But concerning the things of which ye wrote [to me], [it is] good for a man not to touch a woman;
but on account of fornications let each have his own wife and each have her own husband.
To the wife let the husband render her due, and likewise also the wife to the husband.
The wife hath not authority over her own body, but the husband; and likewise, also the husband hath not authority over his own body, but the wife.
Defraud not one another, unless by consent for a time, that ye may have leisure for prayer and again be together, that Satan tempt you not because of your incontinency.
But this I say by way of permission, not by way of command.
Now I desire all men to be even as myself; but each hath his own gift of God, one this way, and another that.
But I say to the unmarried and to widows: It is good for them that they remain even as I.
But if they have not continency let them marry, for it is better to marry than to burn.
But to the married not I enjoin but the Lord, that wife be not separated from husband
(but if also she be separated, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband), and that husband leave not wife.
But to the rest I say, not the Lord, if any brother hath an unbelieving wife, and she consent to dwell with him, let him not leave her;
and a woman which hath an unbelieving husband, and he consenteth to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the brother; since then your children are unclean, but now are they holy.
But if the unbelieving separateth himself, let him be separated. The brother or the sister is not in bondage in such [circumstances]: but God hath called us in peace.
For what knowest thou, O wife, if thou shalt save thy husband? or what knowest thou, O husband, if thou shalt save thy wife?
Only as the Lord divided to each, as God hath called each, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the assemblies.
Was anyone called circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Hath anyone been called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised.
Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping God’s commandments.
Let each abide in that calling in which he was called.
Wast thou called a bondman? Let it not be a care to thee; but if also thou canst be free, use [it] rather.
For the bondman called in [the] Lord is [the] Lord’s freedman; likewise, he that was called free is Christ’s bondman.
Ye were bought with a price; become not bondmen of men.
Brethren, wherein each was called, in this let him abide with God.
Now concerning virgins command of [the] Lord have I none, but I give an opinion as having received mercy of [the] Lord to be faithful.
I think then that this is good because of the present necessity, that [it is] good for a man to be so.
Art thou bound to a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.
But if even thou shouldest have married, thou didst not sin; and if the virgin should have married, she did not sin. But such shall have tribulation in the flesh: but I am sparing you.
But this I say, brethren, the season is straitened: henceforth that both those that have wives be as having none,
and those that weep as weeping not, and those that rejoice as rejoicing not, and those that buy as possessing not,
and those that use the world as not using [it] for themselves; for the fashion of the world passeth away.
But I would have you to be without care. The unmarried careth for the things of the Lord, how he shall please the Lord;
but he that hath married careth for the things of the world how he shall please his wife.
Divided also is both the wife and the virgin: the unmarried careth for the things of the Lord that she may be holy both in body and in spirit; but she that hath married careth for the things of the world how she shall please her husband.
But this I say for your own profit, not that I may cast a snare over you, but for what [is] seemly and waiting on the Lord undistractedly.
But if anyone thinketh that he is behaving unseemly to his virginity, if he be past his prime, and so it ought to be, let him do what he will: he is not sinning, let them marry.
But he who standeth firm in his heart, having no necessity, and hath authority concerning his own will, and hath judged this in his own heart to keep his own virginity, shall do well.
So that he that marrieth doeth well, and he that marrieth not shall do better.
A wife is bound as long as her husband liveth; but should the husband have fallen asleep, she is free to be married to whom she will, only in [the] Lord.
But she is happier if she so remain according to my judgment, and I also think that I have God’s Spirit.