1 Corinthians 7:25-40

New Life Version

²⁵ I have no word from the Lord about women or men who have never been married. I will tell you what I think. You can trust me because the Lord has given me His loving-kindness. ²⁶ I think, because of the troubles that are coming, it is a good thing for a person not to get married. ²⁷ Are you married to a wife? Do not try to get a divorce. If you are not married, do not look for a wife. ²⁸ If you do get married, you have not sinned. If a woman who is not married gets married, it is no sin. But being married will add problems. I would like to have you free from such problems.

²⁹ I mean this, Christian brothers. The time is short. A married man should use his time as if he did not have a wife. ³⁰ Those who have sorrow should keep on working as if they had no sorrow. Those who have joy should keep on working as if there was no time for joy. Those who buy should have no time to get joy from what they have. ³¹ While you live in this world, live as if the world has no hold on you. The way of this world will soon be gone.

³² I want you to be free from the cares of this world. The man who is not married can spend his time working for the Lord and pleasing Him. ³³ The man who is married cares for the things of the world. He wants to please his wife. ³⁴ Married women and women who have never been married are different. The woman who has never been married can spend her time working for the Lord. She wants to please the Lord with her body and spirit. The woman who is married cares for the things of the world. She wants to please her husband. ³⁵ I am saying these things to help you. I am not trying to keep you from getting married. I want you to do what is best. You should work for Him without other things taking your time.

³⁶ If a man and woman expect to get married, and he thinks his desires to marry her are getting too strong, and she is getting older, they should get married. It is no sin. ³⁷ But if a man has the power to keep from getting married and knows in his mind that he should not, he is wise if he does not get married. ³⁸ The man who gets married does well, but the man who does not get married does better.

³⁹ A wife is not free as long as her husband lives. If her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wants, if he is a Christian. ⁴⁰ I think she will be much more happy if she does not get married again. This is what I think. I believe it is what the Holy Spirit is saying.