1 Corinthians 7 Parallel Bible Translations

1 Corinthians 7 ▼
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Godbey New Testament
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1 But concerning those things about which you wrote to me: That it is good for a man not to receive a wife: 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 on account 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 Let the husband give to the wife that which is due, and likewise the wife also to the 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 The wife has not the authority over her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband has not the authority over his own body, but the wife. 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 Do not defraud one another, unless it may be with consent for a time, that you may give attention to prayer, and again come together, in order that Satan may not tempt you on account of your incontinency. 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 speak this according to knowledge, not according to commandment. Now as a concession, not a command, I say this. I say this as a concession, not as a command.
7 But I wish that all men were even as myself; but each one has his own gift from God, some one, and some another. 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 speak to the unmarried and the widows, that it is good for them that they may remain even as I: 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 do not contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn. 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 I proclaim to those who have married, not I, but the Lord, That a wife shall not depart 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 indeed she may depart, let her remain unmarried, or let her be reconciled unto her husband); and that the husband shall not send away the 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 But I say to the rest, not the Lord, if any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she is willing to live with him, let him not send her away. 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 wife has an unbelieving husband, and he is willing to live with her, let her not send away 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 by the wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified by the brother. Since then your children are unclean; but now 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 or her depart; the brother or the sister has not been enslaved in such things. God has called you in 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 For what do you know, O wife, if you shall save your husband? And what do you know, O husband, if you shall 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 If not as the Lord has imparted to each one, and as God has called each one, so let him or her walk. And thus I command 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 Is one called having been circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised: has one been called in uncircumcision? let him not get 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, but the keeping 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 one abide in the same calling in which he is 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 Have you been called being a slave? let it not be a care to you: but if indeed you are able to become free, use it in preference. 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 the one having been called in the Lord, being a slave, is the Lord's freeman: likewise the one having been called, while free, is the slave of 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; be not the slaves 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 Let each one remain with the Lord, in the same calling in which he was called, brethren. 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 But concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: but I give knowledge, as one having obtained mercy from the Lord 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 But I consider this to be good on account of the present distress, that it is good for a man so to be. 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 Have you been given to a wife? do not seek separation; have you been separated from 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, indeed you may marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin may marry, she has not sinned; but such shall have trouble in the flesh, but I spare you. 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 But I say this, brethren; that the time is at hand, that moreover indeed those having wives may be as those not having; 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 weeping, as those not weeping; and those rejoicing, as those not rejoicing; and those buying, as those not possessing; 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 using the world, as those not using it thoroughly: for the fashion 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 I wish you to be free from solicitude. The unmarried man cares for the things of the Lord, in order that he may please the Lord: 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 the one having married cares for the things of the world, in order that he may please his wife. 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 A wife and a virgin truly also differ: the unmarried woman cares for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy in body and in spirit: but she having married cares for the things of the world, that 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 I speak this for the profit of you yourselves; not that I may cast a burden upon you, but for that which is pleasing and acceptable to the Lord without perturbation. 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 one considers that he is acting indiscreetly towards his virgin, if she may be marriageable, and thus it ought so to be, let him do what he wishes; he does not sin; let them marry. 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 whosoever stands firm in his heart, having no necessity, and has the right according to his own will, and has determined this in his heart, to keep his virgin, will do 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 So indeed he that marries his own virgin does well; and he that marries her not will do 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 wife has been given so long a time as her husband may live; but if her husband may die, she is free to be married to whom she will; 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 is happier if she may so remain, according to my opinion: but I realize that I truly 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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