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25 But of virgins I have no commandment of God; but I give counsel, as he that hath gotten mercy of the Lord, that I be true.

26 Therefore I guess, that this thing is good for the present need; for it is good to a man to be so [for it is good for a man to be so].

27 Thou art bound to a wife, do not thou seek unbinding; thou art unbound from a wife, do not thou seek a wife.

28 But if thou hast taken a wife, thou hast not sinned; and if a maiden is wedded, she sinned not; nevertheless such shall have tribulation of flesh. But I spare you.

29 Therefore, brethren [And so, brethren], I say this thing, The time is short. Another is this, that they that have wives, be as though they had none;

30 and they that weep, as they wept not; and they that joy, as they joyed not; and they that buy, as they had not;

31 and they that use this world, as they that use [it] not. For why the figure of this world passeth.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 7:31 and they that use this world, as not using. Forsooth the figure, or fairness, or prosperity, of this world passeth.

Concerning the Unmarried

25 Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord,(A) but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy(B) is trustworthy. 26 Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is.(C) 27 Are you pledged to a woman? Do not seek to be released. Are you free from such a commitment? Do not look for a wife.(D) 28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned;(E) and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.

29 What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short.(F) From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; 30 those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; 31 those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.(G)

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