7. I wish all of you were like me. But you each have your own gift from God. One has this gift. Another has that.
8. I speak to those who are not married. I also speak to widows. It is good for you to stay single like me.
9. But if you can't control yourselves, you should get married. It is better to get married than to burn with sexual longing.
10. I give a command to those who are married. It is a direct command from the Lord, not from me. A wife must not leave her husband.
11. But if she does, she must not get married again. Or she can go back to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
12. I also have something to say to everyone else. It is from me, not a direct command from the Lord. Suppose a brother has a wife who is not a believer. If she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.
13. And suppose a woman has a husband who is not a believer. If he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.
14. The unbelieving husband has been made holy through his wife. The unbelieving wife has been made holy through her believing husband. If that were not the case, your children would not be pure and clean. But as it is, they are holy.
15. If the unbeliever leaves, let that person go. In that case, a believing man or woman does not have to stay married. God wants us to live in peace.
16. Wife, how do you know if you can save your husband? Husband, how do you know if you can save your wife?
17. But each of you should remain in the place in life that the Lord has given you. Stay as you were when God chose you. That's the rule all the churches must follow.
18. Was a man already circumcised when God chose him? Then he should not become uncircumcised. Was he uncircumcised when God chose him? Then he should not be circumcised.
19. Being circumcised means nothing. Being uncircumcised means nothing. Doing what God commands is what counts.
20. Each of you should stay as you were when God chose you.
21. Were you a slave when God chose you? Don't let it trouble you. But if you can get your master to set you free, do it.
22. Those who were slaves when the Lord chose them are now the Lord's free people. Those who were free when God chose them are now slaves of Christ.
23. Christ has paid the price for you. Don't become slaves of human beings.
24. Brothers and sisters, you are accountable to God. So all of you should stay as you were when God chose you.
25. Now I want to say something about virgins. I have no direct command from the Lord. But I give my opinion. Because of the Lord's mercy, I give it as one who can be trusted.
26. Times are hard for you right now. So I think it's good for you to stay as you are.
27. Are you married? Then don't get a divorce. Are you single? Then don't look for a wife.