1 Corinthians 7:2-16

Thomson(i) 2 but to avoid fornication let every man have his own wife; and every woman her own husband. 3 Let the husband render due benevolence to the wife; and in like manner the wife to the husband. 4 The wife hath not the power over her own body; but the husband: And in like manner the husband hath not the power over his own body; but the wife. 5 Withdraw not from each other, unless by mutual consent for a time, that you may devote yourselves to fasting and prayer. Then come together again that satan may not tempt you through your incontinence. 6 Now this I say by way of counsel, not of command; 7 for I wish all men to be as I myself am. But every one hath his peculiar gift from God, some of one kind; and some, of another. 8 I say then to unmarried men and to widows, it is well for them if they continue as I do. 9 But if they have not the gift of continency, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn. 10 And to them who are married I give this injunction; not I but the Lord: That a wife separate not herself from her husband; 11 but if she hath actually separated, let her continue unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband; and that a husband put not away a wife. 12 And to the rest I say, not the Lord; if any brother hath an unbelieving wife, and she is well satisfied to live with him, let him not divorce her: 13 and if any woman hath an unbelieving husband, and he is well satisfied to live with her, let her not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is hallowed by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is hallowed by the husband; else your children would be unclean; whereas they are now holy. 15 But if the unbelieving withdraw; let him or her withdraw, the brother or the sister is not in such cases enslaved: But God hath called us to peace. 16 For how knowest thou, O wife, but thou mayst save thy husband? Or how knowest thou, O husband, but thou mayst save thy wife?