1
Now concerning the things about which you wrote: “It is good for an ish not to touch an ishah.”
2
But because of sexual immorality, let each ish have his own ishah, and let each ishah have her own ish.
3
Let the ish give to the ishah what is owed in the marriage bond, and likewise the ishah to the ish.
4
The ishah does not exercise exclusive authority over her own body, but the ish also. Likewise, the ish does not exercise exclusive authority over his own body, but the ishah also.
5
Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and then come together again, so that the adversary may not test you because of your lack of self-control.
6
But I say this as a concession, not as a command.
7
Yet I wish all people were as I myself am. But each one has his own gift from Elohim, one in this manner and another in that.
8
Now I say to the unmarried and the widows: it is good for them if they remain as I am.
9
But if they do not exercise self-control, let them marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with desire.
10
But to the married I give instruction— not I, but the Master: an ishah is not to separate from her ish.
11
But if she does separate, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her ish. And an ish is not to send away his ishah.
12
But to the rest I say— I, not the Master: if any brother has an unbelieving ishah and she agrees to dwell with him, let him not send her away.
13
And if an ishah has an unbelieving ish and he agrees to dwell with her, let her not send her ish away.
14
For the unbelieving ish is set apart through the ishah, and the unbelieving ishah is set apart through the brother. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are set apart.
15
But if the unbeliever separates, let that one separate. The brother or sister is not enslaved in such matters. For Elohim has called us in shalom.
16
For how do you know, ishah, whether you shall deliver your ish? Or how do you know, ish, whether you shall deliver your ishah?
17
Only, as the Master has distributed to each, as Elohim has called each one, so let him walk. And so I command in all the assemblies.
18
Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not conceal it. Was anyone called in uncircumcision? Let him not seek circumcision.
19
Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but guarding the commandments of Elohim is what matters.
20
Let each one remain in the calling in which he was called.
21
Were you called as a servant? Do not let it trouble you. But if you are also able to become free, make use of the opportunity.
22
For the one called in the Master while a servant is the Master’s freedman. Likewise, the one called while free is a servant of the Anointed.
23
You were bought with a price. Do not become slaves of Adam.
24
Brothers, let each one remain before Elohim in the condition in which he was called.
25
Now concerning virgins, I have no command from the Master, but I give judgment as one who has received mercy from the Master to be trustworthy.
26
Therefore I think this is good because of the present distress: that it is good for an Adam to remain as he is.
27
Are you bound to an ishah? Do not seek release. Are you released from an ishah? Do not seek an ishah.
28
But if you marry, you have not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such people shall have affliction in the flesh, and I would spare you.
29
But this I say, brothers: the appointed time has been shortened. From now on, let even those having wives be as though not consumed by marriage alone,
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and those weeping as though not mastered by weeping, and those rejoicing as though not possessed by joy, and those buying as though not owning everything they acquire,
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and those using the world as those not making full use of its present form, for the form of this world is passing away.
32
But I desire you to be without anxiety. The unmarried ish is concerned with the things of the Master, how he may please the Master.
33
But the married ish is concerned with the things of the world, how he may please his ishah,
34
and his interests are divided. And the unmarried ishah and the virgin are concerned with the things of the Master, so that she may be set apart in body and ruach. But the married ishah is concerned with the things of the world, how she may please her ish.
35
I say this for your own benefit, not to throw a noose around you, but for what is proper and for undistracted devotion to the Master.
36
But if anyone thinks he is behaving improperly toward his virgin, if she is beyond the flower of youth and it ought to happen this way, let him do what he desires. He does not sin. Let them marry.
37
But the one who stands firm in his heart, being under no necessity, but having authority over his own will, and has decided this in his own heart, to keep his virgin, shall do well.
38
Therefore the one who gives her in marriage does well, and the one who does not shall do better under the present circumstances.
39
An ishah is bound for as long as her ish lives. But if her ish dies, she is free to marry whom she desires— only in the Master.
40
But in my judgment she is more blessed if she remains as she is. And I think that I also have Ruach of Elohim.