English Standard Version ESV
The Darby Translation DBY
1 Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman. ”
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But concerning the things of which ye have written [to me]: [It is] good for a man not to touch a woman;
2 But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband.
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but on account of fornications, let each have his own wife, and each [woman] have her own husband.
3 The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband.
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Let the husband render her due to the wife, and in like manner the wife to the husband.
4 For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.
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The wife has not authority over her own body, but the husband: in like manner also the husband has not authority over his own body, but the wife.
5 Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
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Defraud not one another, unless, it may be, by consent for a time, that ye may devote yourselves to prayer, and again be together, that Satan tempt you not because of your incontinency.
6 Now as a concession, not a command, I say this.
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But this I say, as consenting [to], not as commanding [it].
7 I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another.
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Now I wish all men to be even as myself: but every one has his own gift of God: one man thus, and another thus.
8 To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single as I am.
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But I say to the unmarried and to the widows, It is good for them that they remain even as I.
9 But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
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But if they have not control over themselves, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn.
10 To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband
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But to the married I enjoin, not *I*, but the Lord, Let not wife be separated from husband;
11 (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.
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(but if also she shall have been separated, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband;) and let not husband leave wife.
12 To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her.
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But as to the rest, *I* say, not the Lord, If any brother have an unbelieving wife, and *she* consent to dwell with him, let him not leave her.
13 If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him.
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And a woman who has an unbelieving husband, and he consents to dwell with her, let her not leave [her] husband.
14 For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
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For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the brother; since [otherwise] indeed your children are unclean, but now they are holy.
15 But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace.
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But if the unbeliever go away, let them go away; a brother or a sister is not bound in such [cases], but God has called us in peace.
16 For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
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For what knowest thou, O wife, if thou shalt save thy husband? or what knowest thou, O husband, if thou shalt save thy wife?
17 Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.
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However, as the Lord has divided to each, as God has called each, so let him walk; and thus I ordain in all the assemblies.
18 Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision.
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Has any one been called circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised: has any one been called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.
19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God.
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Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing; but keeping God's commandments.
20 Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called.
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Let each abide in that calling in which he has been called.
21 Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity. )
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Hast thou been called [being] a bondman, let it not concern thee; but and if thou canst become free, use [it] rather.
22 For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ.
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For the bondman that is called in [the] Lord is the Lord's freedman; in like manner [also] the freeman being called is Christ's bondman.
23 You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men.
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Ye have been bought with a price; do not be the bondmen of men.
24 So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.
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Let each, wherein he is called, brethren, therein abide with God.
25 Now concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.
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But concerning virgins, I have no commandment of [the] Lord; but I give my opinion, as having received mercy of [the] Lord to be faithful.
26 I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is.
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I think then that this is good, on account of the present necessity, that [it is] good for a man to remain so as he is.
27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife.
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Art thou bound to a wife? seek not to be loosed; art thou free from a wife? do not seek a wife.
28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that.
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But if thou shouldest also marry, thou hast not sinned; and if the virgin marry, they have not sinned: but such shall have tribulation in the flesh; but I spare you.
29 This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none,
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But this I say, brethren, the time is straitened. For the rest, that they who have wives, be as not having [any]:
30 and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods,
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and they that weep, as not weeping; and they that rejoice, as not rejoicing; and they that buy, as not possessing;
31 and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.
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and they that use the world, as not disposing of it as their own; for the fashion of this world passes.
32 I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord.
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But I wish you to be without care. The unmarried cares for the things of the Lord, how he shall please the Lord;
33 But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife,
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but he that has married cares for the things of the world, how he shall please his wife.
34 and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband.
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There is a difference between the wife and the virgin. The unmarried cares for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but she that has married cares for the things of the world, how she shall please her husband.
35 I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.
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But I say this for your own profit; not that I may set a snare before you, but for what [is] seemly, and waiting on the Lord without distraction.
36 If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed, if his passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry—it is no sin.
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But if any one think that he behaves unseemly to his virginity, if he be beyond the flower of his age, and so it must be, let him do what he will, he does not sin: let them marry.
37 But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well.
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But he who stands firm in his heart, having no need, but has authority over his own will, and has judged this in his heart to keep his own virginity, he does well.
38 So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better.
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So that he that marries himself does well; and he that does not marry does better.
39 A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.
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A wife is bound for whatever time her husband lives; but if the husband be fallen asleep, she is free to be married to whom she will, only in [the] Lord.
40 Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.
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But she is happier if she so remain, according to my judgment; but I think that *I* also have God's Spirit.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.