1 Now{G1161} concerning{G4012} the things whereof{G3739} ye wrote{G1125}{(G5656)} unto me{G3427}: It is good{G2570} for a man{G444} not{G3361} to touch{G680}{(G5733)} a woman{G1135}.

2 Nevertheless{G1223}{G1161}, to avoid fornication{G4202}, let{G2192} every man{G1538} have{G2192}{(G5720)} his own{G1438} wife{G1135}, and{G2532} let{G2192} every woman{G1538} have{G2192}{(G5720)} her own{G2398} husband{G435}.

3 Let{G591} the husband{G435} render{G591}{(G5720)} unto the wife{G1135} due{G3784}{(G5746)} benevolence{G2133}: and{G1161} likewise{G3668} also{G2532} the wife{G1135} unto the husband{G435}.

4 The wife{G1135} hath{G1850} not{G3756} power{G1850}{(G5719)} of her own{G2398} body{G4983}, but{G235} the husband{G435}: and{G1161} likewise{G3668} also{G2532} the husband{G435} hath{G1850} not{G3756} power{G1850}{(G5719)} of his own{G2398} body{G4983}, but{G235} the wife{G1135}.

5 Defraud ye{G650}{(G5720)} not{G3361} one the other{G240}, except{G1509}{G302} it be{G5100} with{G1537} consent{G4859} for{G4314} a time{G2540}, that{G2443} ye may give yourselves{G4980}{(G5725)} to fasting{G3521} and{G2532} prayer{G4335}; and{G2532} come{G4905}{(G5741)} together{G1909}{G846} again{G3825}, that{G3363} Satan{G4567} tempt{G3985}{(G5725)} you{G5209} not{G3363} for{G1223} your{G5216} incontinency{G192}.

6 But{G1161} I speak{G3004}{(G5719)} this{G5124} by{G2596} permission{G4774}, and not{G3756} of{G2596} commandment{G2003}.

7 For{G1063} I would{G2309}{(G5719)} that all{G3956} men{G444} were{G1511}{(G5750)} even{G2532} as{G5613} I myself{G1683}. But{G235} every man{G1538} hath{G2192}{(G5719)} his proper{G2398} gift{G5486} of{G1537} God{G2316}, one{G3739}{G3303} after this manner{G3779}, and{G1161} another{G3739} after that{G3779}.

8 I say{G3004}{(G5719)} therefore{G1161} to the unmarried{G22} and{G2532} widows{G5503}, It is{G2076}{(G5748)} good{G2570} for them{G846} if{G1437} they abide{G3306}{(G5661)} even{G2504} as{G5613} I{G2504}.

9 But{G1161} if{G1487} they{G1467} cannot{G3756} contain{G1467}{(G5736)}, let them marry{G1060}{(G5657)}: for{G1063} it is{G2076}{(G5748)} better{G2909} to marry{G1060}{(G5658)} than{G2228} to burn{G4448}{(G5745)}.

10 And{G1161} unto the married{G1060}{(G5761)} I command{G3853}{(G5719)}, yet not{G3756} I{G1473}, but{G235} the Lord{G2962}, Let{G5563} not{G3361} the wife{G1135} depart{G5563}{(G5683)} from{G575} her husband{G435}:

11 But{G1161} and{G2532} if{G1437} she depart{G5563}{(G5681)}, let her remain{G3306}{(G5720)} unmarried{G22}, or{G2228} be reconciled{G2644}{(G5649)} to her husband{G435}: and{G2532} let{G863} not{G3361} the husband{G435} put away{G863}{(G5721)} his wife{G1135}.

12 But{G1161} to the rest{G3062} speak{G3004}{(G5719)} I{G1473}, not{G3756} the Lord{G2962}: If any{G1536} brother{G80} hath{G2192}{(G5719)} a wife{G1135} that believeth not{G571}, and{G2532} she{G846} be pleased{G4909}{(G5719)} to dwell{G3611}{(G5721)} with{G3326} him{G846}, let him{G863} not{G3361} put{G863} her{G846} away{G863}{(G5720)}.

13 And{G2532} the woman{G1135} which{G3748} hath{G2192}{(G5719)} an husband{G435} that believeth not{G571}, and{G2532} if he{G846} be pleased{G4909}{(G5719)} to dwell{G3611}{(G5721)} with{G3326} her{G846}, let her{G863} not{G3361} leave{G863}{(G5720)} him{G846}.

14 For{G1063} the unbelieving{G571} husband{G435} is sanctified{G37}{(G5769)} by{G1722} the wife{G1135}, and{G2532} the unbelieving{G571} wife{G1135} is sanctified{G37}{(G5769)} by{G1722} the husband{G435}: else{G686}{G1893} were{G2076}{(G5748)} your{G5216} children{G5043} unclean{G169}; but{G1161} now{G3568} are they{G2076}{(G5748)} holy{G40}.

