12 But to the rest aI 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 1divorce her.

13 And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not 1send her husband away.

14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through 1her believing husband; for otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are aholy.

15 Yet if the unbelieving one leaves, let him leave; the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called 1us 2ato peace.

16 For how do you know, O wife, whether you will asave your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?

17 Only, aas the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, in this manner let him walk. And bso I direct in call the churches.

18 Was any man called when he was already circumcised? He is not to become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? aHe is not to be circumcised.

19 aCircumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is bthe keeping of the commandments of God.

20 aEach man must remain in that 1condition in which he was called.

21 Were you called while a slave? 1Do not worry about it; but if you are able also to become free, rather 2do that.

22 For he who was called in the Lord while a slave, is athe Lord’s freedman; likewise he who was called while free, is bChrist’s slave.

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

24 Brethren, aeach one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called.

25 Now concerning virgins I have ano command of the Lord, but I give an opinion as one who 1bby the mercy of the Lord is trustworthy.

26 I think then that this is good in view of the 1present adistress, that bit is good for a man 2to remain as he is.

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

28 But if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have 1trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you.