1 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me

ℵB omit

: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

1 ¶ Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

2 But, because of fornications, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.

3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence

ℵBA ⟨her due⟩

: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

3 Let the husband render unto the wife her due: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

4 The wife hath not power over her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power over his own body, but the wife.

5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come

ℵBA ⟨prayer, and be⟩

together again, that Satan tempt you not for your

B omit

incontinency.

5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be by consent for a season, that ye may give yourselves unto prayer, and may be together again, that Satan tempt you not because of your incontinency.

6 But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.

6 But this I say by way of permission, not of commandment.

7 For

ℵBA ⟨But⟩

I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

7 Yet I would that all men were even as I myself. Howbeit each man hath his own gift from God, one after this manner, and another after that.

8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is

A ⟨that it is⟩

good for them if they abide even as I.

8 ¶ But I say to the unmarried and to widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.

9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

9 But if they have not continency, 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 depart from her husband:

10 But unto the married I give charge, yea not I, but the Lord, That the wife depart not from her husband

11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

11 (but and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband); and that the husband leave not his wife.

12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

12 But to the rest say I, not the Lord: If any brother hath an unbelieving wife, and she is content to dwell with him, let him not leave her.

13 And the woman which

ℵ ⟨if a woman⟩

hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him

ℵBA ⟨her husband⟩

.

13 And the woman which hath an unbelieving husband, and he is content to dwell with her, let her not leave her husband.

14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband

ℵBA ⟨brother⟩

: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the brother: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us

ℵA ⟨you⟩

to peace.

15 Yet if the unbelieving departeth, let him depart: the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us in peace.

16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

16 For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O husband, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

17 But as God

ℵBA ⟨the Lord⟩

hath distributed to every man, as the Lord

ℵBA ⟨God⟩

hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.

17 Only, as the Lord hath distributed to each man, as God hath called each, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all the churches.

18 Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.

18 Was any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Hath any been called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.

19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.

19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but the keeping of the commandments of God.

20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.

20 Let each man abide in that calling wherein he was called.

21 Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.

21 Wast thou called being a bondservant? care not for it: but if thou canst become free, use it rather.

22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also

ℵBA omit

he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.

22 For he that was called in the Lord, being a bondservant, is the Lord’s freedman: likewise he that was called, being free, is Christ’s bondservant.

23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

23 Ye were bought with a price; become not bondservants of men.

24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

24 Brethren, let each man, wherein he was called, therein abide with God.

25 Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.

25 ¶ Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: but I give my judgement, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.

26 I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.

26 I think therefore that this is good by reason of the present distress, namely, that it is good for a man to be as he is.

27 Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

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 marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.

28 But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Yet such shall have tribulation in the flesh: and I would spare you.

29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;

29 But this I say, brethren, the time is shortened, that henceforth both those that have wives may be as though they had none;

30 And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;

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 they that use this

ℵBA ⟨the⟩

world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

31 and those that use the world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

32 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:

32 But I would have you to be free from cares. He that is unmarried is careful for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord:

33 But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife

ℵBA ⟨wife, and is divided⟩

.

33 but he that is married is careful for the things of the world, how he may please his wife.

34 There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The

ℵBA ⟨And the⟩

unmarried woman

ℵA ⟨woman and the unmarried virgin⟩; B ⟨woman and the virgin⟩

careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both

A omit

in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world,

B omit

how she may please her husband.

34 And there is a difference also between the wife and the virgin. She that is unmarried is careful for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married is careful for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

35 And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

35 And this I say for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is seemly, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

36 But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require

A ⟨require this⟩

, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.

36 But if any man thinketh that he behaveth himself unseemly toward his virgin daughter, if she be past the flower of her age, and if need so requireth, let him do what he will; he sinneth not; let them marry.

37 Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but

A ⟨and⟩

hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart

ℵBA ⟨own heart⟩

that he will keep his virgin, doeth

ℵA ⟨shall do⟩

well.

37 But he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power as touching his own will, and hath determined this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin daughter, shall do well.

38 So then he that giveth her

ℵBA ⟨his virgin⟩

in marriage doeth

B ⟨shall do⟩

well; but

ℵBA ⟨and⟩

he that giveth her not in marriage doeth

ℵBA ⟨shall do⟩

better.

38 So then both he that giveth his own virgin daughter in marriage doeth well; and he that giveth her not in marriage shall do better.

39 The wife is bound by the law

ℵBA omit

as long as her husband liveth; but if her

ℵBA ⟨the⟩

husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

39 A wife is bound for so long time as her husband liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is free to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

40 But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and

B ⟨for⟩

I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

40 But she is happier if she abide as she is, after my judgement: and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.