⁸To the unmarried and the widows I say that cit is good for them to remain single, das I am. ⁹But if they cannot exercise self-control, ethey should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

¹⁰To the married fI give this charge (not I, but the Lord): gthe wife should not separate from her husband ¹¹(but if she does, hshe should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and gthe husband should not divorce his wife.

¹²To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. ¹³If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. ¹⁴For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. iOtherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. ¹⁵But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you2 jto peace. ¹⁶For how do you know, wife, kwhether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

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