1But concerning those things of which you wrote to me, it is good for a man not to touch a woman, 2But because of fornication, let a man take a wife and a woman take her husband. 3Let a man bestow to his wife the love that is owed; in this way also, the woman to her husband. 4A wife is not authorized over her body, but her husband is. In this way also a man is not authorized over his body, but his wife is. 5Do not deprive one another except when you both agree in a time which you devote to fasting and prayer, and you shall again return to pleasure, lest Satan tempt you because of the desire of your bodies. 6I say this as to the weak, not by commandment. 7For I wish that all people might be like I am in purity, but every person is given a gift from God, one in this way and one in that way.

8But I say to those who do not have a wife and to widows, that it benefits them if they should remain as I am. 9But if they do not endure, let them marry. It is beneficial for them to take a wife rather than to burn with lust.

10But those who have wives, I command, not I but my Lord: A wife should not depart from her husband. 11And if she does depart, let her remain without a husband or let her be reconciled to her husband and let not a man forsake his wife.

12But to others I am saying, not my Lord, if there is a brother who has a wife who is an unbeliever and she is willing to stay with him, let him not leave her. 13And whichever wife has a husband who is not a believer, and he is willing to stay with her, let her not leave her husband. 14That man who is an unbeliever is sanctified by the wife who believes, and that woman who is not a believer is sanctified by the husband who believes, otherwise their children are defiled, but now they are pure. 15But if he who does not believe separates, let him separate. A brother or sister is not in bondage in such cases. God has called us to peace. 16For what do you know, woman, if you will save your husband, or you, man, if you will save your wife?

17But as THE LORD JEHOVAH distributes to each man, howsoever God calls him, let each man walk; and so I command all the churches. 18And if a man was called when circumcised, let him not return to uncircumcision. And if he was called in uncircumcision, let him not be circumcised. 19For circumcision is not anything, neither uncircumcision, but the keeping of the commandments of God. 20Let every person continue in the calling in which he was called.

21If you have been called as a Servant, let it not concern you, but if you can be freed, choose for yourself to do service. 22For whoever is called as a Servant is God's Freeman in Our Lord. So also whoever is called as a Freeman is a Servant of The Messiah. 23You have been bought with a price; you should not be Servants of people. 24Let every person continue with God in that in which he is called, brethren.

25Concerning virginity, I do not have a commandment from God, but I give my advice as a man who has received favor from God to be faithful. 26And I think that this is fair because of the distress of the time, that it is useful for a man to be so. 27Are you bound with a wife? Do not seek a divorce. Are you divorced from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28And if you take a wife, you will not have sinned, and if a man shall keep a virgin, she will not be sinning, but there has been physical suffering for those who are so, and I have pity for you. 29And I say this brethren: the time now is short, for those who have wives shall be as if they were without them, 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 acquire. 31And those who use this world, not apart from the right usage, for the form of this world is passing away.

32Because of this, I want you to be without care, for whoever does not have a wife thinks upon what is of his Lord and how he may please his Lord. 33Whoever has a wife cares for what is of the world, how he may please his wife. 34But there is a distinction between a wife and a virgin. She who has not ever had a husband thinks upon our Lord that she may be holy in her body and her spirit, and whoever has a husband thinks of the world so that she may please her husband. 35But I say this for your benefit, not that I may cast a noose onto you, but that you would be faithful to your Lord in a beautiful way, while not attending to the world.

36But if a man thinks he is disgraced by his virgin who is past her time and he has not given her to a man, and it is fitting to give her as he chooses to do, he does not sin; she may be married. 37But he who truly determines in his mind and is not pressured to pleasure and has power over his will, judging in this way in his heart to keep his virgin, he does well. 38And he therefore who gives his virgin does well, and he whoever does not give his virgin girl does all the better.

39A wife is bound by The Written Law to her husband as long as he lives, but if her husband should fall asleep, she is free to be whosever she will, only in Our Lord. 40But she is blessed if she remains in this way, according to my mind, but I think also that The Spirit of God is in me.