[1] Now concerning the matters about which you wrote. It is well for a man
not to touch a woman. [2] But because of the temptation to immorality, each
man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. [3] The
husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife
to her husband. [4] For the wife does not rule over her own body, but the
husband does; likewise the husband does not rule over his own body, but the
wife does. [5] Do not refuse one another except perhaps by agreement for a
season, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together
again, lest Satan tempt you through lack of self-control. [6] I say this by
way of concession, not of command. [7] I wish that all were as I myself am.
But each has his own special gift from God, one of one kind and one of
another. [8] To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is well for them
to remain single as I do. [9] But if they cannot exercise self-control,
they should marry. For it is better to marry than to be aflame with
passion. [10] To the married I give charge, not I but the Lord, that the
wife should not separate from her husband [11] (but if she does, let her
remain single or else be reconciled to her husband)--and that the husband
should not divorce his wife. [12] To the rest I say, not the Lord, that if
any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with
him, he should not divorce her. [13] If any woman has a husband who is an
unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him.
[14] For the unbelieving husband is consecrated through his wife, and the
unbelieving wife is consecrated through her husband. Otherwise, your
children would be unclean, but as it is they are holy. [15] But if the
unbelieving partner desires to separate, let it be so; in such a case the
brother or sister is not bound. For God has called us to peace. [16] Wife,
how do you know whether you will save your husband? Husband, how do you
know whether you will save your wife? [17] Only, let every one lead the
life which the Lord has assigned to him, and in which God has called him.
This is my rule in all the churches. [18] Was any one at the time of his
call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of
circumcision. Was any one at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him
not seek circumcision. [19] For neither circumcision counts for anything
nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. [20] Every one
should remain in the state in which he was called. [21] Were you a slave
when called? Never mind. But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself
of the opportunity. [22] For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a
freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a slave of
Christ. [23] You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men.
[24] So, brethren, in whatever state each was called, there let him remain
with God. [25] Now concerning the unmarried, I have no command of the Lord,
but I give my opinion as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy. [26] I
think that in view of the present distress it is well for a person to
remain as he is. [27] Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are
you free from a wife? Do not seek marriage. [28] But if you marry, you do
not sin, and if a girl marries she does not sin. Yet those who marry will
have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. [29] I mean, brethren,
the appointed time has grown very short; from now on, let those who have
wives live as though they had none, [30] and those who mourn as though they
were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing,
and those who buy as though they had no goods, [31] and those who deal with
the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the form of this
world is passing away. [32] I want you to be free from anxieties. The
unmarried man is anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to please the
Lord; [33] but the married man is anxious about worldly affairs, how to
please his wife, [34] and his interests are divided. And the unmarried
woman or girl is anxious about the affairs of the Lord, how to be holy in
body and spirit; but the married woman is anxious about worldly affairs,
how to please her husband. [35] I say this for your own benefit, not to lay
any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your
undivided devotion to the Lord. [36] If any one thinks that he is not
behaving properly toward his betrothed, if his passions are strong, and it
has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry--it is no sin. [37] But
whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but
having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to
keep her as his betrothed, he will do well. [38] So that he who marries his
betrothed does well; and he who refrains from marriage will do better. [39]
A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. If the husband dies,
she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. [40] But in
my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I
have the Spirit of God.
