NET Bible

New American Standard Bible 1995

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 things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch 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 immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband.

3A husband should give to his wife her sexual rights, and likewise a wife to her husband.

3The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also 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.

4The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also 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.

5Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

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

6But this I say by way of concession, not of command.

7I wish that everyone was as I am. But each has his own gift from God, one this way, another that.

7Yet I wish that all men were even as I myself am. However, each man has his own gift from God, one in this manner, and another in that.

8To the unmarried and widows I say that it is best for them to remain as I am.

8But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I.

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 do not have self-control, let them 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

10But to the married I give instructions, not I, but the Lord, that the wife should not leave 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 leave, she must remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that 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.

12But to the rest I say, not the Lord, that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he must 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.

13And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not send her husband away.

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 sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband; for otherwise your children are unclean, but now 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.

15Yet if the unbelieving one leaves, let him leave; the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us 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, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O 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, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, in this manner let him walk. And so I direct 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 any man called when he was already circumcised? He is not to become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? He is not to be circumcised.

19Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Instead, keeping God's commandments is what counts.

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

20Let each one remain in that situation in life in which he was called.

20Each man must remain in that 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 called while a slave? Do not worry about it; but if you are able also to become free, rather do that.

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 while a slave, is the Lord's freedman; likewise he who was called while free, is Christ's slave.

23You were bought with a price. Do not become slaves of men.

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

24In whatever situation someone was called, brothers and sisters, let him remain in it with God.

24Brethren, each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called.

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 virgins I have no command of the Lord, but I give an opinion as one who by the mercy of the Lord is trustworthy.

26Because of the impending crisis I think it best for you to remain as you are.

26I think then that this is good in view of the present distress, that it is good for a man 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 released. Are you released 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 marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you.

29And I say this, brothers and sisters: The time is short. So then those who have wives should be as those who have none,

29But this I say, brethren, the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be 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 weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not possess;

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 use the world, as though they did not make full use of it; for the 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.

32But I want you to be free from concern. One who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord;

33But a married man is concerned about the things of the world, how to please his wife,

33but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may 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. The woman who is unmarried, and the virgin, is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may 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.

35This I say for your own benefit; not to put a restraint upon you, but to promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted 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.

36But if any man thinks that he is acting unbecomingly toward his virgin daughter, if she is past her youth, and if it must be so, let him do what he wishes, he does not sin; let her marry.

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 he who stands firm in his heart, being under no constraint, but has authority over his own will, and has decided this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin daughter, 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 both he who gives his own virgin daughter in marriage does well, and he who does not give her in marriage will do 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 as long as her husband lives; but if her husband is dead, 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!

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

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