1Cor 7:10-24 | ESV | STEP | To the married I give this charge ( not I , but the Lord ): the wife should not separate from her husband

10 To the married ^aI give this charge (not I, but the Lord): ^bthe wife should not separate from her husband 11 (but if she does, ^cshe should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and ^dthe husband should not divorce his wife.

12 To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. 13 If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. ^eOtherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. 15 But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you ^{▼▼Some manuscripts us} ^gto peace. 16 For how do you know, wife, ^hwhether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

Live as You Are Called

17 Only let each person lead the life ^{▼▼Or each person walk in the way} ^jthat the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. ^kThis is my rule in ^lall the churches. 18 Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? ^mLet him not seek circumcision. 19 ⁿFor neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but ^okeeping the commandments of God. 20 ^pEach one should remain in the condition in which he was called. 21 Were you a bondservant ^{▼▼Or slave; also twice in verse 22 (for the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface)} when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) 22 For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is ^ra freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is ^sa bondservant of Christ. 23 ^tYou were bought with a price; ^udo not become bondservants ^{▼▼Or slaves (for the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface)} of men. 24 So, brothers, ^{▼▼Or brothers and sisters; also verse 29} ^xin whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.