1Now concerning the things you wrote to me about: it is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.
2However, because of sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband.
3Husbands should fulfill their marital duties to their wives, and wives to their husbands.
4The wife's body does not belong to herself alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to himself alone but also to his wife.
5Do not refuse each other unless you both agree to do so for a time, so you can devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan doesn't tempt you because you can't control yourselves.
6I say this as a concession, not as a command.
7I wish that everyone was like me. However, each person has their own gift from God, one gift of one kind and another gift of another kind.
8To those who are unmarried and to widows, I say it is good for them to remain single, just as I am.
9But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry. It is better to marry than to burn with passion.
10To married people, I give this command—not I, but the Lord—a wife must not leave her husband.
11(But if she does leave, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and a husband must not leave his wife.
12To the rest, I say—not the Lord—if a brother has a wife who is not a believer, and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.
13And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer, and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.
14For the unbelieving husband is made holy through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy through her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
15But if the unbeliever insists on leaving, let them go. In such cases, the believing brother or sister is not bound; God has called you to live in peace.
16Wife, how do you know if you will save your husband? Or husband, how do you know if you will save your wife?
17Only let each person live the life the Lord has assigned to them and to which God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.
18Was anyone called to faith after being circumcised? They should not try to become uncircumcised. Was anyone called to faith without being circumcised? They should not be circumcised.
19Circumcision means nothing, and uncircumcision means nothing. What matters is obeying God's commands.
20Everyone should remain in the life situation they were in when God called them.
21Were you a slave when God called you? Don't let that bother you. But if you have an opportunity to gain your freedom, take it.
22Because a slave who is called by the Lord is the Lord’s free person. Similarly, a free person who is called is Christ’s slave.
23God bought you at a high price. So don’t become slaves to people.
24Brothers and sisters, each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.
25Now concerning people who have never been married: I don’t have a direct command from the Lord, but I’m giving you my opinion as someone who, by the Lord’s mercy, can be trusted.
26Because of the troubles we are currently facing, I think it’s best for a person to remain as they are.
27Are you married? Don’t try to get a divorce. Are you not married? Don’t look for a wife.
28But if you do marry, you haven’t sinned. And if a woman who has never been married gets married, she hasn’t sinned. However, those who marry will experience difficulties in this life, and I want to spare you from that.
29Brothers and sisters, let me say this: time is short. From now on, even those who have wives should live as if they don’t;
30and those who mourn should live as if they are not mourning; and those who rejoice should live as if they are not rejoicing; and those who buy something should live as if they don’t own it;
31and those who use the things of this world should live as if they are not completely absorbed by them. For the present way of this world is passing away.
32I want you to be free from worry. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord.
33But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife.
34There is also a difference between a married woman and a woman who has never been married. A woman who has never been married is concerned about the Lord’s affairs so that she may be holy in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband.
35I am saying this for your own benefit, not to restrict you, but so that you may live in a proper way and devote yourselves to the Lord without distraction.
36If a man thinks he is not acting honorably toward his unmarried daughter or ward, if she is past her prime, and if marriage is necessary, he should do what he wishes. He is not sinning. Let them marry.
37But the man who is firm in his resolve, who has no compelling reason, but has control over his own will, and has decided in his heart to keep his daughter or ward unmarried, does well.
38So then, the man who gives his daughter or ward in marriage does well, but the man who does not give her in marriage does even better.
39A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, as long as it is someone who follows the Lord.
40But in my opinion, she is happier if she remains as she is, and I believe I also have the Spirit of God.