English Standard Version

New American Standard Bible 1995

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

1Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman.

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

2But because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband.

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

3The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also 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 does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

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.

5Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

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

6But this I say by way of concession, not of 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.

7Yet I wish that all men were even as I myself am. However, each man has his own gift from God, one in this manner, and another in that.

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

8But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I.

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

9But if they do not have self-control, 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

10But to the married I give instructions, not I, but the Lord, that the wife should not leave 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.

11(but if she does leave, she must remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband should 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.

12But to the rest I say, not the Lord, that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents 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 a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to live with her, she must not send her husband away.

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 wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband; for otherwise your children are 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.

15Yet if the unbelieving one leaves, let him leave; the brother or the sister is not under bondage in such cases, but God has called us to 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?

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?

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.

17Only, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, in this manner let him walk. And so I direct 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 any man called when he was already circumcised? He is not to become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? He is not to be circumcised.

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

19Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God.

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

20Each man must remain in that condition in which 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 called while a slave? Do not worry about it; but if you are able also to become free, rather do that.

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 called in the Lord while a slave, is the Lord's freedman; likewise he who was called while free, is Christ's slave.

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

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

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

24Brethren, each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called.

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 concerning virgins I have no command of the Lord, but I give an opinion as one who by the mercy of the Lord is trustworthy.

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

26I think then that this is good in view of the present distress, that 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 bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you released from a wife? Do not seek 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 marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you.

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,

29But this I say, brethren, the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though 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,

30and those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not possess;

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 world, as though they did not make full use of it; for the form of this world 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.

32But I want you to be free from concern. One who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord;

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

33but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may 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 woman who is unmarried, and the virgin, is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may 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.

35This I say for your own benefit; not to put a restraint upon you, but to promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted 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.

36But if any man thinks that he is acting unbecomingly toward his virgin daughter, if she is past her youth, and if it must be so, let him do what he wishes, he does not sin; let her marry.

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 he who stands firm in his heart, being under no constraint, but has authority over his own will, and has decided this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin daughter, 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 both he who gives his own virgin daughter in marriage does well, and he who does not give her in marriage will do 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 as long as her husband lives; but if her husband is dead, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in 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.

40But in my opinion she is happier if she remains as she is; and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.

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