1 N ow concerning the things about which you wrote, 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 B ut because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband.

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

3 T he husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband.

Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence, and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

4 T he 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.

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 S top 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.

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

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

7 Y et 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.

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 B ut I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain 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 do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

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

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

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

11 ( 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.

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 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.

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

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

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 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?

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 O nly, 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.

¶ 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 W as 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.

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 what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God.

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

20 E ach man must remain in that condition in which he was called.

Let each abide in the same calling in which he was called.

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

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

22 F or 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.

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

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

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

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

25 N ow 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.

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

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

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

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 has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should 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 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;

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

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 one who is married is concerned about the things 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 a nd 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.

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 T his 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.

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 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.

¶ 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 B ut 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.

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

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

39 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.

¶ 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 in my opinion she is happier if she remains as she is; and I think that I also 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.