Principles of Marriage 1 ULT Now concerning what you wrote:“{ 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 ULT But because of immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each 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 ULT Let the husband give to the wife the duty and likewise the wife also to the husband. BSB BSB: The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.
4 ULT The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband{ does}. And likewise, the husband also does not have authority over his own body, but the wife{ does}. 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 ULT Do not deprive each other, except by mutual agreement for a season, so that you may devote{ yourselves} to prayer, and then be together again, so that Satan might not tempt you because of your lack of self- control. 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 ULT But I say this as a concession, not as a command. BSB BSB: I say this as a concession, not as a command.
8 ULT Now to the unmarried and to the widows I say that{ it is} good if they remain as I also am. BSB BSB: Now to the unmarried and widows I say this: It is good for them to remain unmarried, as I am.
9 ULT But if they do not have self- control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn. BSB BSB: But if they cannot control themselves, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
10 ULT Now to the married I command— not I, but the Lord— a wife is not to be separated 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 ULT (but even if she might be separated, let her remain unmarried, or let her be reconciled to the husband), and a husband is not to divorce a 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 ULT But to the rest I say— I, not the Lord— if any brother has an unbelieving wife, and she agrees to live with him, let him not divorce her. 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 ULT And if any woman has an unbelieving husband, and he agrees to live with her, let her not divorce the 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 ULT For the unbelieving husband is sanctified through the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified through the brother. Otherwise your children are 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 ULT But if the unbeliever departs, let him go. In such cases, the brother or the sister is not bound, but God has called us to 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 ULT For how do you know, woman, whether you will save the husband? Or how do you know, man, whether you will save the 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 ULT However, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each one, thus let him walk. And in this way I direct in all the churches. 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 ULT Was anyone called, having been circumcised? Let him not be uncircumcised. Was anyone 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 ULT Each one, in the calling in which he was called, let him remain in that. BSB BSB: Each one should remain in the situation he was in when he was called.
21 ULT Were you called{ as} a slave? Let it not be a concern to you. But if indeed you are able to become free, then take advantage of{ it}. 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 ULT For the one having been called in the Lord{ as} a slave is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise, the one having been called as a freeman is a slave 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 ULT You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. BSB BSB: You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.
24 ULT Brothers, each one in that which he was called, let him remain with God in this. BSB BSB: Brothers, each one should remain in the situation he was in when God called him.
The Unmarried and Widowed 25 ULT Now concerning the virgins, I do not have a command of the Lord. However, I give an opinion as having received mercy from the Lord to be trustworthy. 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 ULT Therefore, I think this is good, because of the coming distress, that{ it is} good for a man to remain as he is. BSB BSB: Because of the present crisis, I think it is good for a man to remain as he is.
27 ULT Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you released from a wife? Do not seek 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 ULT But if indeed you would marry, you have not sinned; and if the virgin would marry, she has not sinned. But the ones of such kind will have distress in the flesh, and I want to spare you{ from this}. 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 ULT But this I say, brothers: The time is shortened, so that from now on, even the ones having wives should be as having 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 ULT and the ones weeping, as not weeping; and the ones rejoicing, as not rejoicing; and the ones buying, as not possessing; 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 ULT and the ones using the world, as not using it; for the present form of this world is passing 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 ULT But I would like you to be free from concern. The unmarried{ man} is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he might please the Lord. 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 ULT But the married{ man} is concerned about the things of the world, how to please the wife, and he is divided. And the unmarried woman or the virgin BSB BSB: But the married man is concerned about the affairs of this world, how he can please his wife,
34 ULT is concerned about the things of the Lord, so that she might be holy both in the body and in the spirit. But the one having been married is concerned about the things of the world, how she might please the 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 ULT Now I say this for your own benefit, not in order to put any constraint on you, but toward what{ is} appropriate and devoted to the Lord without any distraction. 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 ULT But if anyone thinks he is acting improperly toward his virgin— if she is beyond the age of marriage and it must be so— he should do what he wants. He is not sinning; let them 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 ULT But he who stands firm in his heart, not under compulsion, but having authority over his own will, and he has decided this in his own heart— to keep his own virgin— he will do 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 ULT So then, the one marrying his own virgin does well, and the one not marrying will do even better. BSB BSB: So then, he who marries the virgin does well, but he who does not marry her does even better.
39 ULT A wife is bound for as long as her husband lives. But if the husband dies, she is free to marry whomever she wishes, but 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 ULT Yet according to my judgment she would be happier if she would remain as she is. 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.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.