19. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters.
20. Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called.
21. Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it.
22. For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave.
23. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.
24. Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.
25. Now concerning virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord; yet I give judgment as one whom the Lord in His mercy has made trustworthy.
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 bound to a wife? Do not seek to be loosed. Are you loosed from a wife? Do not seek a wife.
28. But even if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Nevertheless such will have trouble in the flesh, but I would spare you.
29. But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even 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 did not possess,