1Now concerning the things that you wrote to me, saying, "It is good for a man not to touch a woman," I say this: 2Rather, to avoid sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. 3Let the husband render his conjugal dues to his wife, and in the same way also the wife to her husband. 4The wife does not have power over her own body, but the husband; and in the same way also, the husband does not have power over his own body, but the wife. 5Do not deprive one another of conjugal dues, except it be by consent for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to fasting and prayer; and then come together again as one, so that Satan will not tempt you through your lack of self-control. 6Now I say this by permission, and not by command. 7For I wish that all men might be even as myself. But each one has his own gift from God; one is this way, and another is that way.

8Now I say to the unmarried and to the widows that it is good for them if they can remain even as I am. 9But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; because it is better to marry than to burn with sexual desire.

10And to those who are married I give this charge, yet not I, but the Lord: Do not let the wife be separated from her husband. 11(But if she does separate, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband. ) And the husband is not to divorce his wife.

12Now to the rest, I, not the Lord, say this: If any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she consents to dwell with him, let him not divorce her. 13And if a woman has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to dwell with her, let her not divorce him. 14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the husband; otherwise, your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. 15But if the unbelieving husband or wife separates, let him or her separate. The believing brother or sister is not held in bondage in such cases; for God has called us to peace. 16But how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?

17Let each one walk only as God has apportioned to him, according as the Lord has called him; and this is what I command in all the churches. 18Was anyone called being circumcised? Do not let him be uncircumcised. Was anyone called in uncircumcision? Do not let him be circumcised. 19For circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; rather, the keeping of God's commandments is essential. 20Let each one abide in the calling in which he was called.

21Were you called as a slave? Don't let yourself fret. But if you are able to become free, by all means do so. 22For he who has been called in the Lord, though he be a slave, is a free man in the Lord. In the same way also, he who has been called as a free man is a slave of Christ; 23For you were bought with a price. Do not become slaves of man. 24Brethren, in whatever state each one was called, let him remain in that with God.

25Now concerning virgins, I do not have a command from the Lord; but I give my judgment, as one who has received mercy from the Lord to be faithful. 26Therefore, I think this judgment is good because of the present distress: that it is good for a man to remain as he is. 27Have you been bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Have you been loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28However, if you have married, you have not sinned; and if a virgin has married, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry shall have distress in the flesh, but I wish to spare you. 29Now this I say, brethren: the time is drawing close. For the time that remains, let those who have wives be as if they did not have wives; 30And those who weep, as if they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as if they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as if they did not possess; 31And those who use this world, as if they did not use it as their own; for this world in its present form is passing away.

32Now I desire you to be without anxiety. The man who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord-- how he may please the Lord. 33But he who is married has concerns about the things of this world--how he may please his wife. 34There is also a difference in attitude between a wife and a virgin. An unmarried woman is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married has concerns about the things of this world--how she may please her husband. 35Now I am telling you this for your own benefit; not to place a snare in your way, but to show you what is suitable, so that you may be devoted to the Lord without distraction.

36But if anyone thinks that his behavior toward his virgin is not right, and if she is in the prime of life, and so thinks he ought to marry, let him do as he desires; he is not sinning. Let them marry. 37However, he does well who remains steadfast in his heart, not having the need to marry, but has control over his own desire, and has determined in his own heart to keep himself chaste. 38So then, the one who marries does well, but the one who does not marry does better.

39A wife is bound by law for as long a time as her husband may live. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whomever she desires, (but only in the Lord). 40However, she is happier if she continues to abide by my judgment; and I think that I also have God's Spirit in this.