Principles of Marriage

7 Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me:

aIt is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. 3 bLet the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 cDo not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that dSatan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 But I say this as a concession, enot as a commandment. 7 For fI wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.

8 But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: gIt is good for them if they remain even as I am; 9 but hif they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

Keep Your Marriage Vows

10 Now to the married I command, yet not I but the iLord: jA wife is not to depart from her husband. 11 But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.

12 But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. 13 And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise kyour children would be unclean, but now they are holy. 15 But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us lto peace. 16 For how do you know, O wife, whether you will msave your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?

Live as You are Called

17 But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And nso I 1ordain in all the churches. 18 Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? oLet him not be circumcised. 19 pCircumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but qkeeping the commandments of God is what matters. 20 Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. 21 Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. 22 For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is rthe Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is sChrist’s slave. 23 tYou were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 Brethren, let each one remain with uGod in that state in which he was called.

To the Unmarried and Widows

25 Now concerning virgins: vI have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one wwhom the Lord in His mercy has made xtrustworthy. 26 I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress—ythat it is good for a man to remain as he is: 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 But even if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you.

29 But zthis I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, 30 those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, 31 and those who use this world as not amisusing it. For bthe form of this world is passing away.

32 But I want you to be without 2care. cHe who is unmarried 3cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord. 33 But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife. 34 There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman dcares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband. 35 And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.

36 But if any man thinks he is behaving improperly toward his 4virgin, if she is past the flower of youth, and thus it must be, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin; let them marry. 37 Nevertheless he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own will, and has so determined in his heart that he will keep his 5virgin, does well. 38 eSo then he who gives 6her in marriage does well, but he who does not give her in marriage does better.

39 fA wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, gonly in the Lord. 40 But she is happier if she remains as she is, haccording to my judgment—and iI think I also have the Spirit of God.