^{25 Ref} Now about virgins I have no orders from the Lord: but I give my opinion as one to whom the Lord has given mercy to be true to him.

^{26 Ref} In my opinion then, because of the present trouble, it is good for a man to keep as he is.

^{27 Ref} If you are married to a wife, make no attempt to get free from her: if you are free from a wife, do not take a wife.

^{28 Ref} If you get married it is not a sin; and if an unmarried woman gets married it is not a sin. But those who do so will have trouble in the flesh. But I will not be hard on you.

^{29 Ref} But I say this, my brothers, the time is short; and from now it will be wise for those who have wives to be as if they had them not;

^{30 Ref} And for those who are in sorrow, to give no signs of it; and for those who are glad, to give no signs of joy; and for those who are getting property, to be as if they had nothing;

^{31 Ref} And for those who make use of the world, not to be using it fully; for this world's way of life will quickly come to an end.

^{32 Ref} But it is my desire for you to be free from cares. The unmarried man gives his mind to the things of the Lord, how he may give pleasure to the Lord:

^{33 Ref} But the married man gives his attention to the things of this world, how he may give pleasure to his wife.

^{34 Ref} And the wife is not the same as the virgin. The virgin gives her mind to the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy in body and in spirit: but the married woman takes thought for the things of the world, how she may give pleasure to her husband.