The Bible in Basic English BBE
New International Version NIV
8 But I say to the unmarried and to the widows, It is good for them to be even 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 But if they have not self-control let them get married; for married life is better than the burning of desire.
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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 the married I give orders, though not I but the Lord, that the wife may not go away from 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 goes away from him, let her keep unmarried, or be united to her husband again); and that the husband may not go away from 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 But to the rest I say, and not the Lord; If a brother has a wife who is not a Christian, and it is her desire to go on living with him, let him not go away from her.
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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 if a woman has a husband who is not a Christian, and it is his desire to go on living with her, let her not go away from her husband.
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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 the husband who has not faith is made holy through his Christian wife, and the wife who is not a Christian is made holy through the brother: if not, your children would be unholy, but now are they holy.
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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 But if the one who is not a Christian has a desire to go away, let it be so: the brother or the sister in such a position is not forced to do one thing or the other: but it is God's pleasure that we may be at peace with one another.
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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 how may you be certain, O wife, that you will not be the cause of salvation to your husband? or you, O husband, that you may not do the same for 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, as the Lord has given to a man, and as is the purpose of God for him, so let him go on living. And these are my orders for all the churches.
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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 If any man who is a Christian has had circumcision, let him keep so; and if any man who is a Christian has not had circumcision, let him make no change.
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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 its opposite is nothing, but only doing the orders of God is of value.
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Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts.
20 Let every man keep the position in which he has been placed by God.
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Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.
21 If you were a servant when you became a Christian, let it not be a grief to you; but if you have a chance to become free, make use of it.
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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 he who was a servant when he became a Christian is the Lord's free man; and he who was free when he became a Christian is the Lord's servant.
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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 It is the Lord who has made payment for you: be not servants of men.
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You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings.
24 My brothers, let every man keep in that condition which is the purpose of God for him.
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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.
The Bible in Basic English is in the public domain.
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.