19. Circumcision is nothing; not being circumcised is nothing. What matters is keeping God’s commandments.
20. Each person should stay in the situation they were in when they were called.
21. If you were a slave when you were called, don’t let it bother you. But if you are actually able to be free, take advantage of the opportunity.
22. Anyone who was a slave when they were called by the Lord has the status of being the Lord’s free person. In the same way, anyone who was a free person when they were called is Christ’s slave.
23. You were bought and paid for. Don’t become slaves of people.
24. So then, brothers and sisters, each of you should stay with God in the situation you were in when you were called.
25. I don’t have a command from the Lord about people who have never been married, but I’ll give you my opinion as someone you can trust because of the Lord’s mercy.
26. So I think this advice is good because of the present crisis: Stay as you are.
27. If you are married, don’t get a divorce. If you are divorced, don’t try to find a spouse.
28. But if you do marry, you haven’t sinned; and if someone who hasn’t been married gets married, they haven’t sinned. But married people will have a hard time, and I’m trying to spare you that.
29. This is what I’m saying, brothers and sisters: The time has drawn short. From now on, those who have wives should be like people who don’t have them.
30. Those who are sad should be like people who aren’t crying. Those who are happy should be like people who aren’t happy. Those who buy something should be like people who don’t have possessions.
31. Those who use the world should be like people who aren’t preoccupied with it, because this world in its present form is passing away.
32. I want you to be free from concerns. A man who isn’t married is concerned about the Lord’s concerns—how he can please the Lord.
33. But a married man is concerned about the world’s concerns—how he can please his wife.
34. His attention is divided. A woman who isn’t married or who is a virgin is concerned about the Lord’s concerns so that she can be dedicated to God in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the world’s concerns—how she can please her husband.
35. I’m saying this for your own advantage. It’s not to restrict you but rather to promote effective and consistent service to the Lord without distraction.