1Now concerning the things about which you wrote: it is good for a man not to touch a woman.2But because of sexual sins, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.3Let the husband pay the debt to the wife, and likewise let the wife pay the debt to the husband.4The 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.5Do not defraud one another, except perhaps by mutual consent for a limited time, so that you may be devoted to prayer and then be together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.6I say this as a concession, not as a command.7I wish that all were as I myself am; but each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.8To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain as I am.9But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry; for it is better to marry than to burn.10To the married I give this command—not I but the Lord: a wife must not separate from a husband.11But if she does separate, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband; and a husband must not divorce his wife.12To the rest I say—I and not the Lord: if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he must not divorce her.13And if any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she must not divorce him.14For the unbelieving husband is made holy through the wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy through the brother; otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is they are holy.15But if the unbeliever separates, let it be so; the brother or sister is not bound in such cases; God has called us to peace.16Wife, how do you know whether you will save your husband? Husband, how do you know whether you will save your wife?17Only let each person walk as the Lord has assigned, as God has called; this is my rule in all the assemblies.18Was anyone called already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks. Was anyone called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised.19Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God.20Let each remain in the condition in which he was called.21Were you a slave when called? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can become free, avail yourself of it.22For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord; likewise he who was free when called is a slave of Christ.23You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men.24So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.25Now concerning the virgins, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy.26I think therefore that this is good because of the present necessity, that it is good for a man to be as he is.27Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife.28But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if an engaged woman marries, she has not sinned; yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that.29This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short; from now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none.30And those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods.31And those who use the world as though not using it up; for the form of this world is passing away.32I want you to be free from anxieties; the unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord.33But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife.34And his interests are divided; and the unmarried woman or virgin is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit; but the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband.35I say this for your own benefit, not to put a restraint upon you, but for what is proper and devoted to the Lord without distraction.36If anyone thinks he is acting improperly toward his virgin, if she is past her prime and it ought to be, let him do as he wishes; he does not sin—let them marry.37But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his virgin, he will do well.38So then he who gives his virgin in marriage does well, and he who does not give her in marriage will do even better.39A wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if the husband sleeps, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.40Yet she is more blessed if she remains as she is, according to my judgment; and I think that I too have the spirit of God.