7. For I would that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one after this manner and another after that.
8. I say, therefore, to the unmarried men and widowers, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
9. But if they do not have the gift of continence, let them marry, for it is better to marry than to burn.
10. And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife separate from her husband;
11. and if she separates, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband, and let not the husband put away his wife.
12. But to the rest I speak, not the Lord: If any brother has a wife that does not believe, and she consents to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
13. And the woman who has a husband that does not believe and if he consents to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
14. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.
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.