King James Bible

International Standard Version

1Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

1Now about what you asked: "Is it advisable for a man not to marry?"

2Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

2Because sexual immorality is so rampant, every man should have his own wife, and every woman should have her own husband.

3Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

3A husband should fulfill his obligation to his wife, and a wife should do the same for her husband.

4The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

4A wife does not have authority over her own body, but her husband does. In the same way, a husband doesn't have authority over his own body, but his wife does.

5Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

5Do not withhold yourselves from each other unless you agree to do so just for a set time, in order to devote yourselves to prayer. Then you should come together again so that Satan does not tempt you through your lack of self-control.

6But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.

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

7For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

7I would like everyone to be unmarried, like I am. However, each person has a special gift from God, one this and another that.

8I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.

8I say to those who are unmarried, especially to widows: It is good for them to remain like me.

9But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

9However, if they cannot control themselves, they should get married, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

10And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:

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

11But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

11But if she does leave him, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. Likewise, a husband must not abandon his wife.

12But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

12I (not the Lord) say to the rest of you: If a brother has a wife who is an unbeliever and she is willing to live with him, he must not abandon her.

13And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

13And if a woman has a husband who is an unbeliever and he is willing to live with her, she must not abandon him.

14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

14For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified because of her husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.

15But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.

15But if the unbelieving partner leaves, let him go. In such cases the brother or sister is not under obligation. God has called you to live in peace.

16For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

16Wife, you might be able to save your husband. Husband, you might be able to save your wife.

17But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.

17Nevertheless, everyone should live the life that the Lord gave him and to which God called him. This is my rule in all the churches.

18Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.

18Was anyone circumcised when he was called? He should not try to change that. Was anyone uncircumcised when he was called? He should not get circumcised.

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

19Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but obeying God's commandments is everything.

20Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.

20Everyone should stay in the same condition in which he was called.

21Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.

21Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let that bother you. Of course, if you have a chance to become free, take advantage of the opportunity.

22For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.

22For the slave who has been called to belong to the Lord is the Lord's free person. In the same way, the free person who has been called is the Messiah's slave.

23Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

23You were bought for a price. Stop becoming slaves of people.

24Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

24Brothers, everyone should stay in the same condition in which he was called by God.

25Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.

25Now concerning virgins, although I do not have any command from the Lord, I will give you my opinion as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy.

26I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.

26In view of the present crisis, I think it is prudent for a man to stay as he is.

27Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

27Have you become committed to a wife? Stop trying to get released from your commitment. Have you been freed from your commitment to a wife? Stop looking for one.

28But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.

28But if you do get married, you have not sinned. And if a virgin gets married, she has not sinned. However, these people will experience trouble in this life, and I want to spare you from that.

29But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;

29This is what I mean, brothers: The time is short. From now on, those who have wives should live as though they had none,

30And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;

30and those who mourn as though they did not mourn, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they did not own a thing,

31And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

31and those who use the things in the world as though they were not dependent on them. For the world in its present form is passing away.

32But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:

32I want you to be free from concerns. An unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord, that is, about how he can please the Lord.

33But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.

33But a married man is concerned about things of this world, that is, about how he can please his wife,

34There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

34and so his attention is divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the affairs of the Lord, so that she may be holy in body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world, that is, about how she can please her husband.

35And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

35I'm saying this for your benefit, not to put a noose around your necks, but to promote good order and unhindered devotion to the Lord.

36But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.

36If a man thinks he is not behaving properly toward his virgin, and if his passion is so strong that he feels he ought to marry her, let him do what he wants; he isn't sinning. Let them get married.

37Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.

37However, if a man stands firm in his resolve, feels no necessity, and has made up his mind to keep her a virgin, he will be acting appropriately.

38So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.

38So then the man who marries the virgin acts appropriately, but the man who refrains from marriage does even better.

39The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; 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 marry anyone she wishes, only in the Lord.

40But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

40However, in my opinion she will be happier if she stays as she is. And in saying this, I think that I, too, have God's Spirit.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

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