1 Corinthians 7:25–38

ABOUT THE UNMARRIED AND WIDOWS

25 Now about virgins:H I have no command from the Lord, but I do give an opinion as one who by the Lord’s mercyj is faithful.k 26 Because of the present distress, I think that it is good for a man to 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 However, if you do get married,l you have not sinned, and if a virginI marries, she has not sinned. But such people will have trouble in this life,J and I am trying to spare you.

29 This is what I mean, brothers and sisters: The time is limited,m so from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none, 30 those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoicen as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they didn’t own anything, 31 and those who use the world as though they did not make full use of it. For this world in its current form is passing away.o

32 I want you to be without concerns. The unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord—how he may pleasep the Lord. 33 But the married man is concerned about the things of the world—how he may please his wife—34 and his interests are divided. The unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the things of the Lord,q so that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But the married woman is concerned about the things of the world—how she may please her husband. 35 I am saying this for your own benefit, not to put a restraint on you, but to promote what is proper and so that you may be devoted to the Lord without distraction.

36 If any man thinks he is acting improperly toward the virgin he is engaged to, if she is getting beyond the usual age for marriage, and he feels he should marry—he can do what he wants. He is not sinning; they can get married. 37 But he who stands firm in his heart (who is under no compulsion, but has control over his own willr) and has decided in his heart to keep her as his fiancée, will do well. 38 So, then, he who marries his fiancée does well, but he who does not marry will do better. A

H	Or betrothed, or those not yet married
j	Mt 5:7 Mk 5:19 Lk 1:50
k	Nu 12:7
l	1 Ti 5:14
I	Or betrothed woman
J	Lit in the flesh
m	Ro 13:11
n	Php 1:18
o	Mk 13:7 1 Jn 2:8
p	1 Th 4:1
q	1 Ti 5:5
r	Jn 1:13
A	7:36–38 Or If any man thinks he is acting improperly toward his virgin daughter, if she is getting beyond the usual age for marriage, and he feels she should marry—he can do what he wants. He is not sinning; she can get married. 37But he who stands firm in his heart (who is under no compulsion, but has control over his own will) and has decided in his heart to keep his own virgin daughter will do well. 38So then he who gives his own virgin daughter in marriage does well, but he who does not give his own virgin daughter in marriage will do better.