| NET Bible | English Standard Version |
| 1Now with regard to the issues you wrote about: "It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman." | 1Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” |
| 2But because of immoralities, each man should have relations with his own wife and each woman with 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 give to his wife her sexual rights, and likewise a wife to her husband. | 3The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. |
| 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. | 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 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. | 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. |
| 6I say this as a concession, not as a command. | 6Now as a concession, not a command, I say this. |
| 7I wish that everyone was as I am. But each has his own gift from God, one this way, 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. |
| 8To the unmarried and widows I say that it is best for them to remain as I am. | 8To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am. |
| 9But if they do not have self-control, let them get married. For it is better to marry than to burn with sexual desire. | 9But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion. |
| 10To the married I give this command--not I, but the Lord--a wife should not divorce a husband | 10To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband |
| 11(but if she does, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband), and a husband should not divorce 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. |
| 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. | 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 not a believer and he is happy to live with her, she should not divorce 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 is sanctified because of the wife, and the unbelieving wife because of her husband. Otherwise your children are 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 unbeliever wants a divorce, let it take place. In these circumstances the brother or sister is not bound. God has called you 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. |
| 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? | 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, 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. | 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 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. | 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. Instead, keeping God's commandments is what counts. | 19For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. |
| 20Let each one remain in that situation in life in which he was called. | 20Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. |
| 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. | 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 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. | 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 with a price. Do not become slaves of men. | 23You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. |
| 24In whatever situation someone was called, brothers and sisters, let him remain in it with God. | 24So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 26Because of the impending crisis I think it best for you to remain as you are. | 26I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is. |
| 27The one bound to a wife should not seek divorce. The one released from a wife should not seek marriage. | 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 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. | 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. |
| 29And I say this, brothers and sisters: The time is short. So then those who have wives should be as those who have 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, |
| 30those with tears like those not weeping, those who rejoice like those not rejoicing, those who buy like those without possessions, | 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, |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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 the things of the world, how to please his wife, | 33But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, |
| 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. | 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 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. | 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 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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 one who marries his own virgin does well, but the one who does not, does better. | 38So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better. |
| 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). | 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. |
| 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! | 40Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God. |
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