1 N ow concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman.

2 N evertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

But because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband.

3 L et the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband.

4 T he wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

The 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.

5 D efraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

6 B ut I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.

But this I say by way of concession, not of command.

7 F or I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

Yet I wish that all men were even as I myself am. However, each man has his own gift from God, one in this manner, and another in that.

8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.

But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I.

9 B ut if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

10 A nd unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:

But to the married I give instructions, not I, but the Lord, that the wife should not leave her husband

11 b ut and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

(but if she does leave, she must remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband should not divorce his wife.

12 B ut to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

But 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 must not divorce her.

13 A nd the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not send her husband away.

14 F or the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband; for otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy.

15 B ut if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.

Yet if the unbelieving one leaves, let him leave; the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us to peace.

16 F or what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

For how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?

17 B ut as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.

Only, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, in this manner let him walk. And so I direct in all the churches.

18 I s any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.

Was any man called when he was already circumcised? He is not to become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? He is not to be circumcised.

19 C ircumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.

Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God.

20 L et every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.

Each man must remain in that condition in which he was called.

21 A rt thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.

Were you called while a slave? Do not worry about it; but if you are able also to become free, rather do that.

22 F or he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant.

For he who was called in the Lord while a slave, is the Lord’s freedman; likewise he who was called while free, is Christ’s slave.

23 Y e are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men.

24 B rethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

Brethren, each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called.

25 N ow concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.

Now concerning virgins I have no command of the Lord, but I give an opinion as one who by the mercy of the Lord is trustworthy.

26 I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.

I think then that this is good in view of the present distress, that it is good for a man to remain as he is.

27 A rt thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you released from a wife? Do not seek a wife.

28 B ut and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.

But if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you.

29 B ut this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;

But this I say, brethren, the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none;

30 a nd they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;

and 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;

31 a nd they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

and those who use the world, as though they did not make full use of it; for the form of this world is passing away.

32 B ut I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:

But I want you to be free from concern. One who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord;

33 b ut he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.

but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife,

34 T here is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

and his interests are divided. 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 spirit; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

35 A nd this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

This I say for your own benefit; not to put a restraint upon you, but to promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord.

36 B ut if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.

But if any man thinks that he is acting unbecomingly toward his virgin daughter, if she is past her youth, and if it must be so, let him do what he wishes, he does not sin; let her marry.

37 N evertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.

But he who stands firm in his heart, being under no constraint, but has authority over his own will, and has decided this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin daughter, he will do well.

38 S o then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.

So then both he who gives his own virgin daughter in marriage does well, and he who does not give her in marriage will do better.

39 T he wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

A wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband is dead, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.

40 B ut she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

But in my opinion she is happier if she remains as she is; and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.