6. But I am saying this, neither as an indulgence, nor as a commandment.
7. For I would prefer it if you were all like myself. But each person has his proper gift from God: one in this way, yet another in that way.
8. But I say to the unmarried and to widows: It is good for them, if they would remain as they are, just as I also am.
9. But if they cannot restrain themselves, they should marry. For it is better to marry, than to be burned.
10. But to those who have been joined in matrimony, it is not I who commands you, but the Lord: a wife is not to separate from her husband.
11. But if she has separated from him, she must remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband should not divorce his wife.
12. Concerning the rest, I am speaking, not the Lord. If any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her.
13. And if any woman has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce her husband.
14. For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through the believing wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through the believing husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean, whereas instead they are holy.
15. But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart. For a brother or sister cannot be made subject to servitude in this way. For God has called us to peace.
16. And how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
17. However, let each one walk just as the Lord has distributed to him, each one just as God has called him. And thus do I teach in all the churches.
18. Has any circumcised man been called? Let him not cover his circumcision. Has any uncircumcised man been called? Let him not be circumcised.
19. Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; there is only the observance of the commandments of God.
20. Let each and every one remain in the same calling to which he was called.
21. Are you a servant who has been called? Do not be concerned about it. But if you ever have the ability to be free, make use of it.
22. For any servant who has been called in the Lord is free in the Lord. Similarly, any free person who has been called is a servant in Christ.
23. You have been bought with a price. Do not be willing to become the servants of men.
24. Brothers, let each one, in whatever state he was called, remain in that state with God.