right to lead about a wife that is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

Or I only and Barnabas, have we not a right to forbear working?

What soldier ever serveth at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?

Do I speak these things after the manner of men? or saith not the law also the same?

For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn. Is it for the oxen that God careth,

or saith he it assuredly for our sake? Yea, for our sake it was written: because he that ploweth ought to plow in hope, and he that thresheth, [to thresh] in hope of partaking.

If we sowed unto you spiritual things, is it a great matter if we shall reap your carnal things?

If others partake of [this] right over you, do not we yet more? Nevertheless we did not use this right; but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ.

Know ye not that they that minister about sacred things eat [of] the things of the temple, [and] they that wait upon the altar have their portion with the altar?

Even so did the Lord ordain that they that proclaim the gospel should live of the gospel.

But I have used none of these things: and I write not these things that it may be so done in my case; for [it were] good for me rather to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.

For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of; for necessity is laid upon me; for woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel.

For if I do this of mine own will, I have a reward: but if not of mine own will, I have a stewardship intrusted to me.

What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel without charge, so as not to use to the full my right in the gospel.

For though I was free from all [men], I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more.

And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, not being myself under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;

to them that are without law, as without law, not being without law to God, but under law to Christ, that I might gain them that are without law.

To the weak I became weak, that I might gain the weak: I am become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some.

And I do all things for the gospel’s sake, that I may be a joint partaker thereof.

Know ye not that they that run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? Even so run; that ye may attain.

And every man that striveth in the games exerciseth self-control in all things. Now they [do it] to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

I therefore so run, as not uncertainly; so fight I, as not beating the air:

but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.

For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

and did all eat the same spiritual food;

and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them: and the rock was Christ.

Howbeit with most of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

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

Neither 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.

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

Neither let us make trial of the Lord, as some of them made trial, and perished by the serpents.

Neither murmur ye, as some of them murmured, and perished by the destroyer.

Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come.

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

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

Wherefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

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

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

seeing that we, who are many, are one bread, one body: for we all partake of the one bread.

Behold Israel after the flesh: have not they that eat the sacrifices communion with the altar?

What say I then? that a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?

But [I say], that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have communion with demons.

Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons: ye cannot partake of the table of the Lord, and of the table of demons.

Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

All things are lawful; but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful; but not all things edify.

Let no man seek his own, but [each] his neighbor’s [good].

Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, eat, asking no question for conscience’ sake;

for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof.

If one of them that believe not biddeth you [to a feast], and ye are disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience’ sake.

But if any man say unto you, This hath been offered in sacrifice, eat not, for his sake that showed it, and for conscience’ sake:

conscience, I say, not thine own, but the other’s; for why is my liberty judged by another conscience?

If I partake with thankfulness, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?

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

Give no occasion of stumbling, either to Jews, or to Greeks, or to the church of God:

even as I also please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the [profit] of the many, that they may be saved.

Be ye imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ.

Now I praise you that ye remember me in all things, and hold fast the traditions, even as I delivered them to you.

But 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.

Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoreth his head.

But every woman praying or prophesying with her head unveiled dishonoreth her head; for it is one and the same thing as if she were shaven.

For if a woman is not veiled, let her also be shorn: but if it is a shame to a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be veiled.

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

For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man:

for neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man:

for this cause ought the woman to have [a sign of] authority on her head, because of the angels.

Nevertheless, neither is the woman without the man, nor the man without the woman, in the Lord.

For as the woman is of the man, so is the man also by the woman; but all things are of God.

Judge ye in yourselves: is it seemly that a woman pray unto God unveiled?

Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a dishonor to him?

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