| NET Bible | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Now with regard to the issues you wrote about: "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 immoralities, each man should have relations with his own wife and each woman with her own husband. | 2But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. |
| 3A husband should give to his wife her sexual rights, and likewise a wife to her husband. | 3The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. |
| 4It is not the wife who has the rights to her own body, but the husband. In the same way, it is not the husband who has the rights to his own body, but the wife. | 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 each other, except by mutual agreement for a specified time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then resume your relationship, 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. |
| 6I say this as a concession, not as a command. | 6I say this as a concession, not as a command. |
| 7I wish that everyone was as I am. But each has his own gift from God, one this way, another that. | 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 widows I say that it is best for them to remain 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 do not have self-control, let them get married. For it is better to marry than to burn with sexual desire. | 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 command--not I, but the Lord--a wife should not divorce a 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, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband), and a 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--if a brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is happy 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. |
| 13And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is happy 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 sanctified because of the wife, and the unbelieving wife because of her husband. Otherwise your children are unclean, but now 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 unbeliever wants a divorce, let it take place. In these circumstances the brother or sister is not bound. God has called you in 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 bring your husband to salvation? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will bring your wife to salvation? | 16How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife? |
| 17Nevertheless, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each person, so must he live. I give this sort of direction 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 called after he had been circumcised? He should not try to undo his circumcision. Was anyone called who is uncircumcised? He should not get circumcised. | 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. |
| 19Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Instead, keeping God's commandments is what counts. | 19Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commandments is what counts. |
| 20Let each one remain in that situation in life in which he was called. | 20Each one should remain in the situation he was in when he was called. |
| 21Were you called as a slave? Do not worry about it. But if indeed you are able to be free, make the most 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 the one who was called in the Lord as a slave is the Lord's freedman. In the same way, the one who was called as a free person is Christ's slave. | 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 slaves of men. | 23You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. |
| 24In whatever situation someone was called, brothers and sisters, let him remain in it with God. | 24Brothers, each one should remain in the situation he was in when God called him. |
| 25With regard to the question about people who have never married, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my opinion as one shown mercy by the Lord to be 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. |
| 26Because of the impending crisis I think it best for you to remain as you are. | 26Because of the present crisis, I think it is good for a man to remain as he is. |
| 27The one bound to a wife should not seek divorce. The one released from a wife should not seek marriage. | 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 marry, you have not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face difficult circumstances, and I am trying to spare you such problems. | 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. |
| 29And I say this, brothers and sisters: The time is short. So then those who have wives should be as those who have 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; |
| 30those with tears like those not weeping, those who rejoice like those not rejoicing, those who buy like those without possessions, | 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; |
| 31those who use the world as though they were not using it to the full. For the present shape 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. |
| 32And I want you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned 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 a married man is concerned about the things of the world, how to please his wife, | 33But the married man is concerned about the affairs of this world, how he can please his wife, |
| 34and he is divided. An unmarried woman or a virgin is concerned about the things of the Lord, to be holy both in body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the things of the world, 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 am saying this for your benefit, not to place a limitation on you, but so that without distraction you may give notable and constant service 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 he is acting inappropriately toward his virgin, if she is past the bloom of youth and it seems necessary, he should do what he wishes; he does not sin. Let them marry. | 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 the man who is firm in his commitment, and is under no necessity but has control over his will, and has decided in his own mind to keep his own virgin, does 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, the one who marries his own virgin does well, but the one who does not, does better. | 38So then, he who marries the virgin does well, but he who does not marry her does even better. |
| 39A wife is bound as long as her husband is living. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes (only someone 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. |
| 40But in my opinion, she will be 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. |
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