20. Let each man remain in the same condition in which he was called.
21. Were you called while a servant? Do not worry about it. But if you may become free, do so.
22. For he who is called in the Lord while a servant is the Lord’s freeman. Likewise, he who is called while free is Christ’s servant.
23. You were bought at a price. Do not be the servants of men.
24. Brothers, let every man, in whatever condition he is called, remain there with God.
25. Now concerning virgins, I have no command from the Lord. Yet I will give my judgment as one who has obtained mercy from the Lord to be faithful.
26. I suppose therefore that this is good because of the present distress, that it is good for a man to remain as he is.
27. Are you committed to a wife? Do not seek to be uncommitted. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife.
28. But if you marry, you have not sinned. And if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless they will have trouble in this life, but I would spare you that.
29. But this I say, brothers, the time is short. It remains that those who have wives should be as though they had none;
30. those who weep, as though they did not weep; those who rejoice, as though they did not rejoice; those who buy, as though they possessed nothing;
31. and those who use this world, as though they did not make full use of it. For the form of this world is passing away.