1 Corinthians 7:1–9

Directions concerning Marriage

⁷Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to touch a woman.” ²But because of cases of sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. ³The husband should give to his wife what is due her and likewise the wife to her husband.^{* 4}For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; likewise, the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. ⁵Do not deprive one another except perhaps by agreement for a set time, to devote yourselves to prayer,^a and then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.^{* 6}This I say by way of concession, not of command.^{* 7}I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has a particular gift from God, one having one kind and another a different kind.^*

⁸To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain unmarried as I am.^{* 9}But if they are not practicing self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to be aflame with passion.^*