1Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: it is good for a man not to touch a woman.
2But because of sexual immoralities, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.
3Let the husband render to his wife her due, and likewise also the wife to her husband.
4The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.
5Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
6But this I say as a concession, not as a command.
7Yet I wish that all people were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one in this way, and another in that.
8Now I say to the unmarried and to the widows: it is good for them if they remain as I also am.
9But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn.
10To the married I give this charge — not I, but the Lord — a wife is not to separate from her husband
11(but if she does separate, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband) — and a husband is not to divorce his wife.
12But to the rest I say — I, not the Lord — if any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she consents to live with him, let him not divorce her.
13And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, let her not divorce her husband.
14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through the brother; otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is they are holy.
15But if the unbeliever separates, let him separate. The brother or the sister is not bound in such cases; but God has called you in peace.
16For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
17Only, as the Lord has apportioned to each, as God has called each, so let him walk. And this is what I direct in all the churches.
18Was anyone called already circumcised? Let him not undo it. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised.
19Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters.
20Let each remain in the calling in which he was called.
21Were you called as a slave? Do not let it trouble you. But if indeed you are able to become free, rather make use of it.
22For the one who was called in the Lord as a slave is the Lord’s freedman; likewise the one called as free is Christ’s slave.
23You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of people.
24Brothers, let each remain with God in the state in which he was called.
25Now concerning the virgins, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my opinion as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.
26I consider, then, that this is good because of the present distress — that it is good for a person to remain as he is.
27Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you released from a wife? Do not seek a wife.
28But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such people will have trouble in the flesh, and I am trying to spare you.
29This I say, brothers: the time has been shortened. From now on, let even those who have wives be as though they had none,
30and those who weep as though not weeping, and those who rejoice as though not rejoicing, and those who buy as though not possessing,
31and those who use the world as though not using it to the full; for the present form of this world is passing away.
32But I want you to be free from anxiety. The unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord;
33but the married man is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife,
34and he is divided. And the unmarried woman and the virgin is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit; but the married woman is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
35Now I say this for your own benefit, not to lay a snare upon you, but to promote what is fitting and undistracted devotion to the Lord.
36But if anyone thinks he is behaving improperly toward his virgin, if she is past the bloom of youth, and it ought to be so, let him do what he wishes; he does not sin; let them marry.
37But whoever stands firm in his heart, having no compulsion, but has authority over his own will, and has decided this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin, he will do well.
38So then, the one who marries off his own virgin does well, and the one who does not marry her off will do better.
39A wife is bound for as long a time as her husband lives; but if the husband falls asleep, she is free to be married to whomever she wishes, only in the Lord.
40But she is happier if she remains as she is, according to my judgment; and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.
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