1161 I have loved, because Jehovah heareth My voice, my supplication, 2 Because He hath inclined His ear to me, And during my days I call. 3 Compassed me have cords of death, And straits of Sheol have found me, Distress and sorrow I find. 4 And in the name of Jehovah I call: I pray Thee, O Jehovah, deliver my soul, 5 Gracious 'is' Jehovah, and righteous, Yea, our God 'is' merciful, 6 A preserver of the simple 'is' Jehovah, I was low, and to me He giveth salvation. 7 Turn back, O my soul, to thy rest, For Jehovah hath conferred benefits on thee. 8 For Thou hast delivered my soul from death, My eyes from tears, my feet from overthrowing. 9 I walk habitually before Jehovah In the lands of the living.
10 I have believed, for I speak, I—I have been afflicted greatly. 11 I said in my haste, 'Every man 'is' a liar.' 12 What do I return to Jehovah? All His benefits 'are' upon me. 13 The cup of salvation I lift up, And in the name of Jehovah I call. 14 My vows to Jehovah let me complete, I pray you, before all His people. 15 Precious in the eyes of Jehovah 'is' the death for His saints. 16 Cause 'it' to come, O Jehovah, for I 'am' Thy servant. I 'am' Thy servant, son of Thy handmaid, Thou hast opened my bonds. 17 To Thee I sacrifice a sacrifice of thanks, And in the name of Jehovah I call. 18 My vows to Jehovah let me complete, I pray you, before all His people, 19 In the courts of the house of Jehovah, In thy midst, O Jerusalem, praise ye Jah!
1171 Praise Jehovah, all ye nations, Glorify Him, all ye peoples. 2 For mighty to us hath been His kindness, And the truth of Jehovah 'is' to the age. Praise ye Jah!
1181 Give ye thanks to Jehovah, For good, for to the age 'is' His kindness. 2 I pray you, let Israel say, That, to the age 'is' His kindness. 3 I pray you, let the house of Aaron say, That, to the age 'is' His kindness. 4 I pray you, let those fearing Jehovah say, That, to the age 'is' His kindness. 5 From the straitness I called Jah, Jah answered me in a broad place. 6 Jehovah 'is' for me, I do not fear what man doth to me. 7 Jehovah 'is' for me among my helpers, And I—I look on those hating me. 8 Better to take refuge in Jehovah than to trust in man, 9 Better to take refuge in Jehovah, Than to trust in princes. 10 All nations have compassed me about, In the name of Jehovah I surely cut them off. 11 They have compassed me about, Yea, they have compassed me about, In the name of Jehovah I surely cut them off. 12 They compassed me about as bees, They have been extinguished as a fire of thorns, In the name of Jehovah I surely cut them off. 13 Thou hast sorely thrust me to fall, And Jehovah hath helped me. 14 My strength and song 'is' Jah, And He is to me for salvation. 15 A voice of singing and salvation, 'Is' in the tents of the righteous, The right hand of Jehovah is doing valiantly. 16 The right hand of Jehovah is exalted, The right hand of Jehovah is doing valiantly. 17 I do not die, but live, And recount the works of Jah, 18 Jah hath sorely chastened me, And to death hath not given me up.
19 Open ye to me gates of righteousness, I enter into them—I thank Jah. 20 This 'is' the gate to Jehovah, The righteous enter into it. 21 I thank Thee, for Thou hast answered me, And art to me for salvation. 22 A stone the builders refused Hath become head of a corner. 23 From Jehovah hath this been, It 'is' wonderful in our eyes, 24 This 'is' the day Jehovah hath made, We rejoice and are glad in it. 25 I beseech Thee, O Jehovah, save, I pray Thee, I beseech Thee, O Jehovah, prosper, I pray Thee. 26 Blessed 'is' he who is coming In the name of Jehovah, We blessed you from the house of Jehovah, 27 God 'is' Jehovah, and He giveth to us light, Direct ye the festal-sacrifice with cords, Unto the horns of the altar. 28 My God Thou 'art', and I confess Thee, My God, I exalt Thee. 29 Give ye thanks to Jehovah, For good, for to the age, 'is' His kindness!
71 And concerning the things of which ye wrote to me: good 'it is' for a man not to touch a woman, 2 and because of the whoredom let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her proper husband; 3 to the wife let the husband the due benevolence render, and in like manner also the wife to the husband; 4 the wife over her own body hath not authority, but the husband; and, in like manner also, the husband over his own body hath not authority, but the wife. 5 Defraud not one another, except by consent for a time, that ye may be free for fasting and prayer, and again may come together, that the Adversary may not tempt you because of your incontinence; 6 and this I say by way of concurrence—not of command, 7 for I wish all men to be even as I myself 'am'; but each his own gift hath of God, one indeed thus, and one thus. 8 And I say to the unmarried and to the widows: it is good for them if they may remain even as I 'am'; 9 and if they have not continence—let them marry, for it is better to marry than to burn;
10 and to the married I announce—not I, but the Lord—let not a wife separate from a husband: 11 but and if she may separate, let her remain unmarried, or to the husband let her be reconciled, and let not a husband send away a wife. 12 And to the rest I speak—not the Lord—if any brother hath a wife unbelieving, and she is pleased to dwell with him, let him not send her away; 13 and a woman who hath a husband unbelieving, and he is pleased to dwell with her, let her not send him away; 14 for the unbelieving husband hath been sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife hath been sanctified in the husband; otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy. 15 And, if the unbelieving doth separate himself—let him separate himself: the brother or the sister is not under servitude in such 'cases', and in peace hath God called us; 16 for what, hast thou known, O wife, whether the husband thou shalt save? or what, hast thou known, O husband, whether the wife thou shalt save?
17 if not, as God did distribute to each, as the Lord hath called each—so let him walk; and thus in all the assemblies do I direct: 18 being circumcised—was any one called? let him not become uncircumcised; in uncircumcision was any one called? let him not be circumcised; 19 the circumcision is nothing, and the uncircumcision is nothing—but a keeping of the commands of God.
(Read 1 Corinthians 7:1-9)
The apostle tells the Corinthians that it was good, in that juncture of time, for Christians to keep themselves single. Yet he says that marriage, and the comforts of that state, are settled by Divine wisdom. Though none may break the law of God, yet that perfect rule leaves men at liberty to serve him in the way most suited to their powers and circumstances, of which others often are very unfit judges. All must determine for themselves, seeking counsel from God how they ought to act.
(Read 1 Corinthians 7:10-16)
Man and wife must not separate for any other cause than what Christ allows. Divorce, at that time, was very common among both Jews and Gentiles, on very slight pretexts. Marriage is a Divine institution; and is an engagement for life, by God's appointment. We are bound, as much as in us lies, to live peaceably with all men, Romans 12:18, therefore to promote the peace and comfort of our nearest relatives, though unbelievers. It should be the labour and study of those who are married, to make each other as easy and happy as possible. Should a Christian desert a husband or wife, when there is opportunity to give the greatest proof of love? Stay, and labour heartily for the conversion of thy relative. In every state and relation the Lord has called us to peace; and every thing should be done to promote harmony, as far as truth and holiness will permit.
(Read 1 Corinthians 7:17-24)
The rules of Christianity reach every condition; and in every state a man may live so as to be a credit to it. It is the duty of every Christian to be content with his lot, and to conduct himself in his rank and place as becomes a Christian. Our comfort and happiness depend on what we are to Christ, not what we are in the world. No man should think to make his faith or religion, an argument to break through any natural or civil obligations. He should quietly and contentedly abide in the condition in which he is placed by Divine Providence.
