1 Corinthians 7:36-40

International Standard Version

³⁶ If a man thinks he is not behaving properly toward his virgin,^[a] and if his passion is so strong that he feels he ought to marry her, let him do what he wants; he isn’t sinning. Let them get married. ³⁷ However, if a man stands firm in his resolve, feels no necessity, and has made up his mind to keep her a virgin, he will be acting appropriately. ³⁸ So then the man who marries the virgin acts appropriately, but the man who refrains from marriage does even better.

³⁹ A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, only in the Lord. ⁴⁰ However, in my opinion she will be happier^[b] if she stays as she is. And in saying this,^[c] I think that I, too, have God’s Spirit.