Principles of Marriage 1 DRA Now concerning the thing whereof you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. BSB BSB: Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good to abstain from sexual relations.
2 DRA But for fear of fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. BSB BSB: But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.
3 DRA Let the husband render the debt to his wife, and the wife also in like manner to the husband. BSB BSB: The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.
4 DRA The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband. And in like manner the husband also hath not power of his own body, but the wife. BSB BSB: The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife.
5 DRA Defraud not one another, except, perhaps, by consent, for a time, that you may give yourselves to prayer; and return together again, lest Satan tempt you for your incontinency. BSB BSB: Do not deprive each other, except by mutual consent and for a time, so you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again, so that Satan will not tempt you through your lack of self-control.
6 DRA But I speak this by indulgence, not by commandment. BSB BSB: I say this as a concession, not as a command.
8 DRA But I say to the unmarried, and to the widows: It is good for them if they so continue, even as I. BSB BSB: Now to the unmarried and widows I say this: It is good for them to remain unmarried, as I am.
9 DRA But if they do not contain themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to be burnt. BSB BSB: But if they cannot control themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
10 DRA But to them that are married, not I but the Lord commandeth, that the wife depart not from her husband. BSB BSB: To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.
11 DRA And if she depart, that she remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband. And let not the husband put away his wife. BSB BSB: But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
12 DRA For to the rest I speak, not the Lord. If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she consent to dwell with him, let him not put her away. BSB BSB: To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If a brother has an unbelieving wife and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.
13 DRA And if any woman hath a husband that believeth not, and he consent to dwell with her, let her not put away her husband. BSB BSB: And if a woman has an unbelieving husband and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.
14 DRA For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the believing wife; and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the believing husband: otherwise your children should be unclean; but now they are holy. BSB BSB: For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through his believing wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.
15 DRA But if the unbeliever depart, let him depart. For a brother or sister is not under servitude in such cases. But God hath called us in peace. BSB BSB: But if the unbeliever leaves, let him go. The believing brother or sister is not bound in such cases. God has called you to live in peace.
16 DRA For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? Or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife? BSB BSB: How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
Live Your Calling 17 DRA But as the Lord hath distributed to every one, as God hath called every one, so let him walk: and so in all churches I teach. BSB BSB: Regardless, each one should lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is what I prescribe in all the churches.
18 DRA Is any man called, being circumcised? let him not procure uncircumcision. Is any man called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. BSB BSB: Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man still uncircumcised when called? He should not be circumcised.
20 DRA Let every man abide in the same calling in which he was called. BSB BSB: Each one should remain in the situation he was in when he was called.
21 DRA Wast thou called, being a bondman? care not for it; but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. BSB BSB: Were you a slave when you were called? Do not let it concern you—but if you can gain your freedom, take the opportunity.
22 DRA For he that is called in the Lord, being a bondman, is the freeman of the Lord. Likewise he that is called, being free, is the bondman of Christ. BSB BSB: For he who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman. Conversely, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave.
23 DRA You are bought with a price; be not made the bondslaves of men. BSB BSB: You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.
24 DRA Brethren, let every man, wherein he was called, therein abide with God. BSB BSB: Brothers, each one should remain in the situation he was in when God called him.
The Unmarried and Widowed 25 DRA Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment of the Lord; but I give counsel, as having obtained mercy of the Lord, to be faithful. BSB BSB: 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.
26 DRA I think therefore that this is good for the present necessity, that it is good for a man so to be. BSB BSB: Because of the present crisis, I think it is good for a man to remain as he is.
27 DRA Art thou bound to a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife. BSB BSB: Are you committed to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you free of commitment? Do not look for a wife.
28 DRA But if thou take a wife, thou hast not sinned. And if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned: nevertheless, such shall have tribulation of the flesh. But I spare you. BSB BSB: But if you do marry, you have not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.
29 DRA This therefore I say, brethren; the time is short; it remaineth, that they also who have wives, be as if they had none; BSB BSB: What I am saying, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none;
30 DRA And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as if they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; BSB BSB: those who weep, as if they did not; those who are joyful, as if they were not; those who make a purchase, as if they had nothing;
31 DRA And they that use this world, as if they used it not: for the fashion of this world passeth away. BSB BSB: and those who use the things of this world, as if not dependent on them. For this world in its present form is passing away.
32 DRA But I would have you to be without solicitude. He that is without a wife, is solicitous for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please God. BSB BSB: I want you to be free from concern. The unmarried man is concerned about the work of the Lord, how he can please the Lord.
33 DRA But he that is with a wife, is solicitous for the things of the world, how he may please his wife: and he is divided. BSB BSB: But the married man is concerned about the affairs of this world, how he can please his wife,
34 DRA And the unmarried woman and the virgin thinketh on the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she that is married thinketh on the things of the world, how she may please her husband. BSB BSB: and his interests are divided. The unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the work of the Lord, how she can be holy in both body and spirit. But the married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world, how she can please her husband.
35 DRA And this I speak for your profit: not to cast a snare upon you; but for that which is decent, and which may give you power to attend upon the Lord, without impediment. BSB BSB: I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but in order to promote proper decorum and undivided devotion to the Lord.
36 DRA But if any man think that he seemeth dishonoured, with regard to his virgin, for that she is above the age, and it must so be: let him do what he will; he sinneth not, if she marry. BSB BSB: However, if someone thinks he is acting inappropriately toward his betrothed, and if she is beyond her youth and they ought to marry, let him do as he wishes; he is not sinning; they should get married.
37 DRA For he that hath determined being steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but having power of his own will; and hath judged this in his heart, to keep his virgin, doth well. BSB BSB: But the man who is firmly established in his heart and under no constraint, with control over his will and resolve in his heart not to marry the virgin, he will do well.
38 DRA Therefore, both he that giveth his virgin in marriage, doth well; and he that giveth her not, doth better. BSB BSB: So then, he who marries the virgin does well, but he who does not marry her does even better.
39 DRA A woman is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband die, she is at liberty: let her marry to whom she will; only in the Lord. BSB BSB: A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, as long as he belongs to the Lord.
40 DRA But more blessed shall she be, if she so remain, according to my counsel; and I think that I also have the spirit of God. BSB BSB: In my judgment, however, she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.