1 Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is A1 Cor 7:8, 26good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 But because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband. 3 The husband must 1Lit renderfulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 AEx 19:15; 1 Sam 21:5Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and 1Lit become together again so that BMatt 4:10Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 But this I say by way of concession, A2 Cor 8:8not of command. 7 1One early ms reads ForYet I wish that all men were A1 Cor 7:8; 9:5even as I myself am. However, BMatt 19:11f; Rom 12:6; 1 Cor 12:4, 11each man has his own gift from God, one in this manner, and another in that.

8 But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is A1 Cor 7:1, 26good for them if they remain B1 Cor 7:7; 9:5even as I. 9 But if they do not have self-control, A1 Tim 5:14let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

10 But to the married I give instructions, AMal 2:16; Matt 5:32; 19:3-9; Mark 10:2-12; Luke 16:18; 1 Cor 7:6not I, but the Lord, that the wife should not 1Lit depart fromleave her husband 11 (but if she does leave, she must remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband should not 1Or leave his wifedivorce his wife.

12 But to the rest A1 Cor 7:6; 2 Cor 11:17I say, not the Lord, that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he must not 1Or leave herdivorce her. 13 And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not 1Or leave her husbandsend her husband away. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through 1Lit the brotherher believing husband; for otherwise your children are unclean, but now they are AEzra 9:2; Mal 2:15holy. 15 Yet if the unbelieving one leaves, let him leave; the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called 1One early ms reads youus 2Lit inARom 14:19to peace. 16 For how do you know, O wife, whether you will ARom 11:14; 1 Pet 3:1save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?

17 Only, ARom 12:3as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, in this manner let him walk. And B1 Cor 4:17so I direct in C1 Cor 11:16; 14:33; 2 Cor 8:18; 11:28; Gal 1:22; 1 Thess 2:14; 2 Thess 1:4all the churches. 18 Was any man called when he was already circumcised? He is not to become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? AActs 15:1ffHe is not to be circumcised. 19 ARom 2:27, 29; Gal 3:28; 5:6; 6:15; Col 3:11Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is BRom 2:25the keeping of the commandments of God. 20 A1 Cor 7:24Each man must remain in that 1Lit callingcondition in which he was called.

21 Were you called while a slave? 1Lit Let it not be a care to youDo not worry about it; but if you are able also to become free, rather 2Lit usedo that. 22 For he who was called in the Lord while a slave, is AJohn 8:32, 36; Philem 16the Lord’s freedman; likewise he who was called while free, is BEph 6:6; Col 3:24; 1 Pet 2:16Christ’s slave. 23 A1 Cor 6:20You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 Brethren, A1 Cor 7:20each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called.

25 Now concerning virgins I have A1 Cor 7:6no command of the Lord, but I give an opinion as one who 1Lit has had mercy shown on him by the Lord to be trustworthyB2 Cor 4:1; 1 Tim 1:13, 16by the mercy of the Lord is trustworthy. 26 I think then that this is good in view of the 1Or impendingpresent ALuke 21:23; 2 Thess 2:2distress, that B1 Cor 7:1, 8it is good for a man 2Lit so to beto 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 if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have 1Lit tribulation in the fleshtrouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you. 29 But this I say, brethren, ARom 13:11f; 1 Cor 7:31the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should 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 the world, as though they did not A1 Cor 9:18make full use of it; for B1 Cor 7:29; 1 John 2:17the form of this world is passing away.

32 But I want you to be free from concern. One who is A1 Tim 5:5unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; 33 but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, 34 and his interests are divided. The woman who is unmarried, and the virgin, is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband. 35 This I say for your own benefit; not to put a restraint upon you, but 1Lit for what is seemlyto promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord.

36 But if any man thinks that he is acting unbecomingly toward his virgin daughter, if she is past her youth, and if it must be so, let him do what he wishes, he does not sin; let 1Lit themher marry. 37 But he who stands firm in his heart, 1Lit having no necessitybeing under no constraint, but has authority 2Lit pertaining toover his own will, and has decided this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin daughter, he will do well. 38 So then both he who gives his own virgin daughter in marriage does well, and he who does not give her in marriage will do better.

39 ARom 7:2A wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband 1Lit falls asleepis dead, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only B2 Cor 6:14in the Lord. 40 But A1 Cor 7:6, 25in my opinion she is happier if she remains as she is; and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.