71 Now concerning the things about which you wrote , it is good 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 fulfill 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 Stop depriving one another , except by agreement for a time , so e that you may devote yourselves to prayer , and come together e e again so e that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control . 6 But this I say by way of concession , not of command . 7 Yet I wish that all men were even as I myself am. However , each man has his own gift from God , one in this manner , and another e in that. 8 But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I. 9 But if they do not have self-control , let them marry ; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
10 But to the married I give instructions , not I, but the Lord , that the wife should not leave 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 divorce his wife . 12 But to the rest I 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 divorce her. 13 And a woman who has an unbelieving husband , and he consents to live with her, she must not send her husband away . 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his wife , and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband ; for otherwise your children are unclean , but now they are holy . 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 us to peace . 16 For how do you know , O wife , whether you will save your husband ? Or how do you know , O husband , whether you will save your wife ?
17 Only e , as the Lord has assigned to each one , as God has called each , in this manner let him walk . And so I direct in all the churches . 18 Was any man called when he was already circumcised ? He is not to become uncircumcised . Has anyone been called in uncircumcision ? He is not to be circumcised . 19 Circumcision is nothing , and uncircumcision is nothing , but what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God . 20 Each man must remain in that condition in which he was called . 21 Were you called while a slave ? Do not worry about it; but if you are able also to become free , rather do that. 22 For he who was called in the Lord while a slave , is the Lord's freedman ; likewise he who was called while free , is Christ's slave . 23 You were bought with a price ; do not become slaves of men . 24 Brethren , each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called .
25 Now concerning virgins I have no command of the Lord , but I give an opinion as one who by the mercy of the Lord is trustworthy . 26 I think then that this is good in view of the present distress , 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 if you marry , you have not sinned ; and if a virgin marries , she has not sinned . Yet such will have trouble in this life , and I am trying to spare you. 29 But this I say , brethren , the 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 make full use of it; for the form of this world is passing away . 32 But I want you to be free from concern . One who is unmarried 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 to 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 her marry . 37 But he who stands firm in his heart , being under no constraint , but has authority over 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 A wife is bound as long as her husband lives ; but if her husband is dead , she is free to be married to whom she wishes , only in the Lord . 40 But in my opinion she is happier if she remains as she is; and I think that I also have the Spirit of God .
