36 If any man thinks he is acting improperly toward the virgin he is engaged to, if she is getting beyond the usual age for marriage, and he feels he should marry—he can do what he wants. He is not sinning; they can get married. 37 But he who stands firm in his heart (who is under no compulsion, but has control over his own will(A)) and has decided in his heart to keep her as his fiancée, will do well. 38 So, then, he who marries his fiancée does well, but he who does not marry will do better.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 7:36–38 Or 36 If any man thinks he is acting improperly toward his virgin daughter, if she is getting beyond the usual age for marriage, and he feels she should marry—he can do what he wants. He is not sinning; she can get married. 37 But he who stands firm in his heart (who is under no compulsion, but has control over his own will) and has decided in his heart to keep his own virgin daughter will do well. 38 So then he who gives his own virgin daughter in marriage does well, but he who does not give his own virgin daughter in marriage will do better.

36 But if anyone thinks that he is acting dishonorably toward his virgin, if she is [a]past her youth and it ought to be so, let him do what he wishes, he is not sinning; let [b]them marry. 37 But the one who stands firm in his heart, [c]if he is not under constraint, but has authority [d]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.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 7:36 Or past puberty
  2. 1 Corinthians 7:36 I.e., the woman and her betrothed or fiancé
  3. 1 Corinthians 7:37 Lit having no necessity
  4. 1 Corinthians 7:37 Lit pertaining to