1 Corinthians 7:2-16

2But because of [the temptation to participate in] sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.

3The husband must fulfill his [marital] duty to his wife [with good will and kindness], and likewise the wife to her husband.

4The wife does not have [exclusive] authority over her own body, but the husband shares with her; and likewise the husband does not have [exclusive] authority over his body, but the wife shares with him.

5Do not deprive each other [of marital rights], except perhaps by mutual consent for a time, so that you may devote yourselves [unhindered] to prayer, but come together again so that Satan will not tempt you [to sin] because of your lack of self-control.

6But I am saying this as a concession, not as a command.

7I wish that all the people were as I am; but each person has his own gift from God, one of this kind and one of that.

8But I say to the unmarried and to the widows, [that as a practical matter] it is good if they remain [single and entirely devoted to the Lord] as I am.

9But if they do not have [sufficient] self-control, they should marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

10But to the married [believers] I give instructions—not I, but the Lord—that the wife is not to separate from her husband,

11(but even if she does leave him, let her remain single or else be reconciled to her husband) and that the husband should not leave his wife.

12To the rest I declare—I, not the Lord [since Jesus did not discuss this]—that if any [believing] brother has a wife who does not believe [in Christ], and she consents to live with him, he must not leave her.

13And if any [believing] woman has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not leave him.

14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified [that is, he receives the blessings granted] through his [Christian] wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be [ceremonially] unclean, but as it is they are holy.

15But if the unbelieving partner leaves, let him leave. In such cases the [remaining] brother or sister is not [spiritually or morally] bound. But God has called us to peace.

16For 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]?