And for those who make use of the world, not to be using it fully; for this world's way of life will quickly come to an end.

But I want you to be free from concern. The unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord;

While the married man is anxious about worldly matters, desiring to please his wife;

And so his interests are divided. Again, the unmarried woman, whether she is old or young, is anxious about the Master's Cause, striving to be pure both in body and in spirit, while the married woman is anxious about worldly matters, desiring to please her husband.

Now I say this for your profit; not to make things hard for you, but because of what is right, and so that you may be able to give all your attention to the things of the Lord.

But 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.

Nevertheless 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.

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

The 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.

But it will be better for her to keep as she is, in my opinion: and it seems to me that I have the Spirit of God.

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

If a man thinks he has acquired some knowledge, he does not yet know it as well as he ought to know it.

Now concerning [the matter of] eating foods [once] offered as sacrifices to idols, we know that an idol is [really] nothing in the world [at all], and that there is only one God.

For even if after all [there] are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth, just as [there] are many gods and many lords,

But 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.

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.

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?

and the weak one, the brother for whose sake Christ died, will perish through thy knowledge.

In this way, by sinning against your Brothers and injuring their consciences, while still weak, you sin against Christ.

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

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

Am I saying these things only on the basis of common sense, or does the law not say this as well?

For in the law of Moses it is written, "You must not muzzle an ox [while it] is threshing." It is not about oxen God is concerned, is it?

or because of us by all means doth He say it? yes, because of us it was written, because in hope ought the plower to plow, and he who is treading ought of his hope to partake in hope.

If we sowed spiritual things to you, is it a great thing if we will reap your carnal things?

If 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.

Do you not know that those who perform the sacred rites have their food from the sacred place, and that those who serve at the altar all alike share with the altar?

But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing these things so that something will be done for me. In fact, it would be better for me to die than -- no one will deprive me of my reason for boasting!

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

What are my wages then? The very fact that the Good News which I preach will cost my hearers nothing, so that I cannot be charged with abuse of my privileges as a Christian preacher.

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

To 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.

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

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

And 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.

Well, I run without swerving; I do not plant my blows upon the empty air ??27 no, I maul and master my body, in case, after preaching to other people, I am disqualified myself.

Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were 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 meat;

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

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

Now these things became examples for us, so that we will not desire evil things as they did.

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

There 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.

Therefore, my dear friends, avoid all connection with the worship of idols.

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

See Israel after the flesh: are not all eating the sacrifices communicants of the altar?

On the contrary, the things which the Gentiles (pagans) sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons [in effect], and not to God; and I do not want you to become partners with demons [by eating at feasts in pagan temples].

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

No one should look out for his own interests [only], but for the interests of others [as well].

For the [whole] earth is the Lord’s, and everything that is in it.

But if any one of the unbelievers invite you, and ye are minded to go, all that is set before you eat, making no inquiry for conscience sake.

But if anyone says to you, "This was offered to idols," don't eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for the sake of conscience. For "the earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness."

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

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

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

But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, while a woman's head is her husband, and Christ's head is God.

Every man who prays or prophesies [while] having [something] on [his] head dishonors his head,

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

If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, she should cover her head.

For a man ought not to have a veil on his head, since he is the image and glory of God; while woman is the glory of man.

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

Does not nature herself teach us that, while for a man to wear his hair long is degrading to him,

But if any man will not be ruled in this question, this is not our way of doing things, and it is not done in the churches of God.

But while giving you these instructions, there is one thing I cannot praise--your meeting together, with bad rather than good results.

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

Indeed, there must be actual parties among you, for so only will the men of real worth become known.

for when you eat, each one hurries to get his own supper first [not waiting for others or the poor]. So one goes hungry while another gets drunk.

What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you show contempt for the church of God and humiliate those [impoverished believers] who have nothing? What will I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? In this I will not praise you!

For I received from the Lord Himself that [instruction] which I passed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night in which He was betrayed took bread;

So then whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in a way that is unworthy [of Him] will be guilty of [profaning and sinning against] the body and blood of the Lord.

This is why many are sick and ill among you, and many have fallen asleep.

But [if we] are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined, in order that we will not be condemned with the world.

So, my brothers, when you assemble for a meal, wait for each other [i.e., so some will not be finished before others. See verse 21].

And 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.

Ye know that, while Gentiles, ye were being carried away to the voiceless idols, as ye were led.

There are varieties of gifts, but the Spirit is the same in all;

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

But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for what is beneficial [to all].

To one the utterance of wisdom has been granted through the Spirit; to another the utterance of knowledge in accordance with the will of the same Spirit;

and to another the working of miracles, and to another prophecy [foretelling the future, speaking a new message from God to the people], and to another discernment of spirits [the ability to distinguish sound, godly doctrine from the deceptive doctrine of man-made religions and cults], to another various kinds of [unknown] tongues, and to another interpretation of tongues.

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

For 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.

For 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.

And if the ear says, Because I am not the eye, I am not a part of the body; it is a part of the body all the same.

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

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

But now they are all different parts, but one body.

But even more, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are necessary.

and those which we deem less honorable we clothe with more abundant honor; and so our ungraceful parts come to have a more abundant grace, while our graceful parts have everything they need.

while our more presentable parts do not require it. But God has combined the [whole] body, giving greater honor to that part which lacks it,

so that there would be no division or discord in the body [that is, lack of adaptation of the parts to each other], but that the parts may have the same concern for one another.

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

God has appointed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then those who perform miracles, those who have gifts of healing, those who help others, administrators, and those who speak various kinds of languages.

Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

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

But earnestly desire and strive for the greater gifts [if acquiring them is going to be your goal].And yet I will show you a still more excellent way [one of the choicest graces and the highest of them all: unselfish love].

I will show you a far better way. If I can speak the languages of men and even of angels, but have no love, I am only a noisy gong or a clashing cymbal.