²⁵ Now concerning the virgins (the marriageable ^[a]maidens) I have no command of the Lord, but I give my opinion and advice as one who by the Lord’s mercy is rendered trustworthy and faithful.

²⁶ I think then, because of the impending distress [that is even now setting in], it is well (expedient, profitable, and wholesome) for a person to remain as he or she is.

²⁷ Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife.

²⁸ But if you do marry, you do not sin [in doing so], and if a virgin marries, she does not sin [in doing so]. Yet those who marry will have physical and earthly troubles, and I would like to spare you that.

²⁹ I mean, brethren, the appointed time has been ^[b]winding down and it has grown very short. From now on, let even those who have wives be as if they had none,

³⁰ And those who weep and mourn as though they were not weeping and mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they did not possess anything,

³¹ And those who deal with this world [^[c]overusing the enjoyments of this life] as though they were not absorbed by it and as if they had no dealings with it. For the outward form of this world (the present world order) is passing away.

³² My desire is to have you free from all anxiety and distressing care. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord;

³³ But the married man is anxious about worldly matters—how he may please his wife—

³⁴ And he is drawn in diverging directions [his interests are divided and he is distracted from his devotion to God]. And the unmarried woman or girl is concerned and anxious about the matters of the Lord, how to be wholly separated and set apart in body and spirit; but the married woman has her cares [centered] in earthly affairs—how she may please her husband.

³⁵ Now I say this for your own welfare and profit, not to put [a halter of] restraint upon you, but to promote what is seemly and in good order and to secure your undistracted and undivided devotion to the Lord.

³⁶ But if any man thinks that he is not acting properly toward and in regard to his virgin [that he is preparing disgrace for her or incurring reproach], in case she is passing the bloom of her youth and if there is need for it, let him do what to him seems right; he does not sin; let them marry.

³⁷ But whoever is firmly established in his heart [strong in mind and purpose], not being forced by necessity but having control over his own will and desire, and has resolved this in his heart to keep his own virginity, he is doing well.

³⁸ So also then, he [the father] who gives his virgin (his daughter) in marriage does well, and he [the father] who does not give [her] in marriage does better.

³⁹ A wife is bound to her husband by law as long as he lives. If the husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she will, only [provided that he too is] in the Lord.

⁴⁰ But in my opinion [a widow] is happier (more blessed and ^[d]to be envied) if she does not remarry. And also I think I have the Spirit of God.

8 Does not skillful and godly Wisdom cry out, and understanding raise her voice [in contrast to the loose woman]?

² On the top of the heights beside the way, where the paths meet, stands Wisdom [skillful and godly];

³ At the gates at the entrance of the town, at the coming in at the doors, she cries out:

⁴ To you, O men, I call, and my voice is directed to the sons of men.

⁵ O you simple and thoughtless ones, understand prudence; you [self-confident] fools, be of an understanding heart.^(A)

⁶ Hear, for I will speak excellent and princely things; and the opening of my lips shall be for right things.

⁷ For my mouth shall utter truth, and wrongdoing is detestable and loathsome to my lips.

⁸ All the words of my mouth are righteous (upright and in right standing with God); there is nothing contrary to truth or crooked in them.

⁹ They are all plain to him who understands [and opens his heart], and right to those who find knowledge [and live by it].

¹⁰ Receive my instruction in preference to [striving for] silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold,

¹¹ For skillful and godly Wisdom is better than rubies or pearls, and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.^(B)

¹² I, Wisdom [from God], make prudence my dwelling, and I find out knowledge and discretion.^(C)

¹³ The reverent fear and worshipful awe of the Lord [includes] the hatred of evil; pride, arrogance, the evil way, and perverted and twisted speech I hate.

¹⁴ I have counsel and sound knowledge, I have understanding, I have might and power.

¹⁵ By me kings reign and rulers decree justice.^(D)

¹⁶ By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges and governors of the earth.

¹⁷ I love those who love me, and those who seek me early and diligently shall find me.^(E)

¹⁸ Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness (uprightness in every area and relation, and right standing with God).^(F)

¹⁹ My fruit is better than gold, yes, than refined gold, and my increase than choice silver.

²⁰ I [Wisdom] walk in the way of righteousness (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation), in the midst of the paths of justice,

²¹ That I may cause those who love me to inherit [true] riches and that I may fill their treasuries.

²² The Lord formed and brought me [Wisdom] forth at the beginning of His way, before His acts of old.

²³ I [Wisdom] was inaugurated and ordained from everlasting, from the beginning, before ever the earth existed.^(G)

²⁴ When there were no deeps, I was brought forth, when there were no fountains laden with water.

²⁵ Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I was brought forth,^(H)

²⁶ While as yet He had not made the land or the fields or the first of the dust of the earth.

²⁷ When He prepared the heavens, I [Wisdom] was there; when He drew a circle upon the face of the deep and stretched out the firmament over it,

²⁸ When He made firm the skies above, when He established the fountains of the deep,

²⁹ When He gave to the sea its limit and His decree that the waters should not transgress [across the boundaries set by] His command, when He appointed the foundations of the earth—^(I)

³⁰ Then I [Wisdom] was ^[a]beside Him as a master and director of the work; and I was daily His delight, rejoicing before Him always,^(J)

³¹ Rejoicing in His inhabited earth and delighting in the sons of men.^(K)

³² Now therefore listen to me, O you sons; for blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are those who keep my ways.^(L)

³³ Hear instruction and be wise, and do not refuse or neglect it.

³⁴ Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

³⁵ For whoever finds me [Wisdom] finds life and draws forth and obtains favor from the Lord.

³⁶ But he who misses me or sins against me wrongs and injures himself; all who hate me love and court death.