1Now concerning the things about which you wrote: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2But, because of fornications, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. 3Let the husband render to the wife her due: and likewise also the wife to the husband. 4The 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. 5Do not defraud one another, except it be by consent for a season, that you may give yourselves to prayer, and may be together again, that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment. 7Yet I would that all men were even as I myself. However each man has his own gift from God, one in this manner, and another in that. 8But I say to the unmarried and to widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. 9But if they do not have self-control, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn. 10But to the married I give charge, yes, not I, but the Lord, That the wife should not depart from her husband 11(but if she does depart, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband); and that the husband should not leave his wife. 12But to the rest I say, not the Lord: If any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she is content to dwell with him, let him not leave her. 13And the woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he is content to dwell with her, let her not leave her husband. 14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the brother: otherwise your children would be unclean; but now they are holy. 15Yet if the unbelieving departs, let him depart: the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God has called us in peace. 16For how do you know, O wife, whether you shall save your husband? or how do you know, O husband, whether you shall save your wife? 17Only, as the Lord has distributed to each man, as God has called each, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the assemblies. 18Was any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Has any been called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. 19Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but the keeping of the commandments of God. 20Let each man abide in that calling in which he was called. 21Were you called being a bondservant? do not be concerned about it: but even if you can become free, use it rather. 22For he who was called in the Lord being a bondservant, is the Lord’s freedman: likewise he who was called being free, is Messiah’s bondservant. 23You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. 24Brothers, let each man, in whatever state he was called, in that abide with God. 25Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: but I give my judgment, as one who has obtained mercy from the Lord to be trustworthy. 26I 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. 27Are you bound to a wife? do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? do not seek a wife. 28But if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such shall have tribulation in the flesh: and I would spare you. 29But this I say, brothers, the time is shortened, that from now on both those who have wives may be as though they had none; 30and 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; 31and those who use the world, as not using it to the full: for the fashion of this world passes away. 32But I would have you to be free from cares. He who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord: 33but he who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, 34and is divided. So also the woman who is unmarried and the virgin is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband. 35And this I say for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is seemly, and that you may attend upon the Lord without distraction. 36But if any man thinks that he behaves improperly toward his virgin daughter, if she is past the flower of her age, and if need so requires, let him do what he will; he does not sin; let them marry. 37But he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power concerning his own will, and has determined this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin daughter, shall do well. 38So then both he who gives his own virgin daughter in marriage does well; and he who does not give her in marriage shall do better. 39A wife is bound for as long as her husband lives; but if the husband is dead, she is free to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. 40But she is happier if she abides as she is, in my judgment: and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.