1 Corinthians 6

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

How dare any of you file a lawsuit before pagan judges if you have a dispute with your neighbor! Instead you should bring this before other believers.

2 Don’t you know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world is judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

Don't you know that Christian believers will judge the world? If you're going to judge the world, are you not fit to judge in the most minor cases?

3 Don’t you know that we will judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life?

Don't you know we are going to judge angels? How much more those things that relate to this life!

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

So if you have to judge things that relate to this life, how can you go to judges that are not respected by the church?

5 I say this to move you to shame. Isn’t there even one wise man among you who would be able to decide between his brothers?

I'm trying to shame you by saying this. What? You can't find one wise person among you who can settle a dispute that you have?

6 But brother goes to law with brother, and that before unbelievers!

Instead one believer takes another believer to court, and places the issue before unbelievers!

7 Therefore it is already altogether a defect in you that you have lawsuits one with another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded?

The very fact you have lawsuits against each other already is a complete disaster. Wouldn't it be better to accept the injustice? Why not let yourselves be defrauded?

8 No, but you yourselves do wrong and defraud, and that against your brothers.

But you would rather cause injustice and defraud even your fellow-believers in church.

9 Or don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s Kingdom? Don’t be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals,

Don't you know those who are unjust will not inherit the kingdom of God? Don't be fooled! People who are immoral, worship idols, commit adultery, sexual perverts, homosexuals,

10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortionists, will inherit God’s Kingdom.

thieves, greedy, drunkards, abusers, or cheats, will not inherit the kingdom of God.

11 Some of you were such, but you were washed. You were sanctified. You were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in the Spirit of our God.

Some of you were once like that, but you have been made clean and holy. You have been made right in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.

12 “All 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 anything.

People say, “I'm free to do anything”—but not everything is appropriate! “I'm free to do anything”—but I will not let anything control me! People say,

13 “Foods for the belly, and the belly for foods,” but God will bring to nothing both it and them. But the body is not for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

“Food for the stomach, and the stomach for food”—but God will destroy both of them. Also, the body is not meant to be used for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.

14 Now God raised up the Lord, and will also raise us up by his power.

By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us up the same way.

15 Don’t you know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be!

Don't you know your bodies are parts of Christ's body? Should I take the parts of Christ's body and join them to a prostitute? Absolutely not!

16 Or don’t you know that he who is joined to a prostitute is one body? For, “The two”, he says, “will become one flesh.”

Don't you realize that anyone who has sex with a prostitute becomes “one body” with her? Remember that Scripture says, “The two will become one body.”

17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit.

But whoever is joined to the Lord is one with him in spirit!

18 Flee sexual immorality! “Every sin that a man does is outside the body,” but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.

Stay away from sexual immorality! All other sins that people commit are outside of the body, but sexual immorality is a sin against your own body.

19 Or don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,

Don't you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit that is within you, that you received from God?

20 for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

You don't belong to yourself—a price was paid for you! So glorify God in your body!