1 Corinthians 7
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1Now about what you asked: "Is it advisable for a man not to marry?"1Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good to abstain from sexual relations.
2Because sexual immorality is so rampant, every man should have his own wife, and every woman should have her own husband.2But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.
3A husband should fulfill his obligation to his wife, and a wife should do the same for her husband. 3The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.
4A wife does not have authority over her own body, but her husband does. In the same way, a husband doesn't have authority over his own body, but his wife does. 4The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife.
5Do not withhold yourselves from each other unless you agree to do so just for a set time, in order to devote yourselves to prayer. Then you should come together again so that Satan does not tempt you through your lack of self-control. 5Do not deprive each other, except by mutual consent and for a time, so you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again, so that Satan will not tempt you through your lack of self-control.
6But I say this as a concession, not as a command. 6I say this as a concession, not as a command.
7I would like everyone to be unmarried, like I am. However, each person has a special gift from God, one this and another that.7I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
8I say to those who are unmarried, especially to widows: It is good for them to remain like me. 8Now to the unmarried and widows I say this: It is good for them to remain unmarried, as I am.
9However, if they cannot control themselves, they should get married, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.9But if they cannot control themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
10To married people I give this command (not really I, but the Lord): A wife must not leave her husband. 10To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.
11But if she does leave him, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. Likewise, a husband must not abandon his wife.11But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
12I (not the Lord) say to the rest of you: If a brother has a wife who is an unbeliever and she is willing to live with him, he must not abandon her. 12To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If a brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.
13And if a woman has a husband who is an unbeliever and he is willing to live with her, she must not abandon him. 13And if a woman has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.
14For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified because of her husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean, but now they are holy. 14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his believing wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.
15But if the unbelieving partner leaves, let him go. In such cases the brother or sister is not under obligation. God has called you to live in peace. 15But if the unbeliever leaves, let him go. The believing brother or sister is not bound in such cases. God has called you to live in peace.
16Wife, you might be able to save your husband. Husband, you might be able to save your wife.16How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
17Nevertheless, everyone should live the life that the Lord gave him and to which God called him. This is my rule in all the churches. 17Regardless, each one should lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is what I prescribe in all the churches.
18Was anyone circumcised when he was called? He should not try to change that. Was anyone uncircumcised when he was called? He should not get circumcised. 18Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man still uncircumcised when called? He should not be circumcised.
19Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but obeying God's commandments is everything.19Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commandments is what counts.
20Everyone should stay in the same condition in which he was called. 20Each one should remain in the situation he was in when he was called.
21Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let that bother you. Of course, if you have a chance to become free, take advantage of the opportunity. 21Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let it concern you—but if you can gain your freedom, take the opportunity.
22For the slave who has been called to belong to the Lord is the Lord's free person. In the same way, the free person who has been called is the Messiah's slave. 22For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman. Conversely, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave.
23You were bought for a price. Stop becoming slaves of people. 23You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.
24Brothers, everyone should stay in the same condition in which he was called by God.24Brothers, each one should remain in the situation he was in when God called him.
25Now concerning virgins, although I do not have any command from the Lord, I will give you my opinion as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy. 25Now about virgins, I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.
26In view of the present crisis, I think it is prudent for a man to stay as he is. 26Because of the present crisis, I think it is good for a man to remain as he is.
27Have you become committed to a wife? Stop trying to get released from your commitment. Have you been freed from your commitment to a wife? Stop looking for one.27Are you committed to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you free of commitment? Do not look for a wife.
28But if you do get married, you have not sinned. And if a virgin gets married, she has not sinned. However, these people will experience trouble in this life, and I want to spare you from that.28But if you do marry, you have not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.
29This is what I mean, brothers: The time is short. From now on, those who have wives should live as though they had none, 29What I am saying, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none;
30and those who mourn as though they did not mourn, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they did not own a thing, 30those who weep, as if they did not; those who are joyful, as if they were not; those who make a purchase, as if they had nothing;
31and those who use the things in the world as though they were not dependent on them. For the world in its present form is passing away.31and those who use the things of this world, as if not dependent on them. For this world in its present form is passing away.
32I want you to be free from concerns. An unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord, that is, about how he can please the Lord. 32I want you to be free from concern. The unmarried man is concerned about the work of the Lord, how he can please the Lord.
33But a married man is concerned about things of this world, that is, about how he can please his wife, 33But the married man is concerned about the affairs of this world, how he can please his wife,
34and so his attention is divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the affairs of the Lord, so that she may be holy in body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world, that is, about how she can please her husband. 34and his interests are divided. The unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the work of the Lord, how she can be holy in both body and spirit. But the married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world, how she can please her husband.
35I'm saying this for your benefit, not to put a noose around your necks, but to promote good order and unhindered devotion to the Lord.35I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but in order to promote proper decorum and undivided devotion to the Lord.
36If a man thinks he is not behaving properly toward his virgin, and if his passion is so strong that he feels he ought to marry her, let him do what he wants; he isn't sinning. Let them get married. 36However, if someone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward his betrothed, and if she is beyond her youth and they ought to marry, let him do as he wishes; he is not sinning; they should get married.
37However, if a man stands firm in his resolve, feels no necessity, and has made up his mind to keep her a virgin, he will be acting appropriately. 37But the man who is firmly established in his heart and under no constraint, with control over his will and resolve in his heart not to marry the virgin, he will do well.
38So then the man who marries the virgin acts appropriately, but the man who refrains from marriage does even better.38So then, he who marries the virgin does well, but he who does not marry her does even better.
39A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, only in the Lord. 39A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, as long as he belongs to the Lord.
40However, in my opinion she will be happier if she stays as she is. And in saying this, I think that I, too, have God's Spirit.40In my judgment, however, she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.
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1 Corinthians 6
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