2
But because of the temptation to immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.
3
The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband.
4
For the wife does not rule over her own body, but the husband does; likewise the husband does not rule over his own body, but the wife does.
5
Do not refuse one another except perhaps by agreement for a season, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, lest Satan tempt you through lack of self-control.
6
I say this by way of concession, not of command.
7
I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own special gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.
8
To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is well for them to remain single as I do.
9
But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to be aflame with passion.
10
To the married I give charge, not I but the Lord, that the wife should not separate from her husband
11
(but if she does, let her remain single or else be reconciled to her husband) --and that the husband should not divorce his wife.
12
To the rest I say, 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.