² Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.

⁸ But I say to the unmarried and to the widows: ^(A)It is good for them if they remain even as I am; ⁹ but ^(B)if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

To the Unmarried and Widows

²⁵ Now concerning virgins: ^(A)I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one ^(B)whom the Lord in His mercy has made ^(C)trustworthy. ²⁶ I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress—^(D)that it is good for a man to remain as he is: ²⁷ Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife. ²⁸ But even if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you.

³⁶ But if any man thinks he is behaving improperly toward his ^[a]virgin, if she is past the flower of youth, and thus it must be, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin; let them marry.