Now as to the matters of which you wrote: It is good (beneficial, advantageous) for a man not to touch a woman [outside marriage].

Let a man pay his wife her due, and let a woman also pay her husband his.

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 together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

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

Now I wish all men to be even as myself: but every one has his own gift of God: one man thus, and another thus.

But I say to the unmarried and to the widows, It is good for them to be even as I am.

But if they do not have [sufficient] self-control, they should marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

But to the married I enjoin, not I, but the Lord, Let not wife be separated from husband;

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

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.

And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

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

Yet if the unbeliever departs, let there be separation. The brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us in peace.

For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband [by leading him to Christ]? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife [by leading her to Christ]?

Only, whatever be the condition in life which the Lord has assigned to each individual--and whatever the condition in which he was living when God called him--in that let him continue.

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

Whatever be the condition in life in which a man was, when he was called, in that let him continue.

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

For he who is called by the Lord as a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called as a free man is Christ’s slave.

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

Brothers, everyone should stay in the same condition in which he was called by God.

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.

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

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

If you get married it is not a sin; and if an unmarried woman gets married it is not a sin. But those who do so will have trouble in the flesh. But I will not be hard on you.

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

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;

and those who use the world [taking advantage of its opportunities], as though they did not make full use of it. For the outward form of this world [its present social and material nature] is passing away.

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:

the married man is anxious about worldly affairs, how best to satisfy his wife ??34 so he is torn in two directions. The unmarried woman or the maid is also anxious about the Lord's affairs, how to be consecrated, body and spirit; once married, she is anxious about worldly affairs, how best to satisfy her husband.

There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

Now I am saying this for your own benefit, not to put a restraint on you, but because of what is proper and so that you may be devoted to the Lord without distraction.

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.

But the man who stands firmly committed in his heart, having no compulsion [to yield to his daughter’s request], and has authority over his own will, and has decided in his own heart to keep his own virgin [daughter from being married], he will do well.

In short, the one who consents to his daughter's marriage is doing right, and yet the other will be doing better.

The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

But in my opinion a widow is happier if she stays as she is. And I think that I also have the Spirit of God [in this matter].

Now about food sacrificed to idols, we know that we all have knowledge [concerning this]. Knowledge [alone] makes [people self-righteously] arrogant, but love [that unselfishly seeks the best for others] builds up and encourages others to grow [in wisdom].

and if any man be conceited of his own knowledge, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know it.

but if any man loveth God, the same is known by him.

For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)

But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

Howbeit, not in all, is the knowledge; but, some, by their familiarity, until even now, with the idol, as an idol-sacrifice, eat it, and, their conscience, being, weak, is defiled.

Now food will not commend us to God nor bring us close to Him; we are no worse off if we do not eat, nor are we better if we do eat.

But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;

and the brother who is infirm shall perish by thy knowledge, because of whom Christ died?

And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.

Wherefore if meat be a fall-trap to my brother, I will eat no flesh for ever, that I may not be a fall-trap to my brother.

Am I not free? Am I not an Apostle? Can it be denied that I have seen Jesus, our Lord? Are not you yourselves my work in the Lord?

If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.

It cannot be that we have no right to our food and drink, can it?

Don’t we have the right to be accompanied by a Christian wife like the other apostles, the Lord’s brothers, and Cephas?

Or have only I and Barnabas no right not to be occupied earning a living?

Who ever goes to war without looking to someone to be responsible for his payment? who puts in vines and does not take the fruit of them? or who takes care of sheep without drinking of their milk?

I am not saying this only by way of human illustrations, am I? Does not the law say so too?

Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.

If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.

So also [on the same principle] the Lord directed those who preach the gospel to get their living from the gospel.

But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.

For, if I be telling the glad-message, it is, with me, no matter of boasting; for, necessity, upon me, lieth, - for it is, Woe to me, if I should not be telling the glad-message;

For if I do this work of my own free will, then I have a reward; but if it is not of my will [but by God’s choosing], I have been entrusted with a [sacred] stewardship.

What are my wages then? The very fact that the Good News which I preach will cost my hearers nothing, so that I cannot be charged with abuse of my privileges as a Christian preacher.

For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

Do you not see that in a running competition all take part, but only one gets the reward? So let your minds be fixed on the reward.

Every man who contends in the games continually trains himself by all manner of self-restraint. Now they do it to get a fading garland, but we, one that is unfading.

But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

And all [of them] were baptized into Moses [into his safekeeping as their leader] in the cloud and in the sea;

and all [of them] drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock which followed them; and the rock was Christ.

still with the most of them God was not at all satisfied, for He allowed them to be laid low in the desert.

But these things happened as types of us, that we should not be lusters after evil things, as they also lusted.

Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

Nor may we be fornicators, like some of them who committed fornication and on a single day 23,000 of them fell dead.

Neither let us make trial of the Lord, as some of them made trial, and perished by the serpents.

Neither murmur ye, as some of them murmured, and perished by the destroyer.

Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come.

So, whoever thinks he stands must be careful not to fall.

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Therefore, my beloved, run [keep far, far away] from [any sort of] idolatry [and that includes loving anything more than God, or participating in anything that leads to sin and enslaves the soul].

What I am saying is for wise men, do you be the judges of it.

Because that we - though we be many - yet are one bread, and one body inasmuch as we all are partakers of one bread.

Be looking at Israel after the flesh: - are not, they who eat the sacrifices, joint partakers with the altar?

What do I mean then? That a thing offered to idols is anything [special or changed simply because it is offered], or that an idol is anything?

But that what the nations sacrifice they sacrifice to demons, and not to God. Now I do not wish you to be in communion with demons.

Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.

Or may we be the cause of envy to the Lord? are we stronger than he?

If all things be lawful for me, yet all things are not expedient: all things may be lawful for me, but all things do not edify.

Let no one be for ever seeking his own good, but let each seek that of his fellow man.

Whatever meat may be had at the public market, take as food without question of right or wrong;

If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.

But if someone tells you, 'This was sacrificial meat,' then do not eat it; you must consider the man who told you, and also take conscience into account ??29 his conscience, I mean, not your own; for why should one's own freedom be called in question by someone else's conscience?

conscience, I say, not thine own, but the other's; for why is my liberty judged by another conscience?

For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?

Whether, then, you are eating or drinking, or whatever you are doing, let everything be done to the glory of God.

Do not offend Jews or Greeks or even the church of God [but live to honor Him];

Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.