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

Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

2 But because of sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.

Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.

Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise, the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

5 Do not deprive one another, except by mutual agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

6 I say this as a concession, not as a command.

But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.

7 I wish that all people were as I am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.

For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

8 To the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to remain as I am.

I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.

9 But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

10 To the married I give this command—not I, but the Lord: A wife must not separate from her husband.

And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:

11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.

But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

12 To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.

But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

13 And if a woman has a husband who is an unbeliever and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.

And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

14 For the unbelieving husband is made holy through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy through her husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.

For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

15 But if the unbeliever departs, let them do so. A brother or sister is not bound in such circumstances. God has called us to live in peace.

But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.

16 For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

17 Nevertheless, each person should live as the Lord has assigned them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.

But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.

18 Was anyone called after being circumcised? Let him not undo his circumcision. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised.

Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.

19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commandments is what matters.

Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.

20 Each person should remain in the condition in which they were called.

Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.

21 Were you called while a slave? Do not let it trouble you. But if you can gain your freedom, do so.

Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.

22 For the one who was called as a slave in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; in the same way, the one who was called while free is Christ’s slave.

For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.

23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.

Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

24 Brothers and sisters, each one should remain with God in the condition they were in when called.

Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

25 Now concerning virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give my opinion as one who, by the Lord’s mercy, is trustworthy.

Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.

26 Because of the present distress, I think it is good for a person to remain as they are.

I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.

27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife.

Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will face troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.

But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.

29 This is what I mean, brothers and sisters: The time is short. From now on, those who have wives should live as if they do not.

But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;

30 Those who weep, as if they did not weep; those who rejoice, as if they did not rejoice; those who buy, as if they did not possess.

And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;

31 And those who use the things of this world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.

And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

32 I want you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord.

But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:

33 But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife.

But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.

34 And his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs. Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband.

There is 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 in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

35 I am saying this for your benefit, not to restrict you, but so that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.

And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

36 If anyone is worried that he might not be acting honorably toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if his passions are strong and he feels it must be so, let him do as he wants. He is not sinning; they should marry.

But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.

37 But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin—this man also does the right thing.

Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.

38 So then, the one who marries the virgin does right, but the one who does not marry her does better.

So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.

39 A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, only in the Lord.

The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

40 Yet in my opinion, she is happier if she remains as she is—and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.