¹² For there are ^[a]eunuchs who were born thus from their mother’s womb, and ^(A)there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it.”

³² But I want you to be without ^[a]care. ^(A)He who is unmarried ^[b]cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord. ³³ But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife. ³⁴ There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman ^(B)cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband. ³⁵ And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.

³⁶ But if any man thinks he is behaving improperly toward his ^[c]virgin, if she is past the flower of youth, and thus it must be, let him do what he wishes. He does not sin; let them marry. ³⁷ Nevertheless he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own will, and has so determined in his heart that he will keep his ^[d]virgin, does well. ^38 (C)So then he who gives ^[e]her in marriage does well, but he who does not give her in marriage does better.

⁵ Do we have no right to take along ^[a]a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, ^(A)the brothers of the Lord, and ^(B)Cephas?

¹⁵ But ^(A)I have used none of these things, nor have I written these things that it should be done so to me; for ^(B)it would be better for me to die than that anyone should make my boasting void.

⁷ ‘And they shall take away some of your ^(A)sons who will descend from you, whom you will beget; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.’ ”