7 Now as to the matters of which you wrote me. It is well [and by that I mean advantageous, expedient, profitable, and wholesome] for a man not to touch a woman [to cohabit with her] but to remain unmarried.

² But because of the temptation to impurity and to avoid immorality, let each [man] have his own wife and let each [woman] have her own husband.

³ The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights (goodwill, kindness, and what is due her as his wife), and likewise the wife to her husband.

⁴ For the wife does not have [exclusive] authority and control over her own body, but the husband [has his rights]; likewise also the husband does not have [exclusive] authority and control over his body, but the wife [has her rights].

⁵ Do not refuse and deprive and defraud each other [of your due marital rights], except perhaps by mutual consent for a time, so that you may devote yourselves unhindered to prayer. But afterwards resume marital relations, lest Satan tempt you [to sin] through your lack of restraint of sexual desire.^(A)

⁶ But I am saying this more as a matter of permission and concession, not as a command or regulation.

⁷ I wish that all men were like I myself am [in this matter of self-control]. But each has his own special gift from God, one of this kind and one of another.

⁸ But to the unmarried people and to the widows, I declare that it is well (good, advantageous, expedient, and wholesome) for them to remain [single] even as I do.

⁹ But if they have not self-control (restraint of their passions), they should marry. For it is better to marry than to be aflame [with passion and tortured continually with ungratified desire].

¹⁰ But to the married people I give charge—not I but the Lord—that the wife is not to separate from her husband.

¹¹ But if she does [separate from and divorce him], let her remain single or else be reconciled to her husband. And [I charge] the husband [also] that he should not put away or divorce his wife.

¹² To the rest I declare—I, not the Lord [for Jesus did not discuss this]—that if any brother has a wife who does not believe [in Christ] and she consents to live with him, he should not leave or divorce her.

¹³ And if any woman has an unbelieving husband and he consents to live with her, she should not leave or divorce him.

¹⁴ For the unbelieving husband is set apart (separated, withdrawn from heathen contamination, and affiliated with the Christian people) by union with his consecrated (set-apart) wife, and the unbelieving wife is set apart and separated through union with her consecrated husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean (unblessed heathen, ^[a]outside the Christian covenant), but as it is they are ^[b]prepared for God [pure and clean].

¹⁵ But if the unbelieving partner [actually] leaves, let him do so; in such [cases the remaining] brother or sister is not morally bound. But God has called us to peace.

¹⁶ For, wife, how can you be sure of converting and saving your husband? Husband, how can you be sure of converting and saving your wife?

¹⁷ Only, let each one [seek to conduct himself and regulate his affairs so as to] lead the life which the Lord has allotted and imparted to him and to which God has invited and summoned him. This is my order in all the churches.

¹⁸ Was anyone at the time of his summons [from God] already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the evidence of circumcision. Was anyone at the time [God] called him uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised.

¹⁹ For circumcision is nothing and counts for nothing, neither does uncircumcision, but [what counts is] keeping the commandments of God.

²⁰ Everyone should remain after God calls him in the station or condition of life in which the summons found him.

²¹ Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let that trouble you. But if you are able to gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.

²² For he who as a slave was summoned in [to union with] the Lord is a freedman of the Lord, just so he who was free when he was called is a bond servant of Christ (the Messiah).

²³ You were bought with a price [purchased with a preciousness and paid for by Christ]; then do not yield yourselves up to become [in your own estimation] slaves to men [but consider yourselves slaves to Christ].

²⁴ So, brethren, in whatever station or state or condition of life each one was when he was called, there let him continue with and close to God.

²⁵ Now concerning the virgins (the marriageable ^[c]maidens) I have no command of the Lord, but I give my opinion and advice as one who by the Lord’s mercy is rendered trustworthy and faithful.

²⁶ I think then, because of the impending distress [that is even now setting in], it is well (expedient, profitable, and wholesome) for a person to remain as he or she is.

²⁷ Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife.

²⁸ But if you do marry, you do not sin [in doing so], and if a virgin marries, she does not sin [in doing so]. Yet those who marry will have physical and earthly troubles, and I would like to spare you that.

