Book of Common Prayer

Concerning The Unmarried: In General, It Is Good To Remain As You Are In Life

²⁵ Now concerning virgins, I do not have a command from the Lord, but I am giving an opinion as one having been shown-mercy by the Lord to be trustworthy. ²⁶ I think then that this^[a] is good because of the present necessity^[b], that it is good for a person to be so^[c]. ²⁷ Have you been bound^[d] to a woman? Do not be seeking a release^[e]. Have you been released^[f] from a woman? Do not be seeking a wife. ²⁸ But even if you marry, you did not sin. And if the virgin marries, she did not sin. But such ones will have affliction in the flesh, and I am sparing^[g] you.

We All Must Keep Our Earthly Life In Eternal Perspective

²⁹ And this I say, brothers— the time^[h] is shortened, so that henceforth even the ones having wives should be as-though not having, ³⁰ and the ones weeping as-though not weeping, and the ones rejoicing as-though not rejoicing, and the ones buying as-though not holding-on-to^[i], ³¹ and the ones making-use-of the world as-though not making-full-use-of it. For the form^[j] of this world is passing away.

Don’t Be Anxious About Your Earthly Life. Seek God’s Kingdom And Righteousness

²⁵ “For this reason I say to you— do not be anxious^[a] for your life as to what you may eat or what you may drink, nor for your body as to what you may put-on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the heaven— that they do not sow, nor reap, nor gather into barns. And your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth more than they? ²⁷ And which of you while being anxious is able to add one cubit^[b] upon his life-span? ²⁸ And why are you anxious about clothing? Observe-closely the lilies of the field, how they grow— they do not labor nor spin. ²⁹ But I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. ³⁰ But if God dresses in this manner the grass of the field existing today and being thrown into an oven tomorrow, will He not by much more care for you— ones of-little-faith? ³¹ Therefore, do not be anxious^[c], saying, ‘What may we eat?’ or ‘What may we drink?’ or ‘What may we put-on?’ ³² For the Gentiles are seeking-after all these things. For your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things. ³³ But be seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. ³⁴ Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is the trouble^[d] of it.