21. Were you a slave when God chose you? Don't let it trouble you. But if you can get your master to set you free, do it.
22. Those who were slaves when the Lord chose them are now the Lord's free people. Those who were free when God chose them are now slaves of Christ.
23. Christ has paid the price for you. Don't become slaves of human beings.
24. Brothers and sisters, you are accountable to God. So all of you should stay as you were when God chose you.
25. Now I want to say something about virgins. I have no direct command from the Lord. But I give my opinion. Because of the Lord's mercy, I give it as one who can be trusted.
26. Times are hard for you right now. So I think it's good for you to stay as you are.
27. Are you married? Then don't get a divorce. Are you single? Then don't look for a wife.
28. But if you get married, you have not sinned. And if a virgin gets married, she has not sinned. But those who get married will have many troubles in this life. I want to save you from that.
29. Brothers and sisters, what I mean is that the time is short. From now on, those who have a husband or wife should live as if they did not.
30. Those who are sad should live as if they were not. Those who are happy should live as if they were not. Those who buy something should live as if it were not theirs to keep.
31. Those who use the things of the world should not become all wrapped up in them. The world as it now exists is passing away.
32. I don't want you to have anything to worry about. A single man is concerned about the Lord's matters. He wants to know how he can please the Lord.
33. But a married man is concerned about the matters of this world. He wants to know how he can please his wife.
34. His concerns pull him in two directions. A single woman or a virgin is concerned about the Lord's matters. She wants to serve the Lord with both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the matters of this world. She wants to know how she can please her husband.
35. I'm saying those things for your own good. I'm not trying to hold you back. I want you to be free to live in a way that is right. I want you to give yourselves completely to the Lord.
36. Suppose a man thinks he is not acting properly toward the virgin he has promised to marry. Suppose she is getting old, and he feels that he should marry her. He should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married.
37. But suppose the man has decided not to marry the virgin. And suppose he has no compelling need to get married and can control himself. If he has made up his mind not to get married, he also does the right thing.