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.
32. But I prefer that you have no concern. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord.
33. But he who is married cares for the things of the world, how he may please his wife.
34. There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
35. I say this for your own benefit, not to put any restraint upon you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.
36. If any man thinks that he is behaving improperly toward his virgin, and if she is past the flower of her youth, and passions so require, let him do what he will. He does not sin. Let them marry.
37. Nevertheless he who stands steadfast in his heart without necessity, and has power over his own will, and has so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, does well.
38. So then he who gives her in marriage does well, but he who gives her not in marriage does better.