Weymouth New Testament WNT
New International Version NIV
8 But I tell the unmarried, and women who are widows, that it is well for them to remain as I am.
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Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do.
9 If, however, they cannot maintain self-control, by all means let them marry; for marriage is better than the fever of passion.
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But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
10 But to those already married my instructions are--yet not mine, but the Lord's--that a wife is not to leave her husband;
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To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.
11 or if she has already left him, let her either remain as she is or be reconciled to him; and that a husband is not to send away his wife.
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But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
12 To the rest it is I who speak--not the Lord. If a brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, let him not send her away.
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To 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.
13 And a woman who has an unbelieving husband--if he consents to live with her, let her not separate from him.
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And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.
14 For, in such cases, the unbelieving husband has become--and is--holy through union with a Christian woman, and the unbelieving wife is holy through union with a Christian brother. Otherwise your children would be unholy, but in reality they have a place among God's people.
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For 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.
15 If, however, the unbeliever is determined to leave, let him or her do so. Under such circumstances the Christian man or woman is no slave; God has called us to live lives of peace.
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But 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.
16 For what assurance have you, O woman, as to whether you will save your husband? Or what assurance have you, O man, as to whether you will save your wife?
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How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
17 Only, whatever be the condition in life which the Lord has assigned to each individual--and whatever the condition in which he was living when God called him--in that let him continue.
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Nevertheless, 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.
18 This is what I command in all the Churches. Was any one already circumcised when called? Let him not have recourse to the surgeons. Was any one uncircumcised when called? Let him remain uncircumcised.
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Was 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.
19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing: obedience to God's commandments is everything.
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Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts.
20 Whatever be the condition in life in which a man was, when he was called, in that let him continue.
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Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.
21 Were you a slave when God called you? Let not that weigh on your mind. And yet if you can get your freedom, take advantage of the opportunity.
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Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so.
22 For a Christian, if he was a slave when called, is the Lord's freed man, and in the same way a free man, if called, becomes the slave of Christ.
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For 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.
23 You have all been redeemed at infinite cost: do not become slaves to men.
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You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings.
24 Where each one stood when he was called, there, brethren, let him still stand--close to God.
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Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.
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Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.