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 about which you wrote to me: 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 sexual immoralities, 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 to his wife the affection owed her, and likewise also the wife to her 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 doesn’t have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise also the husband doesn’t have authority 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.

Don’t deprive one another, unless it is by consent for a season, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer, and may be together again, that Satan doesn’t tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

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 wish that all men were like me. However each man has his own gift from God, one of this kind, and another of that kind.

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 remain even as I am.

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 don’t have self-control, let them marry. For it’s 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 to the married I command—not I, but the Lord—that the wife not leave 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 if she departs, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband not leave 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 I—not the Lord—say, if any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she is content to live 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.

The woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he is content to live 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 husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are 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 unbeliever departs, let there be separation. The brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has 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 do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your 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 has distributed to each man, as God has called each, so let him walk. So I command in all the assemblies.

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

Was anyone called having been circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Has anyone 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 stay in that calling in which 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.

Were you called being a bondservant? Don’t let that bother you, but if you get an opportunity to become free, use it.

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 who was called in the Lord being a bondservant is the Lord’s free man. Likewise he who was called being free is Christ’s bondservant.

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

You were bought with a price. Don’t become bondservants of men.

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

Brothers, let each man, in whatever condition he was called, stay in that condition 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 from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who has obtained mercy from 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 that it is good therefore, because of the distress that is on us, 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.

Are you bound to a wife? Don’t seek to be freed. Are you free from a wife? Don’t seek 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 if you marry, you have not sinned. If a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have oppression in the flesh, and I want to 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 I say this, brothers: the time is short, that from now on, both those who 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 who weep, as though they didn’t weep; and those who rejoice, as though they didn’t rejoice; and those who buy, as though they didn’t possess;

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 who use the world, as not using it to the fullest. For the mode of this world passes 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 desire to have you to be free from cares. He who is unmarried is concerned 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 who is married is concerned about 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.

There is also a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares 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 honourable and that ye may attend upon the Lord without impediment.

This I say for your own profit; not that I may ensnare you, but for that which is appropriate, and that you may attend to 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 thinks that he is behaving inappropriately toward his virgin, if she is past the flower of her age, and if need so requires, let him do what he desires. He doesn’t sin. 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 who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own heart, to keep his own virgin, does 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 who gives his own virgin in marriage does well, and he who doesn’t give her in marriage does 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 by law for as long as her husband lives; but if the husband is dead, she is free to be married to whomever she desires, 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 stays as she is, in my judgment, and I think that I also have God’s Spirit.