| International Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1Now about what you asked: "Is it advisable for a man not to marry?" | 1Now with regard to the issues you wrote about: "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 immoralities, each man should have relations with his own wife and each woman with her own husband. |
| 3A husband should fulfill his obligation to his wife, and a wife should do the same for her husband. | 3A husband should give to his wife her sexual rights, and likewise a 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. | 4It is not the wife who has the rights to her own body, but the husband. In the same way, it is not the husband who has the rights to 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 agreement for a specified time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then resume your relationship, 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. | 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 everyone was as I am. But each has his own gift from God, one this way, another that. |
| 8I say to those who are unmarried, especially to widows: It is good for them to remain like me. | 8To the unmarried and widows I say that it is best for them to remain 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 do not have self-control, let them get married. For it is better to marry than to burn with sexual desire. |
| 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 should not divorce a 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, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband), and a 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--if a brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is happy 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. | 13And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is happy 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 sanctified because of the wife, and the unbelieving wife because of her husband. Otherwise your children are 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 wants a divorce, let it take place. In these circumstances the brother or sister is not bound. God has called you in 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 bring your husband to salvation? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will bring your wife to salvation? |
| 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. | 17Nevertheless, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each person, so must he live. I give this sort of direction 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 called after he had been circumcised? He should not try to undo his circumcision. Was anyone called who is uncircumcised? He should not get circumcised. |
| 19Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but obeying God's commandments is everything. | 19Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Instead, keeping God's commandments is what counts. |
| 20Everyone should stay in the same condition in which he was called. | 20Let each one remain in that situation in life 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 called as a slave? Do not worry about it. But if indeed you are able to be free, make the most 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 the one who was called in the Lord as a slave is the Lord's freedman. In the same way, the one who was called as a free person is Christ's slave. |
| 23You were bought for a price. Stop becoming slaves of people. | 23You were bought with a price. Do not become slaves of men. |
| 24Brothers, everyone should stay in the same condition in which he was called by God. | 24In whatever situation someone was called, brothers and sisters, let him remain in it 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. | 25With regard to the question about people who have never married, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my opinion as one shown mercy by the Lord to be trustworthy. |
| 26In view of the present crisis, I think it is prudent for a man to stay as he is. | 26Because of the impending crisis I think it best for you to remain as you are. |
| 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. | 27The one bound to a wife should not seek divorce. The one released from a wife should not seek marriage. |
| 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 marry, you have not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face difficult circumstances, and I am trying to spare you such problems. |
| 29This is what I mean, brothers: The time is short. From now on, those who have wives should live as though they had none, | 29And I say this, brothers and sisters: The time is short. So then those who have wives should be as those who have 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 with tears like those not weeping, those who rejoice like those not rejoicing, those who buy like those without possessions, |
| 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. | 31those who use the world as though they were not using it to the full. For the present shape 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. | 32And I want you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned 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 a married man is concerned about the things of the world, 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 he is divided. An unmarried woman or a virgin is concerned about the things of the Lord, to be holy both in body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the things of the world, 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 am saying this for your benefit, not to place a limitation on you, but so that without distraction you may give notable and constant service 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 he is acting inappropriately toward his virgin, if she is past the bloom of youth and it seems necessary, he should do what he wishes; he does not sin. Let them marry. |
| 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 firm in his commitment, and is under no necessity but has control over his will, and has decided in his own mind to keep his own virgin, does well. |
| 38So then the man who marries the virgin acts appropriately, but the man who refrains from marriage does even better. | 38So then, the one who marries his own virgin does well, but the one who does not, does 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 as long as her husband is living. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes (only someone 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. | 40But in my opinion, she will be happier if she remains as she is--and I think that I too have the Spirit of God! |
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