1 Corinthians 7:20-40

Holman Christian Standard Bible

²⁰ Each person should remain in the life situation^[a] in which he was called. ²¹ Were you called while a slave? It should not be a concern to you. But if you can become free, by all means take the opportunity.^{[b] 22} For he who is called by the Lord as a slave^(A) is the Lord’s freedman.^[c] Likewise he who is called as a free man^[d] is Christ’s slave. ²³ You were bought^(B) at a price; do not become slaves of men. ²⁴ Brothers, each person should remain with God in whatever situation he was called.

About the Unmarried and Widows

²⁵ About virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I do give an opinion as one who by the Lord’s mercy^(C) is trustworthy.^{(D) 26} Therefore I consider this to be good because of the present distress: It is fine for a man to remain as he is. ²⁷ Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife. ²⁸ However, if you do get married,^(E) you have not sinned, and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But such people will have trouble in this life,^[e] and I am trying to spare you. ²⁹ And I say this, brothers: The time is limited,^(F) so from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none, ³⁰ those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice^(G) as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, ³¹ and those who use the world as though they did not make full use of it. For this world in its current form is passing away.^(H)

³² I want you to be without concerns. An unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord—how he may please^(I) the Lord. ³³ But a married man is concerned about the things of the world—how he may please his wife— ³⁴ and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or a virgin is concerned about the things of the Lord,^(J) so that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the things of the world—how she may please her husband. ³⁵ Now I am saying this for your own benefit, not to put a restraint on you, but because of what is proper and so that you may be devoted to the Lord without distraction.

³⁶ But if any man thinks he is acting improperly toward his virgin,^[f] if she is past marriageable age,^[g] and so it must be, 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^(K)) and has decided in his heart to keep his own virgin, will do well. ³⁸ So then he who marries^[h] his virgin does well, but he who does not marry^[i] will do better.

³⁹ A wife is bound^[j] as long as her husband is living. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to anyone she wants—only in the Lord.^{[k] 40} But she is happier if she remains as she is, in my opinion. And I think that I also have the Spirit of God.