1 A nd concerning the things of which ye wrote to me: good for a man not to touch a woman,

But concerning the things of which ye have written: good for a man not to touch a woman;

2 a nd because of the whoredom let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her proper husband;

but on account of fornications, let each have his own wife, and each have her own husband.

3 t o the wife let the husband the due benevolence render, and in like manner also the wife to the husband;

Let the husband render her due to the wife, and in like manner the wife to the husband.

4 t he wife over her own body hath not authority, but the husband; and, in like manner also, the husband over his own body hath not authority, but the wife.

The wife has not authority over her own body, but the husband: in like manner also the husband has not authority over his own body, but the wife.

5 D efraud not one another, except by consent for a time, that ye may be free for fasting and prayer, and again may come together, that the Adversary may not tempt you because of your incontinence;

Defraud not one another, unless, it may be, by consent for a time, that ye may devote yourselves to prayer, and again be together, that Satan tempt you not because of your incontinency.

6 a nd this I say by way of concurrence -- not of command,

But this I say, as consenting, not as commanding.

7 f or I wish all men to be even as I myself; but each his own gift hath of God, one indeed thus, and one thus.

Now I wish all men to be even as myself: but every one has his own gift of God: one man thus, and another thus.

8 A nd I say to the unmarried and to the widows: it is good for them if they may remain even as I;

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

9 a nd if they have not continence -- let them marry, for it is better to marry than to burn;

But if they have not control over themselves, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn.

10 a nd to the married I announce -- not I, but the Lord -- let not a wife separate from a husband:

But to the married I enjoin, not I, but the Lord, Let not wife be separated from husband;

11 b ut and if she may separate, let her remain unmarried, or to the husband let her be reconciled, and let not a husband send away a wife.

(but if also she shall have been separated, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband;) and let not husband leave wife.

12 A nd to the rest I speak -- not the Lord -- if any brother hath a wife unbelieving, and she is pleased to dwell with him, let him not send her away;

But as to the rest, I say, not the Lord, If any brother have an unbelieving wife, and she consent to dwell with him, let him not leave her.

13 a nd a woman who hath a husband unbelieving, and he is pleased to dwell with her, let her not send him away;

And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to dwell with her, let her not leave husband.

14 f or the unbelieving husband hath been sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife hath been sanctified in the husband; otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are holy.

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

15 A nd, if the unbelieving doth separate himself -- let him separate himself: the brother or the sister is not under servitude in such, and in peace hath God called us;

But if the unbeliever go away, let them go away; a brother or a sister is not bound in such, but God has called us in peace.

16 f or what, hast thou known, O wife, whether the husband thou shalt save? or what, hast thou known, O husband, whether the wife thou shalt save?

For what knowest thou, O wife, if thou shalt save thy husband? or what knowest thou, O husband, if thou shalt save thy wife?

17 i f not, as God did distribute to each, as the Lord hath called each -- so let him walk; and thus in all the assemblies do I direct:

However, as the Lord has divided to each, as God has called each, so let him walk; and thus I ordain in all the assemblies.

18 b eing circumcised -- was any one called? let him not become uncircumcised; in uncircumcision was any one called? let him not be circumcised;

Has any one been called circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised: has any one been called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.

19 t he circumcision is nothing, and the uncircumcision is nothing -- but a keeping of the commands of God.

Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but keeping God's commandments.

20 E ach in the calling in which he was called -- in this let him remain;

Let each abide in that calling in which he has been called.

21 a servant -- wast thou called? be not anxious; but if also thou art able to become free -- use rather;

Hast thou been called a bondman, let it not concern thee; but and if thou canst become free, use rather.

22 f or he who in the Lord -- having been called a servant -- is the Lord's freedman: in like manner also he the freeman, having been called, is servant of Christ:

For the bondman that is called in Lord is the Lord's freedman; in like manner the freeman being called is Christ's bondman.

23 w ith a price ye were bought, become not servants of men;

Ye have been bought with a price; do not be the bondmen of men.

24 e ach, in that in which he was called, brethren, in this let him remain with God.

Let each, wherein he is called, brethren, therein abide with God.

25 A nd concerning the virgins, a command of the Lord I have not; and I give judgment as having obtained kindness from the Lord to be faithful:

But concerning virgins, I have no commandment of Lord; but I give my opinion, as having received mercy of Lord to be faithful.

26 I suppose, therefore, this to be good because of the present necessity, that good for a man that the matter be thus: --

I think then that this is good, on account of the present necessity, that good for a man to remain so as he is.

27 H ast thou been bound to a wife? seek not to be loosed; hast thou been loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

Art thou bound to a wife? seek not to be loosed; art thou free from a wife? do not seek a wife.

28 B ut and if thou mayest marry, thou didst not sin; and if the virgin may marry, she did not sin; and such shall have tribulation in the flesh: and I spare you.

But if thou shouldest also marry, thou hast not sinned; and if the virgin marry, they have not sinned: but such shall have tribulation in the flesh; but I spare you.

29 A nd this I say, brethren, the time henceforth is having been shortened -- that both those having wives may be as not having;

But this I say, brethren, the time is straitened. For the rest, that they who have wives, be as not having:

30 a nd those weeping, as not weeping; and those rejoicing, as not rejoicing; and those buying, as not possessing;

and they that weep, as not weeping; and they that rejoice, as not rejoicing; and they that buy, as not possessing;

31 a nd those using this world, as not using up; for passing away is the fashion of this world.

and they that use the world, as not disposing of it as their own; for the fashion of this world passes.

32 A nd I wish you to be without anxiety; the unmarried is anxious for the things of the Lord, how he shall please the Lord;

But I wish you to be without care. The unmarried cares for the things of the Lord, how he shall please the Lord;

33 a nd the married is anxious for the things of the world, how he shall please the wife.

but he that has married cares for the things of the world, how he shall please his wife.

34 T he wife and the virgin have been distinguished: the unmarried is anxious for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit, and the married is anxious for the things of the world, how she shall please the husband.

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

35 A nd this for your own profit I say: not that I may cast a noose upon you, but for the seemliness and devotedness to the Lord, undistractedly,

But I say this for your own profit; not that I may set a snare before you, but for what seemly, and waiting on the Lord without distraction.

36 a nd if any one doth think to be unseemly to his virgin, if she may be beyond the bloom of age, and it ought so to be, what he willeth let him do; he doth not sin -- let him marry.

But if any one think that he behaves unseemly to his virginity, if he be beyond the flower of his age, and so it must be, let him do what he will, he does not sin: let them marry.

37 A nd he who hath stood stedfast in the heart -- not having necessity -- and hath authority over his own will, and this he hath determined in his heart -- to keep his own virgin -- doth well;

But he who stands firm in his heart, having no need, but has authority over his own will, and has judged this in his heart to keep his own virginity, he does well.

38 s o that both he who is giving in marriage doth well, and he who is not giving in marriage doth better.

So that he that marries himself does well; and he that does not marry does better.

39 A wife hath been bound by law as long time as her husband may live, and if her husband may sleep, she is free to be married to whom she will -- only in the Lord;

A wife is bound for whatever time her husband lives; but if the husband be fallen asleep, she is free to be married to whom she will, only in Lord.

40 a nd she is happier if she may so remain -- according to my judgment; and I think I also have the Spirit of God.

But she is happier if she so remain, according to my judgment; but I think that I also have God's Spirit.