New King James Version

Christian Standard Bible

1Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

1Now in response to the matters you wrote about: "It is good for a man not to use a woman for sex."

2Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.

2But because sexual immorality is so common, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman should have sexual relations with her own husband.

3Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband.

3A husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise a wife to her husband.

4The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

4A wife does not have the right over her own body, but her husband does. In the same way, a husband does not have the right over his own body, but his wife does.

5Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

5Do not deprive one another--except when you agree for a time, to devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again; otherwise, Satan may tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

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

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

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

7I wish that all people were as I am. But each has his own gift from God, one person has this gift, another has that.

8But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am;

8I say to the unmarried and to widows: It is good for them if they remain as I am.

9but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

9But if they do not have self-control, they should marry, since it is better to marry than to burn with desire.

10Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband.

10To the married I give this command--not I, but the Lord--a wife is not to leave her husband.

11But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.

11But if she does leave, she must remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband--and a husband is not to divorce his wife.

12But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her.

12But I (not the Lord) say to the rest: If any brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.

13And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him.

13Also, if any woman has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce her husband.

14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.

14For the unbelieving husband is made holy by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy by the husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is they are holy.

15But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace.

15But if the unbeliever leaves, let him leave. A brother or a sister is not bound in such cases. God has called you to live in peace.

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?

16Wife, for all you know, you might save your husband. Husband, for all you know, you might save your wife.

17But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches.

17Let each one live his life in the situation the Lord assigned when God called him. This is what I command in all the churches.

18Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised.

18Was anyone already circumcised when he was called? He should not undo his circumcision. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? He should not get circumcised.

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

19Circumcision does not matter and uncircumcision does not matter. Keeping God's commands is what matters.

20Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called.

20Let each of you remain in the situation in which he was called.

21Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it.

21Were you called while a slave? Don't let it concern you. But if you can become free, by all means take the opportunity.

22For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave.

22For he who is called by the Lord as a slave is the Lord's freedman. Likewise he who is called as a free man is Christ's slave.

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

23You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of people.

24Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.

24Brothers and sisters, each person is to remain with God in the situation in which he was called.

25Now concerning virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy.

25Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I do give an opinion as one who by the Lord's mercy is faithful.

26I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress—that it is good for a man to remain as he is:

26Because of the present distress, I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is.

27Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife.

27Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you released from a wife? Do not seek a wife.

28But even if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you.

28However, if you do get married, you have not sinned, and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But such people will have trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you.

29But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none,

29This is what I mean, brothers and sisters: The time is limited, so from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none,

30those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess,

30those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they didn't own anything,

31and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away.

31and those who use the world as though they did not make full use of it. For this world in its current form is passing away.

32But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord.

32I want you to be without concerns. The unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord--how he may please the Lord.

33But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife.

33But the married man is concerned about the things of the world--how he may please his wife--

34There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband.

34and his interests are divided. The unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But the married woman is concerned about the things of the world--how she may please her husband.

35And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.

35I am saying this for your own benefit, not to put a restraint on you, but to promote what is proper and so that you may be devoted to the Lord without distraction.

36But if any man thinks he is behaving improperly toward his virgin, if she is past the flower of youth, and thus it must be, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin; let them marry.

36If any man thinks he is acting improperly toward the virgin he is engaged to, if she is getting beyond the usual age for marriage, and he feels he should marry--he can do what he wants. He is not sinning; they can get married.

37Nevertheless he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own will, and has so determined in his heart that he will keep his virgin, does well.

37But he who stands firm in his heart (who is under no compulsion, but has control over his own will) and has decided in his heart to keep her as his fiancé, will do well.

38So then he who gives her in marriage does well, but he who does not give her in marriage does better.

38So then he who marries his fiancé does well, but he who does not marry will do better.

39A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom 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 be married to anyone she wants--only in the Lord.

40But she is happier if she remains as she is, according to my judgment—and I think I also have the Spirit of God.

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

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.