Now concerning
the things about which
you wrote
, it is agood
for a man
not to touch
a woman
.
But because of immoralities
, each
man
is to have
his own
wife
, and each
woman
is to have
her own
husband
.
The husband must
1fulfill
his duty
to his wife
, and likewise
also
the wife
to her husband
.
The wife does not have
authority
over
her own
body
, but the husband
does; and likewise
also
the husband
does not have
authority
over
his own
body
, but the wife
does.
aStop depriving
one
another
, except
by agreement
for a time
, so
that you may devote
yourselves
to prayer
, and 1come
together
again
so
that bSatan
will not tempt
you because
of your lack
of self-control
.
But this I say
by way
of concession
, anot of command
.
1Yet I wish
that all
men
were aeven
as I myself
am. However
, beach
man
has
his own
gift
from God
, one
in this
manner
, and another
in that.
But I say to the unmarried
and to widows
that it is agood
for them if
they remain
beven
as I.
But if they do not have
self-control
, alet them marry
; for it is better
to marry
than
to burn
with passion.
But to the married I give
instructions
, anot I, but the Lord
, that the wife
should not 1leave
her husband
(but if she does leave
, she must remain
unmarried
, or
else
be reconciled
to her husband
), and that the husband
should not 1divorce
his wife
.
But to the rest aI say
, not the Lord
, that if
any
brother
has
a wife
who is an unbeliever
, and she consents
to live
with him, he must not 1divorce
her.
And a woman who
has
an unbelieving
husband
, and he consents
to live
with her, she must not 1send
her husband
away
.
For the unbelieving husband
is sanctified
through
his wife
, and the unbelieving
wife
is sanctified
through
1her believing
husband
; for otherwise
your children
are unclean
, but now
they are aholy
.
Yet if
the unbelieving
one
leaves
, let him leave
; the brother
or
the sister
is not under
bondage
in such
cases, but God
has called
1us 2 ato peace
.
For how do you know
, O wife
, whether
you will asave
your husband
? Or
how
do you know
, O husband
, whether
you will save
your wife
?
Only, aas the Lord
has assigned
to each
one
, as God
has called
each
, in this
manner
let him walk
. And bso
I direct
in call
the churches
.
Was any man
called
when he was already circumcised
? He is not to become
uncircumcised
. Has anyone
been called
in uncircumcision
? aHe is not to be circumcised
.
aCircumcision is nothing
, and uncircumcision
is nothing
, but what matters is bthe keeping
of the commandments
of God
.
aEach man
must remain
in that 1condition
in which
he was called
.
Were you called while a slave
? 1Do not worry
about it; but if
you are able
also
to become
free
, rather
2do
that.
For he who was called in the Lord
while a slave
, is athe Lord's
freedman
; likewise
he who was called
while free
, is bChrist's
slave
.
aYou were bought with a price
; do not become
slaves
of men
.
Brethren, aeach
one
is to remain
with God
in that condition in which
he was called
.
Now concerning
virgins
I have
ano
command
of the Lord
, but I give
an opinion
as one who 1 bby the mercy
of the Lord
is trustworthy
.
I think then
that this
is good
in view
of the 1present
adistress
, that bit is good
for a man
2to remain
as he is.
Are you bound to a wife
? Do not seek
to be released
. Are you released
from a wife
? Do not seek
a wife
.
But if you marry
, you have not sinned
; and if
a virgin
marries
, she has not sinned
. Yet
such
will have
1trouble
in this
life
, and I am trying to spare
you.
But this I say
, brethren
, athe time
has been
shortened
, so
that from now
on those
who have
wives
should be as though
they had
none
;
and those who weep
, as though
they did not weep
; and those
who rejoice
, as though
they did not rejoice
; and those
who buy
, as though
they did not possess
;
and those who use
the world
, as though
they did not amake
full
use
of it; for bthe form
of this
world
is passing
away
.
But I want you to be free
from concern
. One who is aunmarried
is concerned
about the things of the Lord
, how
he may please
the Lord
;
but one who is married is concerned
about the things of the world
, how
he may please
his wife
,
and his interests are divided. The woman
who is unmarried
, and the virgin
, is concerned
about the things of the Lord
, that she may be holy
both
in body
and spirit
; but one who is married
is concerned
about the things of the world
, how
she may please
her husband
.
This I say
for your own
benefit
; not to put
a restraint
upon you, but 1to promote
what
is appropriate
and to secure undistracted
devotion
to the Lord
.
But if any
man
thinks
that he is acting
unbecomingly
toward
his virgin
daughter, if
she is past
her youth
, and if it must
be so
, let him do
what
he wishes
, he does not sin
; let 1her marry
.
But he who stands
firm
in his heart
, 1being
under
no
constraint
, but has
authority
2over
his own
will
, and has decided
this
in his own
heart
, to keep
his own
virgin
daughter, he will do
well
.
So then
both
he who gives
his own
virgin
daughter in marriage
does
well
, and he who does not give
her in marriage
will do
better
.
aA wife is bound
as long
as her husband
lives
; but if
her husband
1is dead
, she is free
to be married
to whom
she wishes
, only
bin the Lord
.
But ain my opinion she is happier
if
she remains
as she is; and I think
that I also
have
the Spirit
of God
.