New King James Version

New American Standard Bible 1995

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

1Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch 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 immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband.

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

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

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 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.

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.

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

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

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.

8But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even 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 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, let them 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.

10But to the married I give instructions, not I, but the Lord, that the wife should not 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.

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.

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 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 a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her 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 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 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 departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to 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, 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, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O 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, 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 while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be 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, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

24Brethren, each one is to remain with God in that condition 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 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.

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 then that this is good in view of the present distress, 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.

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.

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,

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 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 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;

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 the 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.

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

33but one who is married 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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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, 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 he who gives her in marriage does well, but he who does not give her in marriage 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 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 lives; but if her husband is dead, 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.

40But in my opinion she is happier if she remains as she is; 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.

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit //www.lockman.org