1 Corinthians 7:25-38

25Now concerning virgins, I have 1no command of the Lord, but I am offering direction as one who 23by the mercy of the Lord is trustworthy. 26I think, then, that this is good in view of the 4present 5distress, that 6it is good for a man 7to remain as he is. 27Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be released. Are you released from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28But if you marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such people as yourselves will have 8trouble in this life, and I am trying to spare you. 29But this I say, brothers, 9the time has been shortened, so that from now on those who have wives should be as though they had none; 30and those who weep, as though they did not weep; and those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; and those who buy, as though they did not possess; 31and those who use the world, as though they did not 10make full use of it; for 11the present form of this world is passing away.

32But I want you to be free from concern. One who is 12unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; 33but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, 34and his interests are divided. The woman who is unmarried, and the virgin, is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband. 35I say this for your own benefit, not to put a restraint on you, but 13to promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord.

36But if anyone thinks that he is acting dishonorably toward his virgin, if she is 14past her youth and it ought to be so, let him do what he wishes, he is not sinning; let 15them marry. 37But the one who stands firm in his heart, 16if he is not under constraint, but has authority 17over his own will, and has decided this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin, he will do well. 38So 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.