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 of which ye wrote unto 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.

Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every 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 due benevolence, and likewise also the wife unto the 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 of her own body, but the husband; and likewise also the husband does not have authority of his own body, but the wife.

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.

Do 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.

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

But I speak this by permission, and not by commandment.

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.

For 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.

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

I say, therefore, to the unmarried men and widowers, It is good for them if they abide 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 the gift of continence, let them marry, for it is better to marry than to burn.

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

¶ And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife separate from 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.

and if she separates, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband, and let not the husband put away 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 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.

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

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 by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be 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.

But 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.

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

¶ 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.

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

Is anyone called being circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Is anyone 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 every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.

Let each abide in the same calling 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.

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

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 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.

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

Ye are bought with a price; do not make yourselves the slaves of men.

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

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

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 commandment of the Lord, yet I give my advice, as one that has obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.

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

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 marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.

But 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.

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, brothers, the time is short; for the rest, let those that have wives 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 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 they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

and those that use this world, as not using it as their own, for the fashion of this world passes 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 would have you without worry. He that is unmarried cares for the things that belong to 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 he that is married cares for the things that are 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.

There 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.

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.

And 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.

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 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.

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.

Nevertheless, 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.

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

So then he that gives her in marriage does well, but he that does not give her in marriage does 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.

¶ 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.

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