1 ¶ Now concerning the things of which ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

Now concerning the things whereof ye 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 fornications, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.

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

Let the husband render unto the wife her due: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

4 T he wife does not have authority of her own body, but the husband; and likewise also the husband does not have authority of his own body, but the wife.

The wife hath not power over her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power over his own body, but the wife.

5 D o not defraud one another, except it be with mutual consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer and come together again, that Satan not tempt you for your incontinency.

Defraud ye not one the other, except it be by consent for a season, that ye may give yourselves unto prayer, and may be together again, that Satan tempt you not because of your incontinency.

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

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

7 F or I would that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one after this manner and another after that.

Yet I would that all men were even as I myself. Howbeit each man hath his own gift from God, one after this manner, and another after that.

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

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

9 B ut if they do not have the gift of continence, let them marry, for it is better to marry than to burn.

But if they have not continency, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

10 ¶ And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife separate from her husband;

But unto the married I give charge, yea not I, but the Lord, That the wife depart not from her husband

11 a nd if she separates, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband, and let not the husband put away his wife.

(but should she depart, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband); and that the husband leave not his wife.

12 B ut to the rest I speak, not the Lord: If any brother has a wife that does not believe, and she consents to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

But to the rest say I, not the Lord: If any brother hath an unbelieving wife, and she is content to dwell with him, let him not leave her.

13 A nd the woman who has a husband that does not believe and if he consents to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

And the woman that hath an unbelieving husband, and he is content to dwell with her, let her not leave her husband.

14 F or the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.

For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the brother: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

15 B ut if the unbelieving spouse separates, let them separate. The brother or the sister is not under slavery in such cases, but God has called us to peace.

Yet if the unbelieving departeth, let him depart: the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us in peace.

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

For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? Or how knowest thou, O husband, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

17 ¶ But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let them walk. And so I ordain in all the congregations.

Only, as the Lord hath distributed to each man, as God hath called each, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all the churches.

18 I s anyone called being circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Is anyone called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised.

Was any man called being circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Hath any been called in uncircumcision? Let him not 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 the keeping of the commandments of God.

20 L et each abide in the same calling in which he was called.

Let each man abide in that calling wherein he was called.

21 A rt thou called being a slave? care not for it; but if thou may be made free, use it rather.

Wast thou called being a bondservant? Care not for it: nay, even if thou canst become free, use it rather.

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

For he that was called in the Lord being a bondservant, is the Lord's freedman: likewise he that was called being free, is Christ's bondservant.

23 Y e are bought with a price; do not make yourselves the slaves of men.

Ye were bought with a price; become not bondservants of men.

24 E ach one, brothers, in that state in which he was called, let him abide with God.

Brethren, let each man, wherein he was called, therein abide with God.

25 ¶ Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord, yet I give my advice, as one that has obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.

Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: but I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be trustworthy.

26 I hold, therefore, this to be good because of the present distress, that it is good for a man to be thus:

I 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.

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

Art thou bound unto a wife? Seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? Seek not a wife.

28 B ut and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have affliction in the flesh, but I forbear you.

But shouldest thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Yet such shall have tribulation in the flesh: and I would spare you.

29 B ut this I say, brothers, the time is short; for the rest, let those that have wives be as though they had none;

But this I say, brethren, the time is shortened, that henceforth both those that have wives may be as though they had none;

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

and those that weep, as though they wept not; and those that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and those that buy, as though they possessed not;

31 a nd those that use this world, as not using it as their own, for the fashion of this world passes away.

and those that use the world, as not using it to the full: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

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

But I would have you to be free from cares. He that is unmarried is careful for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord:

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

but he that is married is careful for the things of the world, how he may please his wife,

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

and is divided. So also the woman that is unmarried and the virgin is careful for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married is careful for 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 honourable and that ye may attend upon the Lord without impediment.

And this I say for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is seemly, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

36 ¶ But if anyone thinks it uncomely regarding his daughter, if she passes the bloom of life, and need so requires, let him do what he will, he does not sin: let them marry.

But if any man thinketh that he behaveth himself unseemly toward his virgin daughter, if she be past the flower of her age, and if need so requireth, let him do what he will; he sinneth not; let them marry.

37 N evertheless, he that stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has liberty regarding his own, and has so determined in his heart that he will keep his daughter, does well.

But he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power as touching in his own heart, to keep his own virgin daughter, shall do well.

38 S o then he that gives her in marriage does well, but he that does not give her in marriage does better.

So then both he that giveth his own virgin daughter in marriage doeth well; and he that giveth her not in marriage shall do better.

39 ¶ The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is free and may be married to whom she will, if it is in the Lord.

A wife is bound for so long time as her husband liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is free to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

40 B ut she shall be more blessed if she so abides, after my counsel, and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

But she is happier if she abide as she is, after my judgment: and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.