1 Corinthians 7:35-37

Expanded Bible

³⁵ I am saying this to help you, not to ·limit [restrain] you. But I want you to live ·in the right way [or in a proper/orderly manner; or above criticism], to ·give yourselves fully [be devoted] to the Lord without ·concern for other things [distraction].

³⁶ If a man thinks he is ·not doing the right thing with [or acting improperly toward] ·the girl he is engaged to [^Lhis virgin; ^Cit is possible, but less likely, that the passage concerns a father’s decision to allow his virgin daughter to marry; a third option is that it is about a couple in a “spiritual” (celibate) marriage deciding whether to consummate it], if ·she is almost past the best age to marry [or his passions are too strong; ^Lhe/she is at the highest point] and ·he feels he should marry her [^Lit ought to be so], he should do what he wants. They should get married. It is no sin. ³⁷ But if a man is ·sure [resolved; firm] in his ·mind [conviction; heart] that there is no ·need for marriage [obligation; necessity], and has his own ·desires [or will] under control, and has decided ·not to marry the one to whom he is engaged [to keep her a virgin], he is doing the right thing.