| New King James Version | NET Bible |
| 1Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. | 1Now with regard to the issues you wrote about: "It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with 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 should have relations with his own wife and each woman with her own husband. |
| 3Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. | 3A husband should give to his wife her sexual rights, and likewise a 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. | 4It is not the wife who has the rights to her own body, but the husband. In the same way, it is not the husband who has the rights to his own body, but the wife. |
| 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. | 5Do not deprive each other, except by mutual agreement for a specified time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then resume your relationship, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. |
| 6But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment. | 6I say this as a concession, not as a 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. | 7I wish that everyone was as I am. But each has his own gift from God, one this way, another that. |
| 8But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am; | 8To the unmarried and widows I say that it is best for them to remain as I am. |
| 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 get married. For it is better to marry than to burn with sexual desire. |
| 10Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband. | 10To the married I give this command--not I, but the Lord--a wife should not divorce a 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, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband), and a 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. | 12To the rest I say--I, not the Lord--if a brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is happy to live with him, he should 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 if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is happy to live with her, she should not divorce him. |
| 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 because of the wife, and the unbelieving wife because of her husband. 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. | 15But if the unbeliever wants a divorce, let it take place. In these circumstances the brother or sister is not bound. God has called you in 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, wife, whether you will bring your husband to salvation? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will bring your wife to salvation? |
| 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. | 17Nevertheless, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each person, so must he live. I give this sort of direction 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 anyone called after he had been circumcised? He should not try to undo his circumcision. Was anyone called who is uncircumcised? He should not get circumcised. |
| 19Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters. | 19Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Instead, keeping God's commandments is what counts. |
| 20Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. | 20Let each one remain in that situation in life 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 as a slave? Do not worry about it. But if indeed you are able to be free, make the most of the opportunity. |
| 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 the one who was called in the Lord as a slave is the Lord's freedman. In the same way, the one who was called as a free person 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. | 24In whatever situation someone was called, brothers and sisters, let him remain in it with God. |
| 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. | 25With regard to the question about people who have never married, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my opinion as one shown mercy by the Lord to be 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: | 26Because of the impending crisis I think it best for you to remain as you are. |
| 27Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife. | 27The one bound to a wife should not seek divorce. The one released from a wife should not seek marriage. |
| 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. But those who marry will face difficult circumstances, and I am trying to spare you such problems. |
| 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, | 29And I say this, brothers and sisters: The time is short. So then those who have wives should be as those who have 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 with tears like those not weeping, those who rejoice like those not rejoicing, those who buy like those without possessions, |
| 31and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away. | 31those who use the world as though they were not using it to the full. For the present shape 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. | 32And I want you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. |
| 33But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife. | 33But a married man is concerned about the things of the world, how to 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 he is divided. An unmarried woman or a virgin is concerned about the things of the Lord, to be holy both in body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the things of the world, how to 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. | 35I am saying this for your benefit, not to place a limitation on you, but so that without distraction you may give notable and constant service 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. | 36If anyone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward his virgin, if she is past the bloom of youth and it seems necessary, he should do what he wishes; he does not sin. Let them 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 the man who is firm in his commitment, and is under no necessity but has control over his will, and has decided in his own mind to keep his own virgin, does well. |
| 38So then he who gives her in marriage does well, but he who does not give her in marriage does better. | 38So then, the one who marries his own virgin does well, but the one who does not, does 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 is living. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes (only someone 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 will be happier if she remains as she is--and I think that I too have the Spirit of God! |
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