The Scriptural Texts at Work in Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce

Deuteronomy 24:1-4--When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife.  And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife; her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled; for that is an abomination before the Lord: and thou shalt not cause the land to sin, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance. (King James)

Malachi 2:15,16--This is an odd passage.  The context here is a condemnation of Israel (specifically figured in chapter 2 as Judah) for its unfaithfulness to Yahweh.  It is Yahweh who is portrayed as the "wife of [Judah's] youth," a fact that renders either of the translations below both promising and problematic.

. . . let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. For the Lord, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: fore one covereth violence with his garment, saith the Lord of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth. (King James)

. . . despise not the wife of thy youth. When thou shalt hate her put her away, saith the Lord the God of Israel: but iniquity shall cover his garment, saith the Lord of hosts, keep your spirit, and despise not. (Douay Version--translated from the Latin Vulgate)

Matthew 5:31,32--It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him giver her a writing of divorcement: but I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. (King James)

1 Corinthians 7:8,9--I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain, let the marry: for it is better to marry than to burn. (King James)