8 Now to the unmarrieda and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do.t 9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry,u for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.v 11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband.w And a husband must not divorce his wife.

12 To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord):x If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13 And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.y

15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.z 16 How do you know, wife, whether you will savea your husband?b Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?