1 Corinthians 7 NIV ISV Parallel

◄ 1 Corinthians 7 ►

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

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

2But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband.

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

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

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

4The 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.

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.

5Do 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.

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.

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

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

7I 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.

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

8Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

12To 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.

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.

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

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

14For 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.

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.

15But 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.

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.

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

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

17Nevertheless, 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.

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.

18Was 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.

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.

19Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God's commands is what counts.

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

20Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.

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

21Were you a slave when you were called? Don't let it trouble you--although if you can gain your freedom, do so.

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.

22For 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.

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.

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

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

24Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.

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

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.

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.

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

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

27Are you pledged to a woman? Do not seek to be released. Are you free from such a commitment? Do not look for a wife.

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.

28But 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.

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.

29What 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;

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

30those 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;

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,

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

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.

32I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord's affairs--how he can please the Lord.

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.

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

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

34and 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.

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.

35I 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.

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.

36If 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.

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.

37But 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.

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.

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

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

39A 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.

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.

40In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is--and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

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.

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