Now as a concession, (A)not a command, I say this.[a] (B)I wish that all were (C)as I myself am. But (D)each has his own gift from God, (E)one of one kind and one of another.

To the unmarried and the widows I say that (F)it is good for them to remain single, (G)as I am. But if they cannot exercise self-control, (H)they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 7:6 Or I say this:

I say this as a concession, not as a command.(A) I wish that all of you were as I am.(B) But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.(C)

Now to the unmarried[a] and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do.(D) But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry,(E) for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 7:8 Or widowers

But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.

For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.

I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, it is good for them if they abide even as I.

But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.

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32 I want you to be (A)free from anxieties. (B)The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. 33 But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, 34 and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. 35 I say this for your own benefit, (C)not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.

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32 I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs(A)—how he can please the Lord. 33 But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— 34 and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit.(B) But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. 35 I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided(C) devotion to the Lord.

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32 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:

33 But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.

34 There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.

35 And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.

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