1. Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
2. Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
3. Let the husband show his wife due attention: and likewise also the wife her husband.
4. The wife does not have power over her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband does not have power over his own body, but the wife.
5. Do not deprive one another, except by agreement for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self control.
6. But I speak this by permission, and not as a commandment.
7. For I would prefer that all men were even like I myself. But every man has his own gift from God, one of one kind, and another of a different kind.
8. I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they remain even as I.
9. But if they cannot control themselves, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
10. And to the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, The wife should not leave her husband:
11. But if she leaves, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and the husband should not put away his wife.
12. But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is pleased to dwell with him, he should not put her away.
13. And the woman who has a husband that does not believe, and if he is pleased to dwell with her, she should not leave him.
14. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: otherwise your children would be unclean; but now are they holy.
15. But if the unbelieving one departs, let them depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God has called us to peace.
16. For how do you know, O wife, whether you shall save your husband? Or how do you know, O man, whether you shall save your wife?
17. But as God has distributed to every man, as the Lord has called every one, so let him walk. And so I decree in all churches.
18. Is any man called being circumcised? He should not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? He should not be circumcised.
19. Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but instead keep the commandments of God.
20. Let everyone remain in the same condition in which he was called.
21. Are you called being a servant? Do not be concerned about it: but if you have an opportunity to become free, make use of it.
22. For he who is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he who is called, being free, is Christ's servant.
23. You are bought with a price; do not be the servants of men.
24. Brethren, let everyone, in whatever condition he is called, remain in it with God.
25. Now concerning virgins I have no commandment from the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one who has obtained mercy from the Lord to be faithful.
26. I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.
27. Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Art you free from a wife? Do not look for a wife.
28. But if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I would spare you.
29. But this I say, brethren, the time is short: therefore, let both those who have wives be as though they had none;
30. And those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not possess;
31. And those who make use of this world, as not abusing it: for the form of this world is passing away.
32. But I would have you without anxiety. He who is unmarried is anxious about the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:
33. But he who is married is anxious about the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.
34. There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she who is married is anxious about the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
35. And this I speak for your own benefit; not to restrain you, but for that which is suitable, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.
36. But if any man thinks that he is not behaving himself properly towards his virgin, if she is past the flower of her age, and need so requires, let him do what he desires, he does not sin: let them marry.
37. Nevertheless he that remains steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own will, and has so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, does well.
38. So then he who gives her in marriage does well; but he that does not give her in marriage does better.
39. The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband is dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
40. But she is happier if she so remains, according to my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.
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