Principles of Marriage 1 RV Now concerning the things whereof ye 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 RV But, because of fornications, 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 RV Let the husband render unto the wife her due: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. BSB BSB: The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.
4 RV The wife hath not power over her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power over 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 RV Defraud ye not one the other, except it be by consent for a season, that ye may give yourselves unto prayer, and may be together again, that Satan tempt you not because of 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 RV But this I say by way of permission, not of commandment. BSB BSB: I say this as a concession, not as a command.
8 RV But I say to the unmarried and to widows, It is good for them if they abide 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 RV But if they have not continency, let them 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 RV But unto the married I give charge, yea not I, but the Lord, 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 RV (but and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband); and that the husband leave not 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 RV But to the rest say I, not the Lord: If any brother hath an unbelieving wife, and she is content to dwell with him, let him not leave 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 RV And the woman which hath an unbelieving husband, and he is content to dwell with her, let her not leave 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 RV For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in the brother: else were your children unclean; but now are they 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 RV Yet if the unbelieving departeth, let him depart: the brother or the sister is not under bondage 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 RV For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O husband, 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 RV Only, as the Lord hath distributed to each man, as God hath called each, so let him walk. And so ordain I 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 RV Was any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Hath any been 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 RV Let each man abide in that calling wherein he was called. BSB BSB: Each one should remain in the situation he was in when he was called.
21 RV Wast thou called being a bondservant? care not for it: but if thou canst become 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 RV For he that was called in the Lord, being a bondservant, is the Lord’s freedman: likewise he that was called, being free, is Christ’s bondservant. 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 RV Ye were bought with a price; become not bondservants of men. BSB BSB: You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.
24 RV Brethren, let each 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 RV Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: but I give my judgment, as one that hath 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 RV I think therefore that this is good by reason of the present distress, namely , that it is good for a man to be as he is. BSB BSB: Because of the present crisis, I think it is good for a man to remain as he is.
27 RV Art thou bound unto 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 RV But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Yet such shall have tribulation in the flesh: and I would 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 RV But this I say, brethren, the time is shortened, that henceforth both those that have wives may be as though 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 RV and those that weep, as though they wept not; and those that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and those 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 RV and those that use the world, as not abusing it: 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 RV But I would have you to be free from cares. He that is unmarried is careful for the things of the Lord, how he may 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 RV but he that is married is careful for the things of the world, how he may please his wife. BSB BSB: But the married man is concerned about the affairs of this world, how he can please his wife,
34 RV And there is a difference also between the wife and the virgin. She that is unmarried is careful for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married is careful for 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 RV And this I say for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is seemly, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without 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 RV But if any man thinketh that he behaveth himself unseemly toward his virgin daughter , if she be past the flower of her age, and if need so requireth, let him do what he will; he sinneth not; 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 RV But he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power as touching his own will, and hath determined this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin daughter , shall 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 RV So then both he that giveth his own virgin daughter in marriage doeth well; and he that giveth her not in marriage shall do better. BSB BSB: So then, he who marries the virgin does well, but he who does not marry her does even better.
39 RV A wife is bound for so long time as her husband liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is free to be married 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 RV But she is happier if she abide as she is, after my judgment: 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.