| 1 | Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. |
| 2 | But, because of fornications, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. |
| 3 | Let the husband render unto the wife her due: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. |
| 4 | The wife hath not power over her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power over his own body, but the wife. |
| 5 | Defraud ye not one the other, except it be by consent for a season, that ye may give yourselves unto prayer, and may be together again, that Satan tempt you not because of your incontinency. |
| 6 | But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment. |
| 7 | Yet I would that all men were even as I myself. Howbeit each man hath his own gift from God, one after this manner, and another after that. |
| 8 | But I say to the unmarried and to widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. |
| 9 | But if they have not continency, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn. |
| 10 | But unto the married I give charge, [yea] not I, but the Lord, That the wife depart not from her husband |
| 11 | (but should she depart, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband); and that the husband leave not his wife. |
| 12 | But to the rest say I, not the Lord: If any brother hath an unbelieving wife, and she is content to dwell with him, let him not leave her. |
| 13 | And the woman that hath an unbelieving husband, and he is content to dwell with her, let her not leave her husband. |
| 14 | For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the brother: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. |
| 15 | Yet if the unbelieving departeth, let him depart: the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such [cases]: but God hath called us in peace. |
| 16 | For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? Or how knowest thou, O husband, whether thou shalt save thy wife? |
| 17 | Only, as the Lord hath distributed to each man, as God hath called each, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all the churches. |
| 18 | Was any man called being circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Hath any been called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised. |
| 19 | Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but the keeping of the commandments of God. |
| 20 | Let each man abide in that calling wherein he was called. |
| 21 | Wast thou called being a bondservant? Care not for it: nay, even if thou canst become free, use [it] rather. |
| 22 | For he that was called in the Lord being a bondservant, is the Lord's freedman: likewise he that was called being free, is Christ's bondservant. |
| 23 | Ye were bought with a price; become not bondservants of men. |
| 24 | Brethren, let each man, wherein he was called, therein abide with God. |
| 25 | Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: but I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be trustworthy. |
| 26 | I think therefore that this is good by reason of the distress that is upon us, [namely,] that it is good for a man to be as he is. |
| 27 | Art thou bound unto a wife? Seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? Seek not a wife. |
| 28 | But shouldest thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Yet such shall have tribulation in the flesh: and I would spare you. |
| 29 | But this I say, brethren, the time is shortened, that henceforth both those that have wives may be as though they had none; |
| 30 | and those that weep, as though they wept not; and those that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and those that buy, as though they possessed not; |
| 31 | and those that use the world, as not using it to the full: for the fashion of this world passeth away. |
| 32 | But I would have you to be free from cares. He that is unmarried is careful for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord: |
| 33 | but he that is married is careful for the things of the world, how he may please his wife, |
| 34 | and is divided. [So] also the woman that is unmarried and the virgin is careful for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married is careful for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. |
| 35 | And this I say for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is seemly, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction. |
| 36 | But if any man thinketh that he behaveth himself unseemly toward his virgin [daughter], if she be past the flower of her age, and if need so requireth, let him do what he will; he sinneth not; let them marry. |
| 37 | But he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power as touching in his own heart, to keep his own virgin [daughter], shall do well. |
| 38 | So then both he that giveth his own virgin [daughter] in marriage doeth well; and he that giveth her not in marriage shall do better. |
| 39 | A wife is bound for so long time as her husband liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is free to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. |
| 40 | But she is happier if she abide as she is, after my judgment: and I think that I also have the Spirit of God. |