| Holman Christian Standard Bible | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Now in response to the matters you wrote about: "It is good for a man not to have relations with a woman." | 1Now in response to the matters you wrote about: "It is good for a man not to use a woman for sex." |
| 2But because sexual immorality is so common, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should 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. |
| 3A husband should fulfill his marital responsibility to his wife, and likewise a wife to her husband. | 3A husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise a 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. | 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 sexually--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 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. |
| 6I say the following as a concession, not as a command. | 6I say this as a concession, not as a command. |
| 7I wish that all people were just like me. But each has his own gift from God, one person in this way and another in that way. | 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. |
| 8I say to the unmarried and to widows: It is good for them if they remain 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 do not have self-control, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with desire. | 9But if they do not have self-control, they should marry, since it is better to marry than to burn with desire. |
| 10I command the married--not I, but the Lord--a wife is not to leave her husband. | 10To the married I give this command--not I, but the Lord--a wife is not to leave her husband. |
| 11But if she does leave, she must remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband--and a husband is not to leave 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 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 leave 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. |
| 13Also, if any woman has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must not leave her husband. | 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 set apart for God by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is set apart for God by the husband. Otherwise your children would be corrupt, but now they are set apart for God. | 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 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 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 you, wife, how do you know whether you will save your husband? Or you, husband, how do you know 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. |
| 17However, each one must live his life in the situation the Lord assigned when God called him. This is what I command 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 already circumcised when he was called? He should not undo his circumcision. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? He should not get 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 does not matter and uncircumcision does not matter, but keeping God's commands does. | 19Circumcision does not matter and uncircumcision does not matter. Keeping God's commands is what matters. |
| 20Each person should remain in the life situation in which he was called. | 20Let each of you remain in the situation in which he was called. |
| 21Were you called while a slave? It should not be a concern to you. But if you can become free, by all means take the opportunity. | 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 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 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. |
| 24Brothers, each person should remain with God in whatever situation he was called. | 24Brothers and sisters, each person is to remain with God in the situation in which he was called. |
| 25About virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I do give an opinion as one who by the Lord's mercy is 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. |
| 26Therefore I consider this to be good because of the present distress: It is fine 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 29And I say this, brothers: 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 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 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 use the world as though they did not make full use of it. For this world in its current form is passing away. |
| 32I want you to be without concerns. An unmarried man is concerned about 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 a married man is concerned 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-- |
| 34and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or a virgin is concerned about the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But a married woman is concerned 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. |
| 35Now I am saying this for your own benefit, not to put a restraint on you, but because of what is proper and so that you may be devoted to 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 acting improperly toward his virgin, if she is past marriageable age, and so it must be, he can do what he wants. He is not sinning; they can get married. | 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. |
| 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 his own virgin, will do 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 marries his virgin does well, but he who does not marry will do better. | 38So then he who marries his fiancé does well, but he who does not marry will do 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 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, in my opinion. And I think that 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. |
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