New King James Version

English Standard Version

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

1Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”

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

2But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.

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

3The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the 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.

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 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 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.

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

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

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 were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.

8But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even 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 cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

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

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 charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from 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.

11(but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not 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.

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 a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her 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 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 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 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 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, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?

16For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will 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.

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 while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be 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, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters.

19For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.

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

20Each one should remain in the condition 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 a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of 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 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 at a price; do not become slaves of men.

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

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

24So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.

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 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.

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

26I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person 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 free. Are you free 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.

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.

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: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live 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,

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,

31and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form 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.

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 free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to 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 anxious about worldly things, how to 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. 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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 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 betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even 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 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 she is happier if she remains as she is, according to my judgment—and I think I also 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.

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

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.