²⁹ I mean, brethren, the appointed time has been ^[d]winding down and it has grown very short. From now on, let even those who have wives be as if they had none,

³⁰ And those who weep and mourn as though they were not weeping and mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they did not possess anything,

³¹ And those who deal with this world [^[e]overusing the enjoyments of this life] as though they were not absorbed by it and as if they had no dealings with it. For the outward form of this world (the present world order) is passing away.

³² My desire is to have you free from all anxiety and distressing care. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord;

³³ But the married man is anxious about worldly matters—how he may please his wife—

³⁴ And he is drawn in diverging directions [his interests are divided and he is distracted from his devotion to God]. And the unmarried woman or girl is concerned and anxious about the matters of the Lord, how to be wholly separated and set apart in body and spirit; but the married woman has her cares [centered] in earthly affairs—how she may please her husband.

³⁵ Now I say this for your own welfare and profit, not to put [a halter of] restraint upon you, but to promote what is seemly and in good order and to secure your undistracted and undivided devotion to the Lord.

³⁶ But if any man thinks that he is not acting properly toward and in regard to his virgin [that he is preparing disgrace for her or incurring reproach], in case she is passing the bloom of her youth and if there is need for it, let him do what to him seems right; he does not sin; let them marry.

³⁷ But whoever is firmly established in his heart [strong in mind and purpose], not being forced by necessity but having control over his own will and desire, and has resolved this in his heart to keep his own virginity, he is doing well.

³⁸ So also then, he [the father] who gives his virgin (his daughter) in marriage does well, and he [the father] who does not give [her] in marriage does better.

³⁹ A wife is bound to her husband by law as long as he lives. If the husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she will, only [provided that he too is] in the Lord.

⁴⁰ But in my opinion [a widow] is happier (more blessed and ^[f]to be envied) if she does not remarry. And also I think I have the Spirit of God.

¹¹³ I hate the thoughts of undecided [in religion], double-minded people, but Your law do I love.

¹¹⁴ You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word.^(A)

¹¹⁵ Depart from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commandments of my God [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them].^(B)

¹¹⁶ Uphold me according to Your promise, that I may live; and let me not be put to shame in my hope!^(C)

¹¹⁷ Hold me up, that I may be safe and have regard for Your statutes continually!

¹¹⁸ You spurn and set at nought all those who stray from Your statutes, for their own lying deceives them and their tricks are in vain.

¹¹⁹ You put away and count as dross all the wicked of the earth [for there is no true metal in them]; therefore I love Your testimonies.

¹²⁰ My flesh trembles and shudders for fear and reverential, worshipful awe of You, and I am afraid and in dread of Your judgments.

¹²¹ I have done justice and righteousness; leave me not to those who would oppress me.

¹²² Be surety for Your servant for good [as Judah was surety for the safety of Benjamin]; let not the proud oppress me.^(D)

¹²³ My eyes fail, watching for Your salvation and for the fulfillment of Your righteous promise.

¹²⁴ Deal with Your servant according to Your mercy and loving-kindness, and teach me Your statutes.

¹²⁵ I am Your servant; give me understanding (discernment and comprehension), that I may know (discern and be familiar with the character of) Your testimonies.

¹²⁶ It is time for the Lord to act; they have frustrated Your law.

¹²⁷ Therefore I love Your commandments more than [resplendent] gold, yes, more than [perfectly] refined gold.

¹²⁸ Therefore I esteem as right all, yes, all Your precepts; I hate every false way.

¹²⁹ Your testimonies are wonderful [far exceeding anything conceived by man]; therefore my [penitent] self keeps them [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them].

¹³⁰ The entrance and unfolding of Your words give light; their unfolding gives understanding (discernment and comprehension) to the simple.

¹³¹ I opened my mouth and panted [with eager desire], for I longed for Your commandments.

¹³² Look upon me, be merciful unto me, and show me favor, as is Your way to those who love Your name.

¹³³ Establish my steps and direct them by [means of] Your word; let not any iniquity have dominion over me.

¹³⁴ Deliver me from the oppression of man; so will I keep Your precepts [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them].^(E)

¹³⁵ Make Your face shine [with pleasure] upon Your servant, and teach me Your statutes.^(F)

¹³⁶ Streams of water run down my eyes, because men do not keep Your law [they hear it not, nor receive it, love it, or obey it].

