But ifany manthinksthat he is acting unbecominglytowardhis virgin[daughter], ifshe is past her youth,and if it mustbe so,let him dowhathe wishes,he does not sin;let her marry.
Takewivesand becomethe fathersof sonsand daughters,and takewivesfor your sonsand giveyour daughtersto husbands,that they may bearsonsand daughters;and multiplythereand do not decrease.
Nowthe birthof JesusChristwas as follows:when His motherMaryhad been betrothedto Joseph,beforethey came togethershe was foundto be with childby the HolySpirit.
"If anyone wantsto sueyou and takeyour shirt,let him haveyour coatalso.
ThisI sayfor your ownbenefit;not to puta restraintupon you, but to promotewhat is appropriateand [to secure] undistracteddevotionto the Lord.
But he whostandsfirmin his heart,beingundernoconstraint,but hasauthorityoverhis ownwill,and has decidedthisin his ownheart,to keephis ownvirgin[daughter], he will dowell.
But ifthey do not have self-control,let them marry;for it is betterto marrythanto burn[with passion].
Yet I will not cutoffeverymanof yours from My altarso that your eyeswill fail[from weeping] and your soulgrieve,and allthe increaseof your housewill diein the primeof life.
