1 Corinthians 7:1-9 ▼

1 Now concerning the things about which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

2 But, because of fornication, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.

3 A husband should fulfill his obligation to his wife, and a wife should also act similarly toward her husband.

4 It is not the wife, but the husband, who has power over her body. But, similarly also, it is not the husband, but the wife, who has power over his body.

5 So, do not fail in your obligations to one another, except perhaps by consent, for a limited time, so that you may empty yourselves for prayer. And then, return together again, lest Satan tempt you by means of your abstinence.

6 But I am saying this, neither as an indulgence, nor as a commandment.

7 For I would prefer it if you were all like myself. But each person has his proper gift from God: one in this way, yet another in that way.

8 But I say to the unmarried and to widows: It is good for them, if they would remain as they are, just as I also am.

9 But if they cannot restrain themselves, they should marry. For it is better to marry, than to be burned.