³⁶ If anyone is worried that he might not be acting honorably toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if his passions are too strong^[a] and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning.^(A) They should get married. ³⁷ But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin—this man also does the right thing. ³⁸ So then, he who marries the virgin does right,^(B) but he who does not marry her does better.^[b]

³⁹ A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives.^(C) But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.^{(D) 40} In my judgment,^(E) she is happier if she stays as she is—and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

Concerning Food Sacrificed to Idols

8 Now about food sacrificed to idols:^(F) We know that “We all possess knowledge.”^(G) But knowledge puffs up while love builds up. ² Those who think they know something^(H) do not yet know as they ought to know.^{(I) 3} But whoever loves God is known by God.^[c](J)

⁴ So then, about eating food sacrificed to idols:^(K) We know that “An idol is nothing at all in the world”^(L) and that “There is no God but one.”^{(M) 5} For even if there are so-called gods,^(N) whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), ⁶ yet for us there is but one God,^(O) the Father,^(P) from whom all things came^(Q) and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord,^(R) Jesus Christ, through whom all things came^(S) and through whom we live.

⁷ But not everyone possesses this knowledge.^(T) Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat sacrificial food they think of it as having been sacrificed to a god, and since their conscience is weak,^(U) it is defiled. ⁸ But food does not bring us near to God;^(V) we are no worse if we do not eat, and no better if we do.

⁹ Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block^(W) to the weak.^{(X) 10} For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols?^{(Y) 11} So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed^(Z) by your knowledge. ¹² When you sin against them^(AA) in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.^{(AB) 13} Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.^(AC)