15 But{G1161} if{G1487} the unbelieving{G571} depart{G5563}{(G5731)}, let him depart{G5563}{(G5744)}. A brother{G80} or{G2228} a sister{G79} is{G1402} not{G3756} under bondage{G1402}{(G5769)} in{G1722} such{G5108} cases: but{G1161} God{G2316} hath called{G2564}{(G5758)} us{G2248} to{G1722} peace{G1515}.

16 For{G1063} what{G5101} knowest thou{G1492}{(G5758)}, O wife{G1135}, whether{G1487} thou shalt save{G4982}{(G5692)} thy husband{G435}? or{G2228} how{G5101} knowest thou{G1492}{(G5758)}, O man{G435}, whether{G1487} thou shalt save{G4982}{(G5692)} thy wife{G1135}?

17 But{G1508} as{G5613} God{G2316} hath distributed{G3307}{(G5656)} to every man{G1538}, as{G5613} the Lord{G2962} hath called{G2564}{(G5758)} every one{G1538}, so{G3779} let him walk{G4043}{(G5720)}. And{G2532} so{G3779} ordain I{G1299}{(G5731)} in{G1722} all{G3956} churches{G1577}.

18 Is{G2564} any man{G5100} called{G2564}{(G5681)} being circumcised{G4059}{(G5772)}? let him{G1986} not{G3361} become uncircumcised{G1986}{(G5737)}. Is{G2564} any{G5100} called{G2564}{(G5681)} in{G1722} uncircumcision{G203}? let him{G4059} not{G3361} be circumcised{G4059}{(G5744)}.

19 Circumcision{G4061} is{G2076}{(G5748)} nothing{G3762}, and{G2532} uncircumcision{G203} is{G2076}{(G5748)} nothing{G3762}, but{G235} the keeping{G5084} of the commandments{G1785} of God{G2316}.

20 Let{G3306} every man{G1538} abide{G3306}{(G5720)} in{G1722} the same{G5026} calling{G2821} wherein{G1722}{G3739} he was called{G2564}{(G5681)}.

21 Art thou called{G2564}{(G5681)} being a servant{G1401}? care{G3199}{G4671} not{G3361} for it{G3199}{(G5720)}: but{G235} if{G1499} thou mayest{G1410}{(G5736)} be made{G1096}{(G5635)} free{G1658}, use{G5530}{(G5663)} it rather{G3123}.

22 For{G1063} he that is called{G2564}{(G5685)} in{G1722} the Lord{G2962}, being a servant{G1401}, is{G2076}{(G5748)} the Lord's{G2962} freeman{G558}: likewise{G3668} also{G2532} he that is called{G2564}{(G5685)}, being free{G1658}, is{G2076}{(G5748)} Christ's{G5547} servant{G1401}.

23 Ye are bought{G59}{(G5681)} with a price{G5092}; be{G1096} not{G3361} ye{G1096}{(G5737)} the servants{G1401} of men{G444}.

24 Brethren{G80}, let{G3306} every man{G1538}, wherein{G1722}{G3739} he is called{G2564}{(G5681)}, therein{G1722}{G5129} abide{G3306}{(G5720)} with{G3844} God{G2316}.

25 Now{G1161} concerning{G4012} virgins{G3933} I have{G2192}{(G5719)} no{G3756} commandment{G2003} of the Lord{G2962}: yet{G1161} I give{G1325}{(G5719)} my judgment{G1106}, as{G5613} one that hath obtained mercy{G1653}{(G5772)} of{G5259} the Lord{G2962} to be{G1511}{(G5750)} faithful{G4103}.

26 I suppose{G3543}{(G5719)} therefore{G3767} that this{G5124} is{G5225}{(G5721)} good{G2570} for{G1223} the present{G1764}{(G5761)} distress{G318}, I say, that{G3754} it is good{G2570} for a man{G444} so{G3779} to be{G1511}{(G5750)}.

27 Art thou bound{G1210}{(G5769)} unto a wife{G1135}? seek{G2212}{(G5720)} not{G3361} to be loosed{G3080}. Art thou loosed{G3089}{(G5769)} from{G575} a wife{G1135}? seek{G2212}{(G5720)} not{G3361} a wife{G1135}.

28 But{G1161} and{G2532} if{G1437} thou marry{G1060}{(G5661)}, thou hast{G264} not{G3756} sinned{G264}{(G5627)}; and{G2532} if{G1437} a virgin{G3933} marry{G1060}{(G5661)}, she hath{G264} not{G3756} sinned{G264}{(G5627)}. Nevertheless{G1161} such{G5108} shall have{G2192}{(G5692)} trouble{G2347} in the flesh{G4561}: but{G1161} I{G1473} spare{G5339}{(G5736)} you{G5216}.

29 But{G1161} this{G5124} I say{G5346}{(G5748)}, brethren{G80}, the time{G2540} is short{G4958}{(G5772)}: it remaineth{G2076}{(G5748)}{G3063}, that{G2443} both{G2532} they that have{G2192}{(G5723)} wives{G1135} be{G5600}{(G5753)} as though{G5613} they had{G2192}{(G5723)} none{G3361};

30 And{G2532} they that weep{G2799}{(G5723)}, as{G5613} though they wept{G2799}{(G5723)} not{G3361}; and{G2532} they that rejoice{G5463}{(G5723)}, as{G5613} though they rejoiced{G5463}{(G5723)} not{G3361}; and{G2532} they that buy{G59}{(G5723)}, as{G5613} though they possessed{G2722}{(G5723)} not{G3361};

31 And{G2532} they that use{G5530}{(G5740)} this{G5127} world{G2889}, as{G5613} not{G3361} abusing{G2710}{(G5740)} it: for{G1063} the fashion{G4976} of this{G5129} world{G2889} passeth away{G3855}{(G5719)}.

32 But{G1161} I would have{G1511}{(G5750)}{G2309}{(G5719)} you{G5209} without carefulness{G275}. He that is unmarried{G22} careth{G3309}{(G5719)} for the things that belong to{G3588} the Lord{G2962}, how{G4459} he may please{G700}{(G5692)} the Lord{G2962}:

33 But{G1161} he that is married{G1060}{(G5660)} careth{G3309}{(G5719)} for the things that are{G3588} of the world{G2889}, how{G4459} he may please{G700}{(G5692)} his wife{G1135}.

34 There is difference also between{G3307}{(G5769)} a wife{G1135} and{G2532} a virgin{G3933}. The unmarried woman{G22} careth for{G3309}{(G5719)} the things{G3588} of the Lord{G2962}, that{G2443} she may be{G5600}{(G5753)} holy{G40} both{G2532} in body{G4983} and{G2532} in spirit{G4151}: but{G1161} she that is married{G1060}{(G5660)} careth{G3309}{(G5719)} for the things{G3588} of the world{G2889}, how{G4459} she may please{G700}{(G5692)} her husband{G435}.

35 And{G1161} this{G5124} I speak{G3004}{(G5719)} for{G4314} your{G5216} own{G846} profit{G4851}{(G5723)}; not{G3756} that{G2443} I may cast{G1911}{(G5632)} a snare{G1029} upon you{G5213}, but{G235} for that which{G4314} is comely{G2158}, and{G2532} that ye may attend upon{G2145} the Lord{G2962} without distraction{G563}.

36 But{G1161} if any man{G1536} think{G3543}{(G5719)} that he behaveth himself uncomely{G807}{(G5721)} toward{G1909} his{G846} virgin{G3933}, if{G1437} she pass the flower of her age{G5230}{G5600}{(G5753)}, and{G2532} need{G3784}{(G5719)} so{G3779} require{G1096}{(G5738)}, let him do{G4160}{(G5720)} what{G3739} he will{G2309}{(G5719)}, he sinneth{G264}{(G5719)} not{G3756}: let them marry{G1060}{(G5720)}.

37 Nevertheless{G1161} he{G3739} that standeth{G2476}{(G5707)}{(G5758)} stedfast{G1476} in{G1722} his heart{G2588}, having{G2192}{(G5723)} no{G3361} necessity{G318}, but{G1161} hath{G2192}{(G5719)} power{G1849} over{G4012} his own{G2398} will{G2307}, and{G2532} hath{G2919} so{G5124} decreed{G2919}{(G5758)} in{G1722} his{G846} heart{G2588} that he will keep{G5083}{(G5721)} his{G1438} virgin{G3933}, doeth{G4160}{(G5719)} well{G2573}.

38 So{G5620} then{G2532} he that giveth her in marriage{G1547}{(G5723)} doeth{G4160}{(G5719)} well{G2573}; but{G1161} he that giveth her{G1547} not{G3361} in marriage{G1547}{(G5723)} doeth{G4160}{(G5719)} better{G2908}.

39 The wife{G1135} is bound{G1210}{(G5769)} by the law{G3551}{G1909} as long{G5550} as{G3745} her{G846} husband{G435} liveth{G2198}{(G5719)}; but{G1161} if{G1437} her{G846} husband{G435} be dead{G2837}{(G5686)}, she is{G2076}{(G5748)} at liberty{G1658} to be married{G1060}{(G5683)} to whom{G3739} she will{G2309}{(G5719)}; only{G3440} in{G1722} the Lord{G2962}.

40 But{G1161} she is{G2076}{(G5748)} happier{G3107} if{G1437} she{G3306} so{G3779} abide{G3306}{(G5661)}, after{G2596} my{G1699} judgment{G1106}: and{G1161} I think{G1380}{(G5719)} also{G2504} that I have{G2192}{(G5721)} the Spirit{G4151} of God{G2316}.