Christian Standard Bible

King James Bible

1Now in response to the matters you wrote about: "It is good for a man not to use a woman for sex."

1Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

2But because sexual immorality is so common, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman should have sexual relations with her own husband.

2Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

3A husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise a wife to her husband.

3Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

4A wife does not have the right over her own body, but her husband does. In the same way, a husband does not have the right over his own body, but his wife does.

4The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

5Do not deprive one another--except when you agree for a time, to devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again; otherwise, Satan may tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

5Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

6I say this as a concession, not as a command.

6But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.

7I wish that all people were as I am. But each has his own gift from God, one person has this gift, another has that.

7For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

8I say to the unmarried and to widows: It is good for them if they remain as I am.

8I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.

9But if they do not have self-control, they should marry, since it is better to marry than to burn with desire.

9But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

10To the married I give this command--not I, but the Lord--a wife is not to leave her husband.

10And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:

11But if she does leave, she must remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband--and a husband is not to divorce his wife.

11But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

12But I (not the Lord) say to the rest: If any brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.

12But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

13Also, if any woman has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce her husband.

13And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

14For the unbelieving husband is made holy by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy by the husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is they are holy.

14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

15But if the unbeliever leaves, let him leave. A brother or a sister is not bound in such cases. God has called you to live in peace.

15But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.

16Wife, for all you know, you might save your husband. Husband, for all you know, you might save your wife.

16For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

17Let each one live his life in the situation the Lord assigned when God called him. This is what I command in all the churches.

17But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.

18Was anyone already circumcised when he was called? He should not undo his circumcision. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? He should not get circumcised.

18Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.

19Circumcision does not matter and uncircumcision does not matter. Keeping God's commands is what matters.

19Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.

20Let each of you remain in the situation in which he was called.

20Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.

21Were you called while a slave? Don't let it concern you. But if you can become free, by all means take the opportunity.

21Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.

22For he who is called by the Lord as a slave is the Lord's freedman. Likewise he who is called as a free man is Christ's slave.

22For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.

23You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of people.

23Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

24Brothers and sisters, each person is to remain with God in the situation in which he was called.

24Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

25Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I do give an opinion as one who by the Lord's mercy is faithful.

25Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.

26Because of the present distress, I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is.

26I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.

27Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you released from a wife? Do not seek a wife.

27Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

28However, if you do get married, you have not sinned, and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But such people will have trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you.

28But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.

29This is what I mean, brothers and sisters: The time is limited, so from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none,

29But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;

30those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they didn't own anything,

30And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;

31and those who use the world as though they did not make full use of it. For this world in its current form is passing away.

31And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

32I want you to be without concerns. The unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord--how he may please the Lord.

32But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:

33But the married man is concerned about the things of the world--how he may please his wife--

33But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.

34and his interests are divided. The unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But the married woman is concerned about the things of the world--how she may please her husband.

34There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

35I am saying this for your own benefit, not to put a restraint on you, but to promote what is proper and so that you may be devoted to the Lord without distraction.

35And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

36If any man thinks he is acting improperly toward the virgin he is engaged to, if she is getting beyond the usual age for marriage, and he feels he should marry--he can do what he wants. He is not sinning; they can get married.

36But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.

37But he who stands firm in his heart (who is under no compulsion, but has control over his own will) and has decided in his heart to keep her as his fiancé, will do well.

37Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.

38So then he who marries his fiancé does well, but he who does not marry will do better.

38So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.

39A wife is bound as long as her husband is living. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to anyone she wants--only in the Lord.

39The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

40But she is happier if she remains as she is, in my opinion. And I think that I also have the Spirit of God.

40But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.