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

36 But if anyone thinks he is behaving dishonorably concerning his virgin, if she is past her prime[a] and it ought to be thus, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin. Let them marry. 37 But he who stands firm in his heart, not having necessity, but has authority concerning his own will, and has decided this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin, he will do well. 38 So then, the one who marries[b] his own virgin does well, and the one who does not marry her will do better.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 7:36 Or “if his passions are strong” (it is not clear in context whether this term refers to the man or to the woman)
  2. 1 Corinthians 7:38 Or perhaps “the one who gives in marriage”