1 Corinthians 6

1Dare any of you, having a matter against his neighbor, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints?

1How dare any of you, when you have a dispute with a neighbor, go to court before ungodly judges instead of bringing it to God's people?

2Or know ye not that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world is judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

2Don’t you know that God's people will judge the world? And if the world is to be judged by you, are you not capable of judging these minor cases?

3Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more, things that pertain to this life?

3Don’t you know that we will judge angels? If that is true, shouldn’t we be able to settle the ordinary matters of this life?

4If then ye have to judge things pertaining to this life, do ye set them to judge who are of no account in the church?

4So if you have disagreements about everyday matters, why do you appoint people as judges who have no standing in the church?

5I say this to move you to shame. What, cannot there be found among you one wise man who shall be able to decide between his brethren,

5I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there isn't one wise person among you who can settle a dispute between fellow believers?

6but brother goeth to law with brother, and that before unbelievers?

6Instead, one believer goes to law against another, and you do this in front of people who don't even believe!

7Nay, already it is altogether a defect in you, that ye have lawsuits one with another. Why not rather take wrong? why not rather be defrauded?

7The fact that you have lawsuits against each other at all means you have already failed. Why not just accept the wrong? Why not let yourselves be cheated?

8Nay, but ye yourselves do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.

8Instead, you yourselves are doing wrong and cheating people, and you are doing this to your own brothers and sisters.

9Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men,

9Don’t you know that people who do wrong will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be fooled: those who are sexually immoral, or worship idols, or commit adultery, or practice homosexuality,

10nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

10or thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or those who insult others, or swindlers—none of these will inherit the kingdom of God.

11And such were some of you: but ye were washed, but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.

11And some of you used to be like that. But you were washed, you were set apart for God's holy purpose, and you were made right with God in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

12All things are lawful for me; but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful for me; but I will not be brought under the power of any.

12You say, 'I am allowed to do anything,' but not everything is good for you. I may be allowed to do anything, but I will not let anything control me.

13Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall bring to nought both it and them. But the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body:

13You say, 'Food is for the stomach, and the stomach is for food,' and God will eventually do away with both. But the body was not made for sexual immorality; it was made for the Lord, and the Lord cares for your body.

14and God both raised the Lord, and will raise up us through his power.

14And God, who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead, will also raise us up by his power.

15Know ye not that your bodies are members of Christ? shall I then take away the members of Christ, and make them members of a harlot? God forbid.

15Don't you realize that your bodies are actually parts of Christ? Should I take parts of Christ and join them to a prostitute? Never!

16Or know ye not that he that is joined to a harlot is one body? for, The twain, saith he, shall become one flesh.

16And don't you know that if a man joins himself to a prostitute, he becomes one body with her? For the Scriptures say, 'The two will become one flesh.'

17But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

17But the person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him.

18Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

18Run away from sexual immorality! Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the person who is sexually immoral sins against their own body.

19Or know ye not that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have from God? and ye are not your own;

19Don't you know that your body is a temple for the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourselves;

20for ye were bought with a price: glorify God therefore in your body.

20you were bought with a high price. So use your body to bring glory to God.