Berean Study Bible

New American Standard Bible 1995

1Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good to abstain from sexual relations.

1Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman.

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

2But because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband.

3The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise 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. Likewise the husband does not have authority over 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 consent and for a time, so you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again, so that Satan will not tempt you through 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 all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has 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.

8Now to the unmarried and widows I say this: It is good for them to remain unmarried, 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 control themselves, 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.

10To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.

10But to the married I give instructions, not I, but the Lord, that the wife should not leave her husband

11But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must 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 this (I, not the Lord): If a brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must 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 an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must 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 through his believing wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing 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 leaves, let him go. The believing brother or sister is not bound in such cases. God has called you to live 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.

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

17Regardless, each one should lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is what I prescribe 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 a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man still uncircumcised when called? He should 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. 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.

20Each one should remain in the situation he was in when he was called.

20Each man must remain in that condition in which he was called.

21Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let it concern you—but if you can gain your freedom, take 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 he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman. Conversely, he who was a free man when he was called 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.

24Brothers, each one should remain in the situation he was in when God called him.

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

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.

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 present crisis, I think 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 committed to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you free of commitment? Do not look for 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 if you do marry, you have not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.

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.

29What I am saying, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if 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 if they did not; those who are joyful, as if they were not; those who make a purchase, as if they had nothing;

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 the things of this world, as if not dependent on them. For this world in its present form 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.

32I want you to be free from concern. The unmarried man is concerned about the work of the Lord, how he can 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 the married man is concerned about the affairs of this world, how he can please his wife,

33but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife,

34and his interests are divided. The unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the work of the Lord, how she can be holy in both body and spirit. But the married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world, how she can 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 own good, not to restrict you, but in order to promote proper decorum and undivided devotion 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.

36However, if someone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward his betrothed, and if she is beyond her youth and they ought to marry, let him do as he wishes; he is not sinning; they should get married.

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 firmly established in his heart and under no constraint, with control over his will and resolve in his heart not to marry the virgin, he will do 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 marries the virgin does well, but he who does not marry her does even 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 to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, as long as he belongs to 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.

40In my judgment, however, she is 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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