²⁵ Now concerning virgins, I have ^(A)no command of the Lord, but I am offering direction as one who ^[a](B)by the mercy of the Lord is trustworthy. ²⁶ I think, then, that this is good in view of the ^[b]present ^(C)distress, that ^(D)it is good for a man ^[c]to remain as he is. ²⁷ Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you released from a wife? Do not seek a wife. ²⁸ But if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such people as yourselves will have ^[d]trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you. ²⁹ But this I say, brothers, ^(E)the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none; ³⁰ and those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not possess; ³¹ and those who use the world, as though they did not ^(F)make full use of it; for ^(G)the present form of this world is passing away.

³² But I want you to be free from concern. One who is ^(H)unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; ³³ but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, ³⁴ and his interests are divided. The woman who is unmarried, and the virgin, is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband. ³⁵ I say this for your own benefit, not to put a restraint on you, but ^[e]to promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord.

³⁶ But if anyone thinks that he is acting dishonorably toward his virgin, if she is ^[f]past her youth and it ought to be so, let him do what he wishes, he is not sinning; let ^[g]them marry. ³⁷ But the one who stands firm in his heart, ^[h]if he is not under constraint, but has authority ^[i]over his own will, and has decided this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin, he will do well. ³⁸ So then, both the one who gives his own virgin in marriage does well, and the one who does not give her in marriage will do better.

^39 (I)A wife is bound as long as her husband lives; but if her husband ^[j]dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only ^(J)in the Lord. ⁴⁰ But ^(K)in my opinion she is ^[k]happier if she remains as she is; and I think that I also have the Spirit of God.