It is actuallyreportedthat there is immoralityamongyou, and immoralityof such a kindas does not exist evenamongthe Gentiles,that someonehashis father'swife.
It cameabout while Israelwas dwellingin that land,that Reubenwentand laywith Bilhahhis father'sconcubine,and Israelheard[of it]. The Sons of IsraelNow there were twelve
The Sons of Israel
Now there were twelve
Theseare [the records of] the generationsof Jacob.Joseph,when seventeenyearsof age,was pasturingthe flockwith his brotherswhile he was [still] a youth,along with the sonsof Bilhahand the sonsof Zilpah,his father'swives.And Josephbroughtback a badreportabout them to their father.
"Uncontrolledas water,you shall not havepreeminence,Becauseyou wentup to your father'sbed;Thenyou defiled[it]-- he wentup to my couch.
So they pitcheda tentfor Absalomon the roof,and Absalomwentin to his father'sconcubinesin the sightof allIsrael.
Then Davidcameto his houseat Jerusalem,and the kingtookthe tenwomen,the concubineswhomhe had leftto keepthe house,and placedthem under guardand providedthem with sustenance,but did not goin to them. So they were shutup untilthe dayof their death,livingas widows.
Now the sonsof Reubenthe firstbornof Israel(for he was the firstborn,but because he defiledhis father'sbed,his birthrightwas givento the sonsof Josephthe sonof Israel;so that he is not enrolledin the genealogyaccording to the birthright.
"Howwellyou prepareyour wayTo seeklove!Thereforeeventhe wickedwomenYou have taughtyour ways.
"Yet you have not merely walkedin their waysor doneaccording to their abominations;but, as if that were toolittle,you actedmorecorruptlyin allyour conductthanthey.
"In you they have uncovered[their] fathers'nakedness;in you they have humbledher whowas uncleanin her menstrualimpurity.
You shall not uncoverthe nakednessof your father'swife;it is your father'snakedness.
If [there is] a manwholieswith his father'swife,he has uncoveredhis father'snakedness;bothof them shall surelybe putto death,their bloodguiltinessis upon them.
"These who pantafterthe [very] dustof the earthon the headof the helplessAlso turnasidethe wayof the humble;And a manand his fatherresortto the same girlIn orderto profaneMy holyname.
but that we writeto them that they abstainfrom things contaminatedby idolsand from fornicationand from what is strangledand from blood.
that you abstainfrom things sacrificed to idolsand from bloodand from things strangledand from fornication;if you keepyourselvesfreefrom suchthings,you will dowell.Farewell."
For I have been informedconcerningyou, my brethren,by Chloe's[people], that there are quarrelsamongyou.
But actually,I wroteto you not to associatewith anyso-calledbrotherifhe is an immoral person,orcovetous,oran idolater,ora reviler,ora drunkard,ora swindler--not evento eatwith such a one.
Foodis for the stomachand the stomachis for food,but Godwill do awaywith bothof them. Yetthe bodyis not for immorality,but for the Lord,and the Lordis for the body.
Fleeimmorality.Every[other] sinthat a mancommitsis outsidethe body,but the immoralman sinsagainsthis ownbody.
Ordo you not knowthat the unrighteouswill not inheritthe kingdomof God?Do not be deceived;neitherfornicators,noridolaters,noradulterers,noreffeminate,norhomosexuals,
I am afraid that when I comeagainmy Godmay humiliateme beforeyou, and I may mournover manyof thosewho have sinned in the pastand not repentedof the impurity,immoralityand sensualitywhichthey have practiced.
But ifanyhas causedsorrow, he has caused sorrownot to me, but in some degree--in ordernot to say too much--to allof you.
SoalthoughI wroteto you, [it was] not for the sakeof the offendernorfor the sakeof the one offended,but that your earnestnesson our behalfmight be made knownto you in the sightof God.
Nowthe deedsof the fleshare evident,whichare: immorality,impurity,sensuality,
But immoralityoranyimpurityorgreedmust not evenbe namedamongyou, as is properamong saints;
"A manshall not takehis father'swifeso that he will not uncoverhis father'sskirt.
Cursedis he who lieswith his father'swife,becausehe has uncoveredhis father'sskirt.'And allthe peopleshall say,'Amen.'
Thereforeconsiderthe membersof your earthlybody as deadto immorality,impurity,passion,evildesire,and greed,whichamountsto idolatry.
For Godhas not calledus for the purpose of impurity,but in sanctification.
I gaveher timeto repent,and she does not wantto repentof her immorality.
"But for the cowardlyand unbelievingand abominableand murderersand immoral personsand sorcerersand idolatersand allliars,their part[will be] in the lakethat burnswith fireand brimstone,whichis the seconddeath."
"No,my sons;for the reportis not goodwhichI hearthe LORD'Speoplecirculating.
