New International Version NIV
New King James Version NKJV
1 Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”
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Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
2 But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband.
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Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.
3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.
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Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband.
4 The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife.
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The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.
5 Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
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Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
6 I say this as a concession, not as a command.
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But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment.
7 I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
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For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.
8 Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do.
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But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: It is good for them if they remain even as I am;
9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
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but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.
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Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord: A wife is not to depart from her husband.
11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
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But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.
12 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.
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But to the rest I, not the Lord, say: If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her.
13 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.
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And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him.
14 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.
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For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.
15 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.
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But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases. But God has called us to peace.
16 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 how do you know, O wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, O husband, whether you will save your wife?
17 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.
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But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches.
18 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.
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Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised.
19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts.
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Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters.
20 Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.
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Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called.
21 Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so.
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Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it.
22 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.
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For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord's freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ's slave.
23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings.
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You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.
24 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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Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.
25 Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.
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Now concerning virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy.
26 Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is.
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I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress--that it is good for a man to remain as he is:
27 Are you pledged to a woman? Do not seek to be released. Are you free from such a commitment? Do not look for a wife.
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Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife.
28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.
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But even if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you.
29 What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not;
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But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none,
30 those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep;
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those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess,
31 those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.
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and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away.
32 I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord.
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But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord--how he may please the Lord.
33 But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife—
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But he who is married cares about the things of the world--how he may please his wife.
34 and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband.
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There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world--how she may please her husband.
35 I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.
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And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.
36 If anyone is worried that he might not be acting honorably toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if his passions are too strong and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married.
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But if any man thinks he is behaving improperly toward his virgin, if she is past the flower of youth, and thus it must be, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin; let them marry.
37 But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin—this man also does the right thing.
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Nevertheless he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own will, and has so determined in his heart that he will keep his virgin, does well.
38 So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does better.
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So then he who gives her in marriage does well, but he who does not give her in marriage does better.
39 A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.
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A wife is bound by law as long as her husband lives; but if her husband dies, she is at liberty to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.
40 In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is—and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.
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But she is happier if she remains as she is, according to my judgment--and I think I also have the Spirit of God.
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.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.