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¹ Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote to me, It is good for a man, not to touch a woman.² Yet, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife; and let every woman have her own husband.³ Let the husband render the debt to the wife; and in like manner the wife also to the husband.⁴ The wife hath not power over her own body, but the husband; and in like manner the husband also hath not power over his own body, but the wife.⁵ Withdraw not from each other, unless it be by consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to prayer, and may come together again, lest Satan tempt you through your incontinence.⁶ But I say this by way of advice, not by way of precept. For I would that all men were even as myself:⁷ but every one hath his proper gift from God, one after this manner, another after that.⁸ But to the unmarried and the widows I say, It is good for them, if they remain even as I.⁹ But if they have not power over themselves, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn.

¹⁰ The married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband.¹¹ But if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband.¹² And let not the husband put away his wife. To the rest speak I, not the Lord. If any brother hath an unbelieving wife, and she consent to dwell with him, let him not put her away.¹³ And the wife, who hath an unbelieving husband, that consenteth to live with her, let her not put him away.¹⁴ For the unbelieving husband hath been sanctified by the wife; and the unbelieving wife hath been sanctified by the husband. Else were your children unclean; but now they are holy.¹⁵ But if the unbeliever will depart, let him depart: a brother or a sister is not inslaved in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.¹⁶ For how knowest thou, O wife, but thou mayst save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O husband, but thou mayst save thy wife?

¹⁷ But as God hath distributed to every one, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk.¹⁸ And thus I ordain in all the churches. Is any one called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any one called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.¹⁹ Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God.²⁰ Let every one in the calling wherein he is called, therein abide.²¹ Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou canst be made free, use it rather.²² For he that is called by the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman; and in like manner, he that is called being free, is the servant of Christ.²³ Ye are bought with a price; do not become the servants of men.²⁴ Brethren, let every one wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

²⁵ Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord: but I give my judgment, as one who hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.²⁶ I apprehend therefore, that this is good for the present distress, that it is good for a man to continue as he is.²⁷ Art thou bound to a wife? seek not to be loosed: art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.²⁸ Yet if thou dost marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh; but I spare you.²⁹ But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that even they that have wives, be as if they had none: And they that weep, as if they wept not;³⁰ and they that rejoice, as if they rejoiced not;³¹ and they that buy, as if they possessed not; And they that use this world, as not abusing it; for the fashion of this world passeth away: Now I would have you without carefulness.³² The unmarried man careth for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord.³³ But the married careth for the things of the world , how he may please his wife.³⁴ There is a difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit: but the married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.³⁵ And this I say for your own profit, not that I may cast a snare upon you, but that ye may decently wait upon the Lord without distraction.

³⁶ But if any think that he acteth indecently toward his virgin, if she be above age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.³⁷ Nevertheless, he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but having power over his own will, and hath determined this in his heart to keep his virgin, doth well.³⁸ So then he also that giveth in marriage, doth well; but he that giveth not in marriage, doth better.

³⁹ The wife is bound as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to marry whom she will; only in the Lord.⁴⁰ But she is happier, if she continue as she is, in my judgment; and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.