¹³ As soon as Laban^(A) heard the news about Jacob, his sister’s son, he hurried to meet him. He embraced him^(B) and kissed him and brought him to his home, and there Jacob told him all these things. ¹⁴ Then Laban said to him, “You are my own flesh and blood.”^(C)

Jacob Marries Leah and Rachel

After Jacob had stayed with him for a whole month, ¹⁵ Laban said to him, “Just because you are a relative^(D) of mine, should you work for me for nothing? Tell me what your wages^(E) should be.”

¹⁶ Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the older was Leah,^(F) and the name of the younger was Rachel.^{(G) 17} Leah had weak^[a] eyes, but Rachel^(H) had a lovely figure and was beautiful.^{(I) 18} Jacob was in love with Rachel^(J) and said, “I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.”^(K)

¹⁹ Laban said, “It’s better that I give her to you than to some other man. Stay here with me.” ²⁰ So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel,^(L) but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.^(M)

²¹ Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to make love to her.^(N)”

²² So Laban brought together all the people of the place and gave a feast.^{(O) 23} But when evening came, he took his daughter Leah^(P) and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob made love to her. ²⁴ And Laban gave his servant Zilpah^(Q) to his daughter as her attendant.^(R)

²⁵ When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me?^(S) I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me?^(T)”

²⁶ Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one.^{(U) 27} Finish this daughter’s bridal week;^(V) then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work.^(W)”

²⁸ And Jacob did so. He finished the week with Leah, and then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel to be his wife.^{(X) 29} Laban gave his servant Bilhah^(Y) to his daughter Rachel as her attendant.^{(Z) 30} Jacob made love to Rachel also, and his love for Rachel was greater than his love for Leah.^(AA) And he worked for Laban another seven years.^(AB)

Concerning Married Life

7 Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”^{(A) 2} But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. ³ The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife,^(B) and likewise the wife to her husband. ⁴ 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. ⁵ 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. ⁶ I say this as a concession, not as a command.^{(F) 7} I wish that all of you were as I am.^(G) But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.^(H)

⁸ Now to the unmarried^[a] and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do.^{(I) 9} But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry,^(J) for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

¹⁰ To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.^{(K) 11} But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband.^(L) And a husband must not divorce his wife.

¹² To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord):^(M) If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. ¹³ And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. ¹⁴ For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.^(N)

¹⁵ But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.^{(O) 16} How do you know, wife, whether you will save^(P) your husband?^(Q) Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

Concerning Change of Status

¹⁷ Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them.^(R) This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.^{(S) 18} Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised.^{(T) 19} Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing.^(U) Keeping God’s commands is what counts. ²⁰ Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.^(V)

²¹ Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. ²² For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person;^(W) similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave.^{(X) 23} You were bought at a price;^(Y) do not become slaves of human beings. ²⁴ Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.^(Z)