^{2 Ref} And the Pharisees, having come near, questioned him, if it is lawful for a husband to put away a wife, tempting him,

^{3 Ref} and he answering said to them, `What did Moses command you?'

^{4 Ref} and they said, `Moses suffered to write a bill of divorce, and to put away.'

^{5 Ref} And Jesus answering said to them, `For the stiffness of your heart he wrote you this command,

^{6 Ref} but from the beginning of the creation, a male and a female God did make them;

^{7 Ref} on this account shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave unto his wife,

^{8 Ref} and they shall be -- the two -- for one flesh; so that they are no more two, but one flesh;

^{9 Ref} what therefore God did join together, let not man put asunder.'