1Cor 7:25-40 | ESV | STEP | Now concerning the betrothed , I have no command from the Lord , but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy .

1 Corinthians 7:25-40

The Unmarried and the Widowed

25 Now concerning ^{▼▼The expression Now concerning introduces a reply to a question in the Corinthians’ letter; see 7:1} the betrothed, ^{▼▼Greek virgins} ^cI have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as ^done who by the Lord’s mercy is ^etrustworthy. 26 I think that in view of the present ^{▼▼Or impending} distress ^git is good for a person to remain as he is. 27 Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman ^{▼▼Greek virgin; also verse 34} marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. 29 This is what I mean, brothers: ⁱthe appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, 30 and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy ^jas though they had no goods, 31 and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For ^kthe present form of this world is passing away.

32 I want you to be ^lfree from anxieties. ^mThe unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. 33 But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, 34 and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. 35 I say this for your own benefit, ⁿnot to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord.

36 If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed, ^{▼▼Greek virgin; also verses 37, 38} if his ^{▼▼Or her} passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry—it is no sin. 37 But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well. 38 So then he who marries his betrothed ^qdoes well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better.

39 ^rA wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only ^sin the Lord. 40 Yet ^tin my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think ^uthat I too have the Spirit of God.