1 Corinthians 7 Parallel Bible

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	SLT Smith's Literal Translation	ESV English Standard Version	NIV New International Version
1	And of what ye wrote to me: 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	And, on account of fornication, let each have his own wife, and let each 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 return to the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife 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 of her own body has not power, but the husband: and likewise also the husband of his own body has not power, 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	Deprive ye not one another, except somewhat of an agreement for a time, that ye might have leisure for fasting and prayer; and again upon the same ye might come together, lest Satan tempt you for your want of self command.	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	And this I say according to indulgence, not according to order.	Now as a concession, not a command, I say this.	I say this as a concession, not as a command.
7	For I will all men to be as also myself. But each has his own favor of God, the one truly thus, and the other thus.	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	And I say to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they remain also 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	And if they have not self command, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to be set on fire.	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	And to the married I announce, (not I, but the Lord,) The wife not to be separated from the 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	And if also she be separated, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to the husband: and the husband not to 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	And to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother have an unbelieving wife, and she assents to dwell 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 the woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he assents to dwell with her, let her not send him away.	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 was consecrated in the wife, and the unbelieving wife was consecrated in the husband: for then are our children unclean; and now are they 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	And if the unbelieving is separated, let him be separated. A brother or a sister has not been reduced to slavery in such things as these: and God has called us 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 knowest thou, O wife, if thou shalt save the husband or what knowest thou, O husband, if thou shalt save the 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	Except as God divided to each, as the Lord has called each, so let him walk. And so I ordain 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	Whoever was called circumcised? let him not be drawn to himself. Whoever was called in uncircumcision? 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, but the keeping of the commands 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	Each in the calling which he was called, in this let him remain.	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	A servant wert thou called? let it not concern thee: for if thou art able to be free, rather 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 the servant called in the Lord, is the freedman of the Lord: likewise also the freedman called, is the servant 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	Ye were bought for a price; be ye not 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	Each, in what he was called, brethren, in this let him remain 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	But for virgins I have not an order of the Lord: and I give an opinion as compassionated by 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	I think therefore this to be good for the present necessity, that it is good for a man to be thus.	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	Hast thou been bound to a wife? seek not a release. Hast thou been loosed from a wife seek thou not 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	And if also thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she has not sinned. And such shall have pressure to the flesh: and 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	And this I say, brethren, the time is restricted; as to the rest, that they also having wives should be as 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 they weeping, as not weeping; and they rejoicing, as not rejoicing; and they buying, as 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 they using this world, as not using; for the form of this world passes 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 will you to be free from care. The unmarried cares for things of the Lord, how he shall 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	And he married cares for the things of the world, how he shall please the 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	The wife and virgin have been divided. The unmarried cares for the things of the Lord, that she might be holy also in body and spirit: and she married cares for the things of the world, how she shall 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	And this I say for the advantage of yourselves; not that I shall cast a net upon you, but for the becoming, and occupied assiduously for the Lord without being turned away.	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	And if any think to act unbecomingly towards his virgin, if she be past the vigor of youth, and so it ought to be, let him do what he will, he sins not; 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	And he who has stood firmly fixed in heart; not having necessity, and has power concerning his own will, and has judged this in his heart to keep his virgin, 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	So that he marrying does well; and he not marrying 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	The woman was bound by law for as much time as her husband lives; and if her husband be set to sleep, 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	And she is happier if she so remain, according to my opinion: and I also think to 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.
	Read Smith's Literal Translation Public domain.	Read English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles.	Read New International Version Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.

1 Corinthians 7 Parallel Bible Translations