King James Version KJV
New International Version NIV
8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
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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 cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
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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 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart 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 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put 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 But 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.
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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 the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave 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 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.
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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 unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to 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 knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy 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 But 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.
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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 Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.
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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, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
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Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts.
20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.
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Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.
21 Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.
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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 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.
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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 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
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You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings.
24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with 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.
The King James Version 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.