International Standard Version

English Standard Version

1Now about what you asked: "Is it advisable for a man not to marry?"

1Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”

2Because sexual immorality is so rampant, every man should have his own wife, and every woman should have her own husband.

2But because of the temptation to 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 give to his wife her conjugal rights, 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.

4For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

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 one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

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

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

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 were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.

8I say to those who are unmarried, especially to widows: It is good for them to remain like me.

8To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, 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 exercise self-control, they should 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 charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should 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.

11(but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should 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 (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should 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.

13If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should 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 made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, 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 unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace.

16Wife, you might be able to save your husband. Husband, you might be able to save your wife.

16For how 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.

17Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule 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 anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision.

19Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but obeying God's commandments is everything.

19For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.

20Everyone should stay in the same condition in which he was called.

20Each one should remain in the condition in which 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 bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of 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 called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ.

23You were bought for a price. Stop becoming slaves of people.

23You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men.

24Brothers, everyone should stay in the same condition in which he was called by God.

24So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.

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 concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my 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.

26I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person 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 bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek 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 betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that.

29This is what I mean, brothers: The time is short. From now on, those who have wives should live as though they had none,

29This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though 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,

30and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods,

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 deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world 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 anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to 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 anxious about worldly things, how to 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. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to 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 say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your 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.

36If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed, if his passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry—it is no sin.

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 whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, 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 his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do 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 be married to whom she wishes, only in 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.

40Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.