New King James Version

King James Bible

1Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

1Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

2Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.

2Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.

3Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband.

3Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

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

4The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.

5Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

5Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

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

6But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.

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

7For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

8But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am;

8I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.

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

9But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

10Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband.

10And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:

11But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.

11But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.

12But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her.

12But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

13And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him.

13And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.

14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

15But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace.

15But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.

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?

16For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

17But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches.

17But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.

18Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised.

18Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.

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

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

20Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called.

20Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.

21Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it.

21Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.

22For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave.

22For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.

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

23Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.

24Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.

24Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

25Now concerning virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy.

25Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.

26I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress—that it is good for a man to remain as he is:

26I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.

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

27Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.

28But even if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you.

28But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.

29But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none,

29But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;

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

30And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;

31and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away.

31And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.

32But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord.

32But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:

33But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife.

33But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.

34There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband.

34There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

35And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.

35And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

36But if any man thinks he is behaving improperly toward his virgin, if she is past the flower of youth, and thus it must be, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin; let them marry.

36But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.

37Nevertheless he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own will, and has so determined in his heart that he will keep his virgin, does well.

37Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.

38So then he who gives her in marriage does well, but he who does not give her in marriage does better.

38So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.

39A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.

39The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

40But she is happier if she remains as she is, according to my judgment—and I think I also have the Spirit of God.

40But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

King James Bible, text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.