1 Corinthians 7:25–8:1

²⁵Now concerning virgins ^pI have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give ^pmy judgment, as ^qone that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be ^rfaithful. ²⁶I suppose therefore that this is good for the ^spresent ^||tdistress, I say, ^uthat it is good for a man so to be. ²⁷Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife. ^28vBut and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such ^wshall have trouble in the flesh: but ^xI spare you. ²⁹But this I say, brethren, ^ythe time is short: ^zit remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; ^30zAnd they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they ^apossessed not; ³¹And they that use this world, as not ^babusing it: for ^cthe ^dfashion of this world passeth away. ³²But ^eI would have you without carefulness. ^fHe that is unmarried careth for the things ^†that belong to the Lord, how he may ^gplease the Lord: ³³But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. ^34hThere is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman ^ecareth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. ³⁵And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may ⁱcast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction. ³⁶But if any man think that he ^jbehaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she ^kpass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry. ³⁷Nevertheless he that ^lstandeth ^mstedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well. ³⁸So then he that giveth her in marriage ⁿdoeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.

^39oThe wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband ^pbe dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only ^qin the Lord. ⁴⁰But she is happier if she so abide, ^rafter my judgment: and I ^sthink also ^tthat I have the Spirit of God.

8Now as touching ^athings offered unto idols, we know that we all have ^bknowledge. ^bcKnowledge ^dpuffeth up, but charity ^eedifieth.