Christian Standard Bible

English Standard Version

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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 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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

8I say to the unmarried and to widows: It is good for them if they remain 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 do not have self-control, they should marry, since it is better to marry than to burn with desire.

9But if they cannot exercise self-control, 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 is not to leave her husband.

10To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband

11But if she does leave, she must 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 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.

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.

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

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 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.

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 leaves, let him leave. A brother or a sister is not bound in such cases. God has called you to live in 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.

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

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.

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 already circumcised when he was called? He should not undo his circumcision. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? He should not get 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 does not matter and uncircumcision does not matter. Keeping God's commands is what matters.

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

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

20Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

26Because of the present distress, I think 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 released. Are you released 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.

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.

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.

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,

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 didn't own anything,

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 the world as though they did not make full use of it. For this world in its current form 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.

32I want you to be without concerns. The unmarried man is concerned about 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 the married man is concerned 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,

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

38So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better.

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.

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, in my opinion. And I think that 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 Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

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.