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But of those things that ye have written to me, it is good to a man to touch not a woman [it is good to a man for to not touch a woman].

But for fornication each man have his own wife, and each woman have her own husband.

The husband yield debt to the wife, and also the wife to the husband.

The woman hath not power of her body, but the husband; [also forsooth] and the husband hath not power of his body, but the woman [but the wife].

Do not ye defraud each to other [Do not defraud together], but peradventure of consent for a time, that ye give attention to prayer; and again turn again to the same thing, lest Satan tempt you for your uncontinence.

But I say this thing as giving leave, not by commandment.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 7:6 Forsooth I say this thing by indulgence, not after commandment.

Concerning Married Life

Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”(A) But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife,(B) and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time,(C) so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan(D) will not tempt you(E) because of your lack of self-control. I say this as a concession, not as a command.(F)

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