² Some Pharisees^(A) came to test^(B) him, asking, “Is it lawful^(C) for a man to divorce^(D) his wife?” ^(E)

³ He replied to them, “What did Moses^(F) command you?”

⁴ They said, “Moses permitted us to write divorce papers^(G) and send her away.”^(H)

⁵ But Jesus told them, “He wrote this command for you because of the hardness of your hearts. ^{(I) 6} But from the beginning^(J) of creation^(K) God^[a] made them male and female.^{[b](L) 7} For this reason a man will leave ^(M) his father and mother ^{[c] 8} and the two will become one flesh.^[d](N) So they are no longer two, but one flesh. ⁹ Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”^(O)

¹⁰ When they were in the house again, the disciples questioned him about this matter. ¹¹ He said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife^(P) and marries^(Q) another commits adultery^(R) against her. ¹² Also, if she divorces her husband^(S) and marries another, she commits adultery.”