1 Corinthians 7 Parallel Bible

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	CPDV Catholic Public Domain Version	ESV English Standard Version	NIV New International Version
1	Now concerning the things about which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.	Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”	Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”
2	But, because of fornication, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.	But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.	But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband.
3	A husband should fulfill his obligation to his wife, and a wife should also act similarly toward her husband.	The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband.	The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.
4	It is not the wife, but the husband, who has power over her body. But, similarly also, it is not the husband, but the wife, who has power over his body.	For 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.	The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife.
5	So, do not fail in your obligations to one another, except perhaps by consent, for a limited time, so that you may empty yourselves for prayer. And then, return together again, lest Satan tempt you by means of your abstinence.	Do 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.	Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
6	But I am saying this, neither as an indulgence, nor as a commandment.	Now as a concession, not a command, I say this.	I say this as a concession, not as a command.
7	For I would prefer it if you were all like myself. But each person has his proper gift from God: one in this way, yet another in that way.	I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.	I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
8	But I say to the unmarried and to widows: It is good for them, if they would remain as they are, just as I also am.	To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am.	Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do.
9	But if they cannot restrain themselves, they should marry. For it is better to marry, than to be burned.	But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.	But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
10	But to those who have been joined in matrimony, it is not I who commands you, but the Lord: a wife is not to separate from her husband.	To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband	To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.
11	But if she has separated from him, she must remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband should not divorce his wife.	(but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.	But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
12	Concerning the rest, I am speaking, not the Lord. If any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her.	To 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.	To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.
13	And if any woman has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce her husband.	If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him.	And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.
14	For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through the believing wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through the believing husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean, whereas instead they are holy.	For 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.	For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
15	But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart. For a brother or sister cannot be made subject to servitude in this way. For God has called us to peace.	But 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.	But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.
16	And how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?	For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?	How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
17	However, let each one walk just as the Lord has distributed to him, each one just as God has called him. And thus do I teach in all the churches.	Only 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.	Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.
18	Has any circumcised man been called? Let him not cover his circumcision. Has any uncircumcised man been called? Let him not be circumcised.	Was 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.	Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised.
19	Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; there is only the observance of the commandments of God.	For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.	Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts.
20	Let each and every one remain in the same calling to which he was called.	Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called.	Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.
21	Are you a servant who has been called? Do not be concerned about it. But if you ever have the ability to be free, make use of it.	Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.)	Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so.
22	For any servant who has been called in the Lord is free in the Lord. Similarly, any free person who has been called is a servant in Christ.	For 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.	For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave.
23	You have been bought with a price. Do not be willing to become the servants of men.	You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men.	You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings.
24	Brothers, let each one, in whatever state he was called, remain in that state with God.	So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.	Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.
25	Now, concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord. But I give counsel, as one who has obtained the mercy of the Lord, so as to be faithful.	Now 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.	Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.
26	Therefore, I consider this to be good, because of the present necessity: that it is good for a man to be such as I am.	I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is.	Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is.
27	Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be freed. Are you free of a wife? Do not seek a wife.	Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife.	Are you pledged to a woman? Do not seek to be released. Are you free from such a commitment? Do not look for a wife.
28	But if you take a wife, you have not sinned. And if a virgin has married, she has not sinned. Even so, such as these will have the tribulation of the flesh. But I would spare you from this.	But 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.	But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.
29	And so, this is what I say, brothers: The time is short. What remains of it is such that: those who have wives should be as if they had none;	This 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,	What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not;
30	and those who weep, as though they were not weeping; and those who rejoice, as if they were not rejoicing; and those who buy, as if they possessed nothing;	and 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,	those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep;
31	and those who use the things of this world, as if they were not using them. For the figure of this world is passing away.	and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.	those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.
32	But I would prefer you to be without worry. Whoever is without a wife is worried about the things of the Lord, as to how he may please God.	I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord.	I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord.
33	But whoever is with a wife is worried about the things of the world, as to how he may please his wife. And so, he is divided.	But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife,	But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife—
34	And the unmarried woman and the virgin think about the things that are of the Lord, so that she may be holy in body and in spirit. But she who is married thinks about the things that are of the world, as to how she may please her husband.	and 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.	and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband.
35	Furthermore, I am saying this for your own benefit, not in order to cast a snare over you, but toward whatever is honest and whatever may provide you with the ability to be without hindrance, so as to worship the Lord.	I 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.	I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.
36	But if any man considers himself to seem dishonorable, concerning a virgin who is of adult age, and so it ought to be, he may do as he wills. If he marries her, he does not sin.	If 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.	If anyone is worried that he might not be acting honorably toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if his passions are too strong and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married.
37	But if he has decided firmly in his heart, and he does not have any obligation, but only the power of his free will, and if he has judged this in his heart, to let her remain a virgin, he does well.	But 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.	But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin—this man also does the right thing.
38	And so, he who joins with his virgin in matrimony does well, and he who does not join with her does better.	So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better.	So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does better.
39	A woman is bound under the law for as long as her husband lives. But if her husband has died, she is free. She may marry whomever she wishes, but only in the Lord.	A 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.	A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.
40	But she will be more blessed, if she remains in this state, in accord with my counsel. And I think that I, too, have the Spirit of God.	Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.	In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is—and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.
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1 Corinthians 7 Parallel Bible Translations