25 Now concerning virgins I have ano command of the Lord, but I give an opinion as one who 1bby the mercy of the Lord is trustworthy.

26 I think then that this is good in view of the 1present adistress, that bit is good for a man 2to remain as he is.

27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you released from a wife? Do not seek a wife.

28 But if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have 1trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you.

29 But this I say, brethren, athe time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none;

30 and those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not possess;

31 and those who use the world, as though they did not amake full use of it; for bthe form of this world is passing away.

32 But I want you to be free from concern. One who is aunmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord;

33 but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife,

34 and his interests are divided. The woman who is unmarried, and the virgin, is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

35 This I say for your own benefit; not to put a restraint upon you, but 1to promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord.

36 But if any man thinks that he is acting unbecomingly toward his virgin daughter, if she is past her youth, and if it must be so, let him do what he wishes, he does not sin; let 1her marry.

37 But he who stands firm in his heart, 1being under no constraint, but has authority 2over his own will, and has decided this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin daughter, he will do well.

38 So then both he who gives his own virgin daughter in marriage does well, and he who does not give her in marriage will do better.

39 aA wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband 1is dead, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only bin the Lord.

40 But ain my opinion she is happier if she remains as she is; and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.