¹³⁷ [Rigidly] righteous are You, O Lord, and upright are Your judgments and all expressions of Your will.

¹³⁸ You have commanded and appointed Your testimonies in righteousness and in great faithfulness.

¹³⁹ My zeal has consumed me and cut me off, because my adversaries have forgotten Your words.

¹⁴⁰ Your word is very pure (tried and well refined); therefore Your servant loves it.

¹⁴¹ I am small (insignificant) and despised, but I do not forget Your precepts.

¹⁴² Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your law is truth.^(G)

¹⁴³ Trouble and anguish have found and taken hold on me, yet Your commandments are my delight.

¹⁴⁴ Your righteous testimonies are everlasting and Your decrees are binding to eternity; give me understanding and I shall live [give me discernment and comprehension and I shall not die].

¹⁴⁵ I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O Lord; I will keep Your statutes [I will hear, receive, love, and obey them].

¹⁴⁶ I cried to You; save me, that I may keep Your testimonies [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them].

¹⁴⁷ I anticipated the dawning of the morning and cried [in childlike prayer]; I hoped in Your word.

¹⁴⁸ My eyes anticipate the night watches and I am awake before the cry of the watchman, that I may meditate on Your word.

¹⁴⁹ Hear my voice according to Your steadfast love; O Lord, quicken me and give me life according to Your [righteous] decrees.

¹⁵⁰ They draw near who follow after wrong thinking and persecute me with wickedness; they are far from Your law.

¹⁵¹ You are near, O Lord [nearer to me than my foes], and all Your commandments are truth.

¹⁵² Of old have I known Your testimonies, and for a long time, [therefore it is a thoroughly established conviction] that You have founded them forever.^(H)

¹⁵³ Consider my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget Your law.

¹⁵⁴ Plead my cause and redeem me; revive me and give me life according to Your word.

¹⁵⁵ Salvation is far from the wicked, for they seek not nor hunger for Your statutes.

¹⁵⁶ Great are Your tender mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord; give me life according to Your ordinances.

¹⁵⁷ Many are my persecutors and my adversaries, yet I do not swerve from Your testimonies.

¹⁵⁸ I behold the treacherous and am grieved and loathe them, because they do not respect Your law [neither hearing, receiving, loving, nor obeying it].

¹⁵⁹ Consider how I love Your precepts; revive me and give life to me, O Lord, according to Your loving-kindness!

¹⁶⁰ The sum of Your word is truth [the total of the full meaning of all Your individual precepts]; and every one of Your righteous decrees endures forever.

¹⁶¹ Princes pursue and persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of Your words [dreading violation of them far more than the force of prince or potentate].^(I)

¹⁶² I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great spoil.

¹⁶³ I hate and abhor falsehood, but Your law do I love.

¹⁶⁴ Seven times a day and all day long do I praise You because of Your righteous decrees.

¹⁶⁵ Great peace have they who love Your law; nothing shall offend them or make them stumble.^(J)

¹⁶⁶ I am hoping and waiting [eagerly] for Your salvation, O Lord, and I do Your commandments.^(K)

¹⁶⁷ Your testimonies have I kept [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying them]; I love them exceedingly!

¹⁶⁸ I have observed Your precepts and Your testimonies, for all my ways are [fully known] before You.

¹⁶⁹ Let my mournful cry and supplication come [near] before You, O Lord; give me understanding (discernment and comprehension) according to Your word [of assurance and promise].

¹⁷⁰ Let my supplication come before You; deliver me according to Your word!

¹⁷¹ My lips shall pour forth praise [with thanksgiving and renewed trust] when You teach me Your statutes.

¹⁷² My tongue shall sing [praise for the fulfillment] of Your word, for all Your commandments are righteous.

¹⁷³ Let Your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen Your precepts.

¹⁷⁴ I have longed for Your salvation, O Lord, and Your law is my delight.

¹⁷⁵ Let me live that I may praise You, and let Your decrees help me.

¹⁷⁶ I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek, inquire for, and demand Your servant, for I do not forget Your commandments.^(L)

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