| NET Bible | New International 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 for the matters you wrote about: "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 since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. |
| 3A husband should give to his wife her sexual rights, and likewise a wife to her husband. | 3The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, 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. | 4The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. |
| 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 each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then 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. | 6I say this as a concession, not as a command. |
| 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 of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that. |
| 8To the unmarried and widows I say that it is best for them to remain as I am. | 8Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. |
| 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 control themselves, 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 command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must 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. | 11But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must 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 this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing 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 if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must 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 has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing 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 unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in 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? | 16How 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. | 17Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down 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 a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. |
| 19Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Instead, keeping God's commandments is what counts. | 19Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God's commands is what counts. |
| 20Let each one remain in that situation in life in which he was called. | 20Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them. |
| 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 slave when you were called? Don't let it trouble you--although if you can gain your freedom, do so. |
| 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 the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord's freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ's slave. |
| 23You were bought with a price. Do not become slaves of men. | 23You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings. |
| 24In whatever situation someone was called, brothers and sisters, let him remain in it with God. | 24Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them. |
| 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 about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a 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. | 26Because of the present crisis, I think 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 pledged to a woman? Do not seek to be released. Are you free from such a commitment? Do not look for 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 virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this. |
| 29And I say this, brothers and sisters: The time is short. So then those who have wives should be as those who have none, | 29What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; |
| 30those with tears like those not weeping, those who rejoice like those not rejoicing, those who buy like those without possessions, | 30those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; |
| 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. | 31those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form 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 would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs--how he can please the Lord. |
| 33But a married man is concerned about the things of the world, how to please his wife, | 33But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world--how he can 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. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world--how she can 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 am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in 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 is worried that he might not be acting honorably toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if his passions are too strong and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married. |
| 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 the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin--this man also does the right thing. |
| 38So then, the one who marries his own virgin does well, but the one who does not, does better. | 38So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does 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 woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to 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! | 40In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is--and I think that I too have the Spirit of God. |
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