1 Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: it is good for a man not to touch a woman.
2 But because of the cases of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.
3 Let the husband render to the wife the goodwill due to her, and likewise also the wife to the husband.
4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband; and likewise the husband also does not have authority over his own body, but the wife.
5 Do not deprive one another, except by agreement for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
6 But this I say as a concession, not as a command.
7 For I wish that all men were even as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one in this way and another in that.
8 But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: it is good for them if they remain even as I am.
9 But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn.
10 And to the married I give this charge, not I but the Lord: that a wife not be separated from her husband;
11 but if she is indeed separated, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband; and that a husband not send away his wife.
12 But to the rest I speak, not the Lord: if any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to dwell with him, let him not send her away.
13 And if a woman has a husband who does not believe, and he is willing to dwell with her, let her not send him away.
14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.
15 But if the unbelieving one separates, let him separate; the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases; but God has called us in 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?
17 Only, as God has apportioned to each, as the Lord has called each, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches.
18 Was anyone called when already circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised.
19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
20 Let each remain in the calling in which he was called.
21 Were you called as a servant? Do not be concerned about it; but if you are also able to become free, use it rather.
22 For the servant who was called in the Lord is the Lord's freedman; likewise also the free man who was called is Christ's servant.
23 You were bought with a price; do not become servants of men.
24 Brothers, let each one remain with God in the state in which he was called.
25 Now concerning virgins I have no command of the Lord; but I give my judgment, as one who has received mercy from the Lord to be faithful.
26 I think, then, that this is good because of the present necessity: that it is good for a man to remain as he is.
27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you released from a wife? Do not seek a wife.
28 But even if you marry, you have not sinned; and if the virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have trouble in the flesh, and I would spare you.
29 But this I say, brothers: the time is short; from now on let those who have wives be as though they had none,
30 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,
31 and those who use this world as not using it to the full; for the fashion of this world is passing away.
32 But I want you to be without care. The unmarried man cares for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord;
33 but he who is married cares for the things of the world, how he may please his wife.
34 There is a difference also between the wife and the virgin. The unmarried woman cares for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit; but she who is married cares 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 put a noose on you, but for what is proper, and that you may attend upon the Lord without distraction.
36 But if anyone thinks he is behaving improperly toward his virgin, if she is past the flower of her youth, and need so requires, let him do what he wills; he does not sin; let them marry.
37 But he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has authority concerning his own will, and has judged this in his heart, to keep his own virgin, does well.
38 So then he also who gives in marriage does well, but he who does not give in marriage does better.
39 A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband falls asleep, she is free to be married to whom she wills, only in the Lord.
40 But she is happier if she so remains, according to my judgment; and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.