1 Corinthians 7 ISV NLT Parallel

◄ 1 Corinthians 7 ►

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1Now about what you asked: "Is it advisable for a man not to marry?"

1Now regarding the questions you asked in your letter. Yes, it is good to abstain from sexual relations.

2Because sexual immorality is so rampant, every man should have his own wife, and every woman should have her own husband.

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

3A husband should fulfill his obligation to his wife, and a wife should do the same for her husband.

3The husband should fulfill his wife’s sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill her husband’s needs.

4A wife does not have authority over her own body, but her husband does. In the same way, a husband doesn't have authority over his own body, but his wife does.

4The wife gives authority over her body to her husband, and the husband gives authority over his body to his wife.

5Do not withhold yourselves from each other unless you agree to do so just for a set time, in order to devote yourselves to prayer. Then you should come together again so that Satan does not tempt you through your lack of self-control.

5Do not deprive each other of sexual relations, unless you both agree to refrain from sexual intimacy for a limited time so you can give yourselves more completely to prayer. Afterward, you should come together again so that Satan won’t be able to tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

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

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

7I would like everyone to be unmarried, like I am. However, each person has a special gift from God, one this and another that.

7But I wish everyone were single, just as I am. Yet each person has a special gift from God, of one kind or another.

8I say to those who are unmarried, especially to widows: It is good for them to remain like me.

8So I say to those who aren’t married and to widows—it’s better to stay unmarried, just as I am.

9However, if they cannot control themselves, they should get married, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

9But if they can’t control themselves, they should go ahead and marry. It’s better to marry than to burn with lust.

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

10But for those who are married, I have a command that comes not from me, but from the Lord. A wife must not leave her husband.

11But if she does leave him, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. Likewise, a husband must not abandon his wife.

11But if she does leave him, let her remain single or else be reconciled to him. And the husband must not leave his wife.

12I (not the Lord) say to the rest of you: If a brother has a wife who is an unbeliever and she is willing to live with him, he must not abandon her.

12Now, I will speak to the rest of you, though I do not have a direct command from the Lord. If a fellow believer has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to continue living with him, he must not leave her.

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

13And if a believing woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to continue living with her, she must not leave him.

14For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified because of her husband. Otherwise, your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.

14For the believing wife brings holiness to her marriage, and the believing husband brings holiness to his marriage. Otherwise, your children would not be holy, but now they are holy.

15But if the unbelieving partner leaves, let him go. In such cases the brother or sister is not under obligation. God has called you to live in peace.

15(But if the husband or wife who isn’t a believer insists on leaving, let them go. In such cases the believing husband or wife is no longer bound to the other, for God has called you to live in peace.)

16Wife, you might be able to save your husband. Husband, you might be able to save your wife.

16Don’t you wives realize that your husbands might be saved because of you? And don’t you husbands realize that your wives might be saved because of you?

17Nevertheless, everyone should live the life that the Lord gave him and to which God called him. This is my rule in all the churches.

17Each of you should continue to live in whatever situation the Lord has placed you, and remain as you were when God first called you. This is my rule for all the churches.

18Was anyone circumcised when he was called? He should not try to change that. Was anyone uncircumcised when he was called? He should not get circumcised.

18For instance, a man who was circumcised before he became a believer should not try to reverse it. And the man who was uncircumcised when he became a believer should not be circumcised now.

19Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but obeying God's commandments is everything.

19For it makes no difference whether or not a man has been circumcised. The important thing is to keep God’s commandments.

20Everyone should stay in the same condition in which he was called.

20Yes, each of you should remain as you were when God called you.

21Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let that bother you. Of course, if you have a chance to become free, take advantage of the opportunity.

21Are you a slave? Don’t let that worry you—but if you get a chance to be free, take it.

22For the slave who has been called to belong to the Lord is the Lord's free person. In the same way, the free person who has been called is the Messiah's slave.

22And remember, if you were a slave when the Lord called you, you are now free in the Lord. And if you were free when the Lord called you, you are now a slave of Christ.

23You were bought for a price. Stop becoming slaves of people.

23God paid a high price for you, so don’t be enslaved by the world.

24Brothers, everyone should stay in the same condition in which he was called by God.

24Each of you, dear brothers and sisters, should remain as you were when God first called you.

25Now concerning virgins, although I do not have any command from the Lord, I will give you my opinion as one who by the Lord's mercy is trustworthy.

25Now regarding your question about the young women who are not yet married. I do not have a command from the Lord for them. But the Lord in his mercy has given me wisdom that can be trusted, and I will share it with you.

26In view of the present crisis, I think it is prudent for a man to stay as he is.

26Because of the present crisis, I think it is best to remain as you are.

27Have you become committed to a wife? Stop trying to get released from your commitment. Have you been freed from your commitment to a wife? Stop looking for one.

27If you have a wife, do not seek to end the marriage. If you do not have a wife, do not seek to get married.

28But if you do get married, you have not sinned. And if a virgin gets married, she has not sinned. However, these people will experience trouble in this life, and I want to spare you from that.

28But if you do get married, it is not a sin. And if a young woman gets married, it is not a sin. However, those who get married at this time will have troubles, and I am trying to spare you those problems.

29This is what I mean, brothers: The time is short. From now on, those who have wives should live as though they had none,

29But let me say this, dear brothers and sisters: The time that remains is very short. So from now on, those with wives should not focus only on their marriage.

30and those who mourn as though they did not mourn, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they did not own a thing,

30Those who weep or who rejoice or who buy things should not be absorbed by their weeping or their joy or their possessions.

31and those who use the things in the world as though they were not dependent on them. For the world in its present form is passing away.

31Those who use the things of the world should not become attached to them. For this world as we know it will soon pass away.

32I want you to be free from concerns. An unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord, that is, about how he can please the Lord.

32I want you to be free from the concerns of this life. An unmarried man can spend his time doing the Lord’s work and thinking how to please him.

33But a married man is concerned about things of this world, that is, about how he can please his wife,

33But a married man has to think about his earthly responsibilities and how to please his wife.

34and so his attention is divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the affairs of the Lord, so that she may be holy in body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world, that is, about how she can please her husband.

34His interests are divided. In the same way, a woman who is no longer married or has never been married can be devoted to the Lord and holy in body and in spirit. But a married woman has to think about her earthly responsibilities and how to please her husband.

35I'm saying this for your benefit, not to put a noose around your necks, but to promote good order and unhindered devotion to the Lord.

35I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.

36If a man thinks he is not behaving properly toward his virgin, and if his passion is so strong that he feels he ought to marry her, let him do what he wants; he isn't sinning. Let them get married.

36But if a man thinks that he’s treating his fianc�e improperly and will inevitably give in to his passion, let him marry her as he wishes. It is not a sin.

37However, if a man stands firm in his resolve, feels no necessity, and has made up his mind to keep her a virgin, he will be acting appropriately.

37But if he has decided firmly not to marry and there is no urgency and he can control his passion, he does well not to marry.

38So then the man who marries the virgin acts appropriately, but the man who refrains from marriage does even better.

38So the person who marries his fianc�e does well, and the person who doesn’t marry does even better.

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, only in the Lord.

39A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. If her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but only if he loves the Lord.

40However, in my opinion she will be happier if she stays as she is. And in saying this, I think that I, too, have God's Spirit.

40But in my opinion it would be better for her to stay single, and I think I am giving you counsel from God’s Spirit when I say this.

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