15. But if the unbelieving spouse separates, let them separate. The brother or the sister is not under slavery in such cases, but God has called us to peace.
16. For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or what knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
17. But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let them walk. And so I ordain in all the congregations {Gr. ekklesia – called out ones}.
18. Is anyone called being circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Is anyone called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised.
19. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing but the keeping of the commandments of God.
20. Let each abide in the same calling in which he was called.
21. Art thou called being a slave? care not for it; but if thou may be made free, use it rather.
22. For he that is called in the Lord, being a slave, is the Lord’s freeman; likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s slave.
23. Ye are bought with a price; do not make yourselves the slaves of men.
24. Each one, brothers, in that state in which he was called, let him abide with God.
25. Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord, yet I give my advice, as one that has obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.
26. I hold, therefore, this to be good because of the present distress, that it is good for a man to be thus:
27. Art thou bound unto a wife? Seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? Seek not a wife.
28. But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have affliction in the flesh, but I forbear you.
29. But this I say, brothers, the time is short; for the rest, let those that have wives be as though they had none;
30. and those that weep, as though they wept not; and those that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and those that buy, as though they possessed not;
31. and those that use this world, as not using it as their own, for the fashion of this world passes away.
32. But I would have you without worry. He that is unmarried cares for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord;