8 Now to the unmarrieda and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do.t 9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry,u for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.v 11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband.w And a husband must not divorce his wife.

12 To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord):x If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13 And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.y

15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.z 16 How do you know, wife, whether you will savea your husband?b Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?

Concerning Change of Status

17 Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them.c This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.d 18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised.e 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing.f Keeping God’s commands is what counts. 20 Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.g

21 Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. 22 For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person;h similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave.i 23 You were bought at a price;j do not become slaves of human beings. 24 Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.k

Concerning the Unmarried

25 Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord,l but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercym is trustworthy. 26 Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is.n 27 Are you pledged to a woman? Do not seek to be released. Are you free from such a commitment? Do not look for a wife.o 28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned;p and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.

29 What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short.q From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; 30 those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; 31 those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.r

32 I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairss—how he can please the Lord. 33 But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife—34 and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit.t But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. 35 I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undividedu devotion to the Lord.