English Standard Version

Berean Study Bible

1Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”

1Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good to abstain from sexual relations.

2But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.

2But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.

3The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband.

3The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.

4For 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.

4The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife.

5Do 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.

5Do not deprive each other, except by mutual consent and for a time, so you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again, so that Satan will not tempt you through your lack of self-control.

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

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

7I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.

7I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.

8To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am.

8Now to the unmarried and widows I say this: It is good for them to remain unmarried, as I am.

9But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

9But if they cannot control themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

10To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband

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

11(but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.

11But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.

12To 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.

12To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If a brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.

13If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him.

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

14For 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.

14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his believing wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.

15But 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.

15But if the unbeliever leaves, let him go. The believing brother or sister is not bound in such cases. God has called you to live in peace.

16For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

16How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

17Only 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.

17Regardless, each one should lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is what I prescribe in all the churches.

18Was 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.

18Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man still uncircumcised when called? He should not be circumcised.

19For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.

19Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commandments is what counts.

20Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called.

20Each one should remain in the situation he was in when he was called.

21Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.)

21Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let it concern you—but if you can gain your freedom, take the opportunity.

22For 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.

22For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman. Conversely, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave.

23You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men.

23You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.

24So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.

24Brothers, each one should remain in the situation he was in when God called him.

25Now 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.

25Now about virgins, I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.

26I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is.

26Because of the present crisis, I think it is good for a man to remain as he is.

27Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife.

27Are you committed to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you free of commitment? Do not look for a wife.

28But 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.

28But if you do marry, you have not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.

29This 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,

29What I am saying, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none;

30and 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,

30those who weep, as if they did not; those who are joyful, as if they were not; those who make a purchase, as if they had nothing;

31and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.

31and those who use the things of this world, as if not dependent on them. For this world in its present form is passing away.

32I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord.

32I want you to be free from concern. The unmarried man is concerned about the work of the Lord, how he can please the Lord.

33But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife,

33But the married man is concerned about the affairs of this world, how he can please his wife,

34and 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.

34and his interests are divided. The unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the work of the Lord, how she can be holy in both body and spirit. But the married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world, how she can please her husband.

35I 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.

35I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but in order to promote proper decorum and undivided devotion to the Lord.

36If 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.

36However, if someone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward his betrothed, and if she is beyond her youth and they ought to marry, let him do as he wishes; he is not sinning; they should get married.

37But 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.

37But the man who is firmly established in his heart and under no constraint, with control over his will and resolve in his heart not to marry the virgin, he will do well.

38So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better.

38So then, he who marries the virgin does well, but he who does not marry her does even better.

39A 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.

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, as long as he belongs to the Lord.

40Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

40In my judgment, however, she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

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