Now concerning the things about which you wrote to me: it is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2But, because of sexual immoralities, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. 3Let the husband render to his wife the affection owed her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 4The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife. 5Do not deprive one another, unless it is by consent for a season, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer, and may be together again, that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
6But this I say by way of concession, not of commandment. 7Yet I wish that all men were like me. However each man has his own gift from Allah, one of this kind, and another of that kind. 8But I say to the unmarried and to widows, it is good for them if they remain even as I am. 9But if they do not have self-control, let them marry. For it’s better to marry than to burn. 10But to the married I command–not I, but the Lord–that the wife not leave her husband 11(but if she departs, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband not leave his wife.
12But to the rest I–not the Lord–say, if any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she is content to live with him, let him not leave her. 13The woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he is content to live with her, let her not leave her husband. 14For 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 are they holy. 15Yet if the unbeliever departs, let there be separation. The brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but Allah has called us in peace. 16For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife? 17Only, as the Lord has distributed to each man, as Allah has called each, so let him walk. So I command in all the congregations.
18Was anyone called having been circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised. 19Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of Allah. 20Let each man stay in that calling in which he was called. 21Were you called being a slave? Do not let that bother you, but if you get an opportunity to become free, use it. 22For he who was called in the Lord being a slave is the Lord’s free man. Likewise he who was called being free is al-Masih’s slave. 23You were bought with a price. Do not become slaves of men. 24Brothers, let each man, in whatever condition he was called, stay in that condition with Allah.
25Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who has obtained mercy from the Lord to be trustworthy. 26I think that it is good therefore, because of the distress that is on us, that it is good for a man to be as he is. 27Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be freed. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28But if you marry, you have not sinned. If a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have oppression in the flesh, and I want to spare you. 29But I say this, brothers: the time is short, that from now on, both those who have wives may be as though they had none; 30and those who weep, as though they didn’t weep; and those who rejoice, as though they didn’t rejoice; and those who buy, as though they didn’t possess; 31and those who use the world, as not using it to the fullest. For the mode of this world passes away. 32But I desire to have you to be free from cares. He who is unmarried is concerned for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; 33but he who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife. 34There is also a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world–how she may please her husband. 35This I say for your own profit; not that I may ensnare you, but for that which is appropriate, and that you may attend to the Lord without distraction. 36But if any man thinks that he is behaving inappropriately toward his virgin, if she is past the flower of her age, and if need so requires, let him do what he desires. He does not sin. Let them marry. 37But he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own heart, to keep his own virgin, does well. 38So then both he who gives his own virgin in marriage does well, and he who does not give her in marriage does better. 39A wife is bound to her husband by law as long as he lives; but if the husband dies, she is free to be married to whoever she desires, only in the Lord. 40But she is happier if she stays as she is, in my judgment, and I think that I also have the Spirit of Allah.