Book of Common Prayer

7 You wrote me a letter. Here is my answer to the things in the letter. It is good if a man has nothing to do with a woman.

² But wrong sex is always a danger to us. So it is better for each man to have his own wife and each woman to have her own husband.

³ The husband should give his wife what is right. So also, the wife should give her husband what is right.

⁴ The wife does not have full right over her own body. But her husband has a right to it. In the same way, the husband does not have full right over his own body. But his wife has a right to it.

⁵ Do not keep from the other what is right for them to have. It is all right to stay from each other for a while, if you both agree to it. Then you will have time for prayer. Afterwards, come together again. If you do not, Satan might tempt you to do wrong.

⁶ I say you may do this. I do not say that you must do it.

⁷ I wish that all men were like I am. But God has made everyone different. One man can live one way and another man can live another way.

⁸ Here is what I say to those who are not married and to those whose husbands are dead. It is good for them to stay the way I am.

⁹ But if they cannot keep themselves under control, then they should marry. It is better to marry than to burn with desire for sex.

⁷ `And when you talk to God, do not say words that mean nothing, over and over again. People who do not believe in God do that. They think their god will hear them because they say many words.

⁸ Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

⁹ So talk to your God like this: "Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.

¹⁰ "May your kingdom come. May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

¹¹ "Give us our food for today.

¹² "Forgive us for the wrong things we have done, the way we forgive those who have done wrong things to us.

¹³ "Do not test us but help us, so that no one will make us do wrong. Deliver us from the evil one. The kingdom and power and praise belong to you for ever. Amen!"

¹⁴ `If you forgive others for the wrong things they have done, then your Father in heaven will forgive you.

¹⁵ But if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive you for the wrong things you have